12-15-2004 Building and Development Meeting Minutes

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• r~l L MINUTES OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT MEETING DECEMBER 15, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Porter at 1:05 p.m. Members of Staff Present: City Manager Debra Feazelle, Assistant City Manager John Joerns, City Secretary Martha Gillett, Planning Director Wayne Sabo, City Planner Masood Malik, and Building Official Debbie Wilmore. Other Councilmember's Present: Mike Mosteit and Tommy Moser Others Present: Developer Glen Tolaz 2. Receive information from builder/developer regazding building and development permit issues within the City of La Porte. Mayor Porter opened the meeting by stating he thought this would be a good opportunity to obtain an outside opinion on how the City could improve in the development azea.. He stated the goal is to do a better job and make sure we give the perception of being business friendly in La Porte. Comments by Glen Tolar: Mr. Tolar advised the group he started developing in 1963 with lease buildings in Deer Park. He noted he was instrumental in working with the City of Deer Pazk to upgrade their building code. His lazgest development is located at Underwood Rd. near Battleground. He currently owns land on Canada Rd. Examples of items he has experienced in trying to do business in La Porte: He feels you get told no until you can prove otherwise. He noted some of the activities occurred as long as 3-4 years ago. He was trying to put together a project at Pasadena Blvd. and North L. Street near the Lomax school. He was about to purchase property and have a contract drawn up. In an effort to be cautious he sent his staff to the building department to see about building permits. They said no they could not issue a permit for his project because it included a truck wash. He noted it was not a truck wash but a single bay car wash for washing company vehicles and not a full blown truck wash. Rather than trying to work with him he felt they just thought it was easier to say no. He felt they did not try to help him to business in La Porte.