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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1998 0819 CC REG ITEM 10G(7ia-39 ITEM 10 . Et. AGENDA REPORT 4 ' r W '00ORP:ARK, CALIFORNIA CITY OF MOORPARK � ' lei Council c1 8 1 '►fa e7n el • .AC ON: Recei ved �cc7w TO: The Honorable City Council he- r e gr + FROM: Nelson Miller, Director of Community DevelopmeQ _ -- DATE: August 11, 1998 (For the City Council Meeting of August 19,1998) SUBJECT: Consider Permit Processes and Streamlining for Businesses DISCUSSION Councilmember Evans requested a report on permit processes and streamlining for new businesses. Attached are some excerpts from a presentation which staff made to the Chamber of Commerce earlier this year to explain general permit processes. One of the flow charts (Discretional Action Review Process) briefly outlines the planning process for new development, while the Building and Safety Plan Review and Inspection flow charts outline the process for building permits. These flow charts illustrate the processes which involve new development. As illustrated, most new development in the City is reviewed by the Planning Commission, with recommendations to the City Council, who is responsible for final decision - making authority. For most new businesses to the City, which are proposing to occupy an existing building previously occupied by a similar use, a Zoning Clearance from the Planning Division is required. This is a ministerial permit, which can usually be issued "over the counter ", or the same day. A business registration is also required of new businesses, which involves completion of a business registration form and payment of a business registration fee. If any new construction or plumbing, mechanical, or electrical work is proposed, then a building permit is also required. The Building and Safety flow chart would also apply to these permits, however, simple permits can also be issued "over the counter ", or with a brief plan review. The City code does require a Conditional Use Permit for certain uses, such as for some types of alcoholic beverage sales or outdoor uses. Uses which propose significant changes may also require a Development Permit, or a Major or Minor Modification to an existing Development Permit. Conditional Use Permits and Development Permits would follow processes as described in the Discretional Action Review Process flow chart. Some businesses have expressed concern about the processes and associated fees. These are frequently businesses which are proposing significant changes and therefore require a Conditional Use Permit or Development Permit. Since the City operates on the basis of full cost recovery for all development processing, the fees associated with these permits usually run several thousand dollars. Some recent examples of this involved proposed conversion of existing single family C:\OFFICE\WPWIMWPDOCS\CCRPTS\PERSTRM.RPT Permit Processes and Streamlining August 19, 1998 Page 2 residences to a commercial or office use. These have usually occurred in the Downtown area, where there are a number of existing residences which are in a commercial zoning district. There has been some discussion of a different process for such conversions, especially where there could be definite architectural and site design standards for conversion of these residences. However, such standards are not currently included within the Downtown Specific Plan, nor is any revised review process. Over the last couple of years, staff has done several things to streamline or facilitate processes. In Planning, a change in procedure has reduced the number of meetings required for consideration of a project from two meetings at both Planning Commission and City Council to one meeting each. Increased emphasis has also been placed on processing most Zoning Clearances on an "over the counter" basis, rather than several days. In Building and Safety, staff has arranged for the Fire Department to have a representative in Building and Safety one day a week, so applicants can meet with both Fire and Building and Safety simultaneously and save a trip to the County. Most inspections are already done the next day following the request, with some done the same day. Staff has also reviewed the requirements for licensed professionals to sign the plans for commercial construction and this is now only required for permits involving structural or life safety issues. This makes it easier for contractors to obtain minor commercial permits. RECOMMENDATION Direct staff as deemed appropriate. Attachments: Discretional Action Review Process Building and Safety Plan Review Process Buidling and Safety Inspection Process C:\OFFICE\WPWIMWPDOCS\CCRPTS\PERSTRM. RPT Zone Change or Use Permit (Discretional Action) Review Process t" E� BUILDING AND SAFETY PLAN REVIEW PROCESS CITY ENGINEERING ACCEPTS CONSTRUCTION AND UPON ROUGH GRADING CERTIFICATION AND THEN ISSUES A CLEARANCE TO THE BUILDING AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT PLANS ARE SUBMITTED TO BUILDING AND SAFETY FOR REVIEW (10 WORKING DAYS FOR FIRST SUBMITTALS AND 5 WORKING DAYS FOR SUBSEQUENT SUBMITTALS) APPLICANT IS ROUTED TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR CLEARANCES. PLANS ARE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO BE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE BUILDING CODES BUILDING AND SAFETY VERIFIES THAT ALL OTHER REQUIRED AGENCY CLEARANCES AND FEES ARE OBTAINED BUILDING PERMIT IS ISSUED 7IN TO BUILDING AND SAFETY INSPECTION PROCESS C.l TO BUILDING AND SAFETY INSPECTION PROCESS SUSPENDED CEILING INSPECTION BUILDING AND SAFETY INSPECTION PROCESS GROUND FOUNDATION ROOF Do PLUMBING AND SLAB SHEATHING JAND INSPECTION INSPECTION ROOF FRAMINSPECTI LATHE AND DRYWALL INSPECTION INSULATION INSPECTION PRE -WRAP INSPECTION COMBINATION; FRAME, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL INSPECTION CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUED FINAL BUILDING OTHER AGENCY GAS TEST INSPECTION BY FINAL INSPECTIONS INSPECTION BUILDING AND AND CLEARANCES SAFETY ARE COMPLETED PRE -WRAP INSPECTION COMBINATION; FRAME, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL INSPECTION CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUED