News
At its Tuesday work session, the Frisco Town Council reviewed potential changes to the building code, which will likely include fee changes.
According to Frisco community development director Jocelyn Mills, revisions to the code are designed to meet the goal of making her government branch “more friendly and efficient.”
“We're really working toward practical, common-sense solutions,” she said.
Several changes were made in 2011, with those discussed Tuesday to come before council for a decision in February.
Among the changes:
> Adopt the 2012 National Electrical Code, which the Summit County Government has already put in place,
> Write in a “Certificate of Completion” allowance for the building department to choose between issuing it or a “Certificate of Occupancy,” depending on the type of project permit at hand,
> Amend plumbing and mechanical minimum permit fees to $50 — versus their current $25 — to make them comparable with the town's minimum re-inspection fee and to be more in line with neighboring jurisdictions,
> Delete the fee for manufactured home installation permits, as new mobile homes are prohibited in the town's zoning code,
> Create a flat-rate residential re-roofing fee of $100, which requires two inspections (generally $50). Currently, the re-roof fee is based on total valuation and can be in the $200-$300 range, which Mills called “excessive.”
> Add a set administrative fee for change of contractor on a project. Currently, staff must issue a new permit and charge a new fee based on the valuation of the unfinished work. The new fee would be $25 to re-issue a permit in instances where the only change is the contractor on the job,
> Delete redundant energy conservation requirements for residential uses in two locations and instead refer to the code to streamline evaluations.
“It sounds like we're playing catch-up on our own paperwork,” Frisco Mayor Bill Pelham said.
Councilmember Larry Sawyer peppered the conversation with questions, asking for the community development department to consider its changes in light of helping housing become affordable again.
“One reason we can't build affordable homes in Frisco is because we have all the rules in the book,” Sawyer said, later adding, “We are pricing ourselves out of a family market. That's not a good thing for us.”
Other councilmembers encouraged code provisions that encourages construction sector growth, but said they didn't see how the changes presented by Mills and her colleague were obstacles.
According to Frisco community development director Jocelyn Mills, revisions to the code are designed to meet the goal of making her government branch “more friendly and efficient.”
“We're really working toward practical, common-sense solutions,” she said.
Several changes were made in 2011, with those discussed Tuesday to come before council for a decision in February.
Among the changes:
> Adopt the 2012 National Electrical Code, which the Summit County Government has already put in place,
> Write in a “Certificate of Completion” allowance for the building department to choose between issuing it or a “Certificate of Occupancy,” depending on the type of project permit at hand,
> Amend plumbing and mechanical minimum permit fees to $50 — versus their current $25 — to make them comparable with the town's minimum re-inspection fee and to be more in line with neighboring jurisdictions,
> Delete the fee for manufactured home installation permits, as new mobile homes are prohibited in the town's zoning code,
> Create a flat-rate residential re-roofing fee of $100, which requires two inspections (generally $50). Currently, the re-roof fee is based on total valuation and can be in the $200-$300 range, which Mills called “excessive.”
> Add a set administrative fee for change of contractor on a project. Currently, staff must issue a new permit and charge a new fee based on the valuation of the unfinished work. The new fee would be $25 to re-issue a permit in instances where the only change is the contractor on the job,
> Delete redundant energy conservation requirements for residential uses in two locations and instead refer to the code to streamline evaluations.
“It sounds like we're playing catch-up on our own paperwork,” Frisco Mayor Bill Pelham said.
Councilmember Larry Sawyer peppered the conversation with questions, asking for the community development department to consider its changes in light of helping housing become affordable again.
“One reason we can't build affordable homes in Frisco is because we have all the rules in the book,” Sawyer said, later adding, “We are pricing ourselves out of a family market. That's not a good thing for us.”
Other councilmembers encouraged code provisions that encourages construction sector growth, but said they didn't see how the changes presented by Mills and her colleague were obstacles.
