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MEMORANDUM Date: November 4, 2013 To: Janine Jordan, City Manager From: Randy Hunt, Community Development Director Subject: Report: Community Development Dept. – October 2013 Code Administration, Building Permits: The most immediately noticeable figures in the September Code Administration report are in the “New Commercial or Industrial” line: September 2013 saw the City approve over $15 million in new- construction valuation for the month. This valuation comes from approval of two new projects (in fact, the only new projects this calendar year, so far). One of the two projects represents about 96% of the total added value (approx. $14.4M of the $15.0M) – that being the UW Gateway Center on the NW corner of Grand and 22nd. The other project is the new self-storage complex at 830 Boswell Drive, just west of 9th Street south of Spring Creek. As I have noted before, UW in most months is the driving force behind much of our non-single-family residential building activity in Laramie, and it’s easy for other new projects to get lost in the shuffle. UW’s valuable boost to the local economy needs no elaboration; however I think it’s important to note that projects like the self-storage complex are valuable contributors to the community’s overall well- being. Business investment in the Laramie community is evidence that the private sector views Laramie as a good bet for growth and stability. A single project by itself is not much to go on, but the “Commercial, Industrial or Public Remodel” category bears out the above message, with six new projects this month. Remodel projects can be an existing business improving itself, but the category also includes new businesses occupying a vacant building or tenant space. In September, we saw both types: a bakery moving into a storefront location downtown, and a restaurant on East Grand Ave. sprucing up its exterior – among other activity. Some familiar patterns also carry forward, such as new single family houses; as earlier, we are down in number of new houses, but up by a noticeable degree in valuation in YTD 13, compared to YTD 12. As a minor note: In a famous Sherlock Holmes story, the detective solved a mystery by noticing that a dog did not bark in the nighttime. In our table, we can observe that we have had no new manufactured homes in YTD 13; the same is true in YTD 12. As the City is about to embark on a housing study, it’s premature to speculate on this statistic’s meaning; but it will be a relevant clue. City of Laramie Community Development Department P.O. Box C Laramie, WY 82073 Planning: (307) 721-5207 Code Administration: (307) 721-5271 Fax: (307) 721-5248 Engineering: (307) 721-5250 Fax: (307) 721-5216 TTD: (307) 721-5207 ---PAGE BREAK--- Month YTD 13 YTD 12 Month YTD 13 YTD 12 Month YTD 13 YTD 12 New Single Family 3 42 53 527,480.00 7,666,034.00 6,509,578.00 4,258.05 59,785.70 59,129.75 New Multiple Family 1 2 2 120,000.00 1,081,069.00 796,000.00 812.81 6241.06 16,602.00 No. Units - YTD 13 (14) No. Units - YTD 12 (19) New Manufactured Homes Residential Remodel 28 199 209 248,777.00 1,972,340.00 2,562,301.00 5,254.15 36,080.50 39,587.15 New Commercial or Industrial 2 2 2 15,010,247.00 15,010,247.00 448,686.00 58,262.15 58,262.15 2,374.15 New Public Facilities Commercial, Industrial or Public Remodel 6 57 46 98,800.00 25,940,051.00 10,777,895.00 1,536.00 122,956.13 64,601.79 Demolition 3 26 9 141,000.00 1,909,600.00 74,490.00 1,816.95 12,079.60 1,379.75 Signs 1 15 15 5,000.00 225,423.00 103,959.00 111.25 4,553.20 1,924.55 Electrical 13 175 219 66,900.00 3,284,434.00 2,800,514.00 1,475.35 31,012.55 31,928.10 Plumbing 31 297 279 1,213,612.00 6,733,288.00 3,604,002.00 2,760.50 30,499.45 30,958.90 Mechanical 16 140 152 62,100.00 8,598,361.00 1,681,845.00 718.95 11,847.90 15,572.45 Misc. TOTALS 104 955 986 17,493,916.00 72,420,847.00 29,359,270.00 77,006.16 373,318.24 $264,058.59 Plant Investment Fees 5 54 51 $23,538.00 $309,866.00 $259,224.75 Water Meters 5 59 49 $1,225.00 $20,565.53 $12,648.00 TOTALS 10 113 100 $24,763.00 $330,431.53 $271,872.75 Plan Review Fees 10 88 94 $9,353.76 $264,772.69 $90,285.68 Permits Fees2 Valuations1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Code Enforcement: Here are the Code Enforcement figures for October 2013: New Issues for October 2013 Type of Violation Total Number Not Resolved Total Number Not Resolved Total Number Not Resolved Offensive Growth 320 139 70 209 78 699 78 Junk 43 15 8 23 11 176 11 Junked Vehicles 16 9 3 12 7 39 7 Abandoned vehicles 0 0 1 1 0 16 0 Other 23 1 6 7 0 87 0 Snow removal 0 0 0 0 0 243 0 Nuisance Totals 406 164 88 252 96 1260 96 Volunteer Hours 30 0 0 0 0 103 0 Coordinated and supervised 1 forced nuisance abatement September 2013 2013 2013 End of Year to Date End of October As I noted last month, the Autumn of the year is when new nuisance cases decline (the “in-between” phenomenon), and so clearing the unresolved case files can get necessary attention. The October 2013 statistics look similar to October totals in previous years. Interestingly, in most years it doesn’t matter for nuisance purposes whether October has a lot of snowfall events, a few, or none at all – the October sunshine and temperatures take care of the snow before it rises to the nuisance level. Mother Nature needs Code Enforcement help when we get one or two heavy individual snowstorms in October, but that is uncommon. (Six months later in April, that pattern often runs to the opposite extreme – April storms are few in number but heavy in mass around here.) Planning: October 2013 highlights include: Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment met 2 times in October holding hearings on the following matters: Conditional Use Permit o CUP-13-12 1964 Jefferson Street - Accessory Building (Approved) o CUP-13-13 1754 Centennial Drive - Hospice Residential Care Facility (Approved) ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 Comprehensive Plan Amendment o CPA-13-04 Between Cleveland Street and Snowy Range Road north of Monroe Street: Amendment to Future Land Use Plan (Denied. The applicant has requested consideration by Council be delayed to December) Rezoning o Z-13-05 Lots 3 & 4 of Block 82 and Lots 1 & 2 of Block 87 Town of West Laramie (Recommend Council Deny. The applicant has requested consideration by Council be delayed to December) Vacation o VAC-13-01 Monroe Street between Cleveland Street and Snowy Range Road (Postponed to April) Final Plat o FP 13-04 Cirrus Sky (Recommend Council Approve) o FP-13-06 Gardiner Subdivision (County) (No recommendation due to the fact that County Conditions had not yet been met) Variances o VAR-13-03 611 Grand Avenue (Ace Hardware) (Approved) o VAR-13-04, 30th Street Bridge Floodplain Development Permit (Approved) Long Range Planning o Approved the Turner Tract 2013 Master Plan as presented. The Planning Commission held a Work Session for the purpose reviewing proposed changes to the Unified Development Code’s Use Table. 5 new development applications were submitted to the Planning Division during the month of October, consisting of: o 3 Design Review Permits Cloud 9 Frozen Yogurt (approved) Summit Housing (under review) o 6 Building Permits were reviewed o Variance Application: VAR-13-05 Northwest Corner of Boulder Drive and Grand Avenue –Variance to setback from vulnerable feature o Conditional Use Permit CUP-13-04 Type 2 Child Care 265 Lincoln Street CUP-13-15 Type 2 Child Care 2023 Spring Creek Drive The Ad-Hoc Committee established to oversee the update to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan (Recreation Systems Master Plan). Staff continues to work on the writing of the document and as parts of the plan are completed they will be provided to the committee for review. Emphasis this month was on maps and service areas. Staff continues to work with AVI Engineering on preparation of the LaBonte Park. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 5 Zoning Enforcement. o This year staff has investigated 34 enforcement actions. o The following Enforcement actions are presently: In Process: South 3rd Street – Development without required approvals North 5th Street – Fence constructed in violation of regulations North 4th Street – Development without required approvals Adams Street – Development without required approvals Harrison Street – Development without required approvals Person Street – Non-Compliance with PUD approvals Person Street – Non-Compliance with PUD Landscaping approvals ( 8 pending) Airport Area – Non-conforming use, junk violations South 15th Street – Overoccupancy Skyline Road – Development without required approvals Comanche – Overoccupancy Pending Attorney Action Garfield Street – Occupation of a Recreational Vehicle for a period exceeding 14-days West Skyline Road – Non-Permitted Use (Hearing Scheduled) Recently Closed East Grand Avenue – Modification to a sign without required approvals Person Street – Non-Compliance with PUD Landscaping approvals (1 completed) Grand Avenue – Over occupancy Staff formulated a selection committee and selected Hannah:Keelan out of Lincoln, NE to complete the Housing Study. The process will involve establishment of a Housing Advisory Committee, stakeholder interviews and will have several presentations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Staff expects the study to be complete within 9 months of contract approval. A contract is tentatively set to be on the November 19, 2013 City Council Agenda. Staff continues work on TA-13-01 (Mobile/Manufactured Housing amendments) which was postponed by the City Council to November 19, 2013. Long Range Projects o Tri-Hydro continues work on the I-80 Aquifer protection Monitoring Well Design and Hazardous Spill Detention Pond Design. o The Planning Commission approved the Turner Tract Master Plan 2013 at their October 28 meeting. o Staff continues to review the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the 5 year update. o Staff is continues the process UDC Round Three Revisions. Staff continues to solicit comment for the City webpage, social media platforms and from area organizations. Engineering: October Activities: Development Review ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 6 Ten projects were received by Engineering Staff for review this month. Four projects were reviewed and comments completed. The remainder of projects are being reviewed. Coordination with other City Departments Staff continues on updating the Standard Unit Price cost estimating spread sheet. Construction Inspections Staff continues inspections of local development projects and City projects that are under construction. The Pointe is underway with the 24” waterline relocation. One live tap has been completed; the second one will hopefully occur in the first week of November. Some items on The Grove punch list have been completed, and the developer wants cleared for bonding amounts. Additional inspections will occur in the upcoming weeks. City Engineering Tasks Engineering sent out the “Draft Drainage Manual” for Review by interested consultants. It is hoped comments received will allow for finalization of the manual in December. Staff is updating City Storm Water Infrastructure Map. Capital Improvement Projects. SPT 29 Fetterman/Russell 5th to 7th – City Engineering – Hamaker/Big Huhnks o Finalizing paperwork, project is complete. SPT 41 Garfield/Custer 13th to 14th – AMEC – Domino Construction o Warranty bonds in hand. Waiting on updated video of the sewer main. SPT 42 11th Street, Kearney to Park – Wester-Westein - MSI o Finalizing paperwork, project is complete. Cirrus Sky Data park – City Engineering o Working on the bid package. Estimate advertisement end of November. SPT 26 Cedar Street – Coffey Engineering – Simon Contractors o Shop drawings for drainage have been submitted. Coffey is currently reviewing them. Coffey is working on processing the change orders. Still need to do walk thru. SPT 36 B Line (Bradley – Garfield) – AMEC – Simon Contractors o Garfield has been paved on Saturday. SPT 46 B Line (Garfield – UPRR) - AMEC o Project is delayed until South Laramie Sewer is awarded. Ivinson St (9th to 15th) – City Engineering o The street has been surveyed. South Laramie Sanitary Sewer (UPRR – 15th and Skyline) o Proposals have been reviewed. City Council will be asked to award the project in early November. WWBA07 – West Laramie (Banner Road) Outfall Sewer – Trihydro o Design is progressing. – Cleveland Street Drainage - SEH o Ninety percent plans and specifications have been submitted. Cottonwood Estates Drainage 2013 – City Engineering – Six Points Solutions ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 7 o Project is progressing, bonds have been submitted. Six Point’s schedule has not been submitted, but it will have to be coordinated with Source Gas for gas line relocations. In addition to “Project Management” responsibilities for the projects listed above, Engineering Staff provides assistance to other City Project Managers in an advisory role and backup. The projects in which Staff serves as “City Project Engineer”, include: SPT 24, SPT 25, SPT 31, SPT 32, SPT 34, SPT 47, 36” Raw Water Pipeline, South Laramie Waterline. Traffic Commission Traffic Commission met in October. The Commission approved the only action item on that agenda: a request for a specifically reserved individual handicap parking space.