02-18-13 Special Meeting of La Porte City Council

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6. Allow simple plan sets to be reviewed quickly while more complex plan sets are being reviewed in the background. To expedite simpler plan sets, establish and use a priority process rather than a chronological (first come -first served) policy. 7. Establish a simplified fence permitting process. The current system is both time consuming and expensive and is a source of consistent frustration and complaints. To expedite standard fence replacements in the same location, do not require site plans or formal surveys. Utilize standard details as a condition of approval (setting posts, attachment of runners and pickets, etc.). If a fence is on a common property line, perhaps require consent from the neighbor to waive the site plan requirement. As a further relaxation, the site plan requirement for new fences could also be waived with location restrictions being issued as permit conditions. 8. Upon issuance of the certificate of occupancy, paper inspection files should be purged. Maintaining the paper copies of plan review comments, permits, and inspection results takes considerable staff time. The content of these files is generally redundant to data that has been or should have been entered into the NaviLine permit file. 9. Establish a consistent philosophy to utilize PUD's to simplify, rather than complicate, development applications. Several people who were interviewed reported that the current implementation of PUD's actually makes approval of a project more difficult, rather than facilitating the unique situations they are intended to benefit. Consistent with the organizational culture initiatives previously discussed, an attitude of using PUD's to facilitate development, rather than as a mechanism to add additional requirements, should be encouraged and enforced by management and City Council. C. Site Plan Review Process Findings The site plan review process affects a wide variety of businesses and may be the first interaction an applicant has with the City. As currently structured and administered, the process causes confusion for many applicants and creates a poor first impression. Recommendations 1. Compile and agree upon staff review comments before meeting with the applicant. 2. Establish appropriate review protocol between the Planning and Fire Departments. Evaluate need for fire marshal to be involved with site plan review; consider whether or not one Fire Department representative can handle all fire -related review comments. 8 Planning Department Review Mueller Management/Ron Cox Consulting