CC WORKSESSION PACKET 07162019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

included in the summer newsletter article, but is more specific to actual applicants rather than the general newsletter reader. The second proposed change is to the fee structure. As noted, the current fee is $250, with the escrow reserved for review costs beyond the fixed expenses that the City incurs in processing these applications. Those expenses include internal staff review for completeness, advertising notice in the St. Anthony Bulletin, preparing and mailing notices to all property owners within 350 feet of the applicant’s property, and various clerical costs in establishing and tracking the permitting process – as well as the public meeting expenses that result from the application. Review costs from the City’s consulting planner, engineer, and attorney, when required, are commonly applied from the escrow. Many applicants misapprehend the purpose of the escrow, and are surprised when after the City Council has taken action, there is little escrow remaining – instead thinking that the escrow serves as a sort of “damage deposit” which they expect to have returned in majority or in whole. Another common misunderstanding is the relationship between an application and the applicant’s expectations. Many property owners mistakenly believe that the mere act of application will result in approval – a belief that staff works hard to dispel, particularly when an application is at or near the edges of the City’s land use policies. To manage these expectations, staff is suggesting a change to the structure by increasing the fee portion of the application, from $250 to $500 at this time, and perhaps an additional increment at the City’s yearly fee ordinance review. The review costs are almost always more than this, and it is believed that this change will help to clarify the real costs of review for an applicant’s request. As with any such proposal, the clearer and more complete the set of application materials, the more likely it is that review costs can be kept to the minimum. Further, while applicants tend to believe that their particular project is the most reasonable and certain, staff works hard to caution applicants that no outcome is certain – and indeed, sometimes unlikely - and the costs of application can be high. The attached draft cover letter, combined with the changes to fee and escrow, are intended to help potential applicants think carefully about their request, and increase understanding when the do decide to apply. Comments and questions at the workshop are welcomed.