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MEMORANDUM Date: July 1, 2013 To: Janine Jordan, City Manager From: Randy Hunt, Community Development Director Subject: Report: Community Development Dept. – June 2013 I would like to begin this month’s report by observing that the level of activity in the Community Development Department is as high as our staff collectively have ever seen it. All our Divisions and functional centers are working at full speed, as the following data will attest. Some of the line items below look like laconic summary statements of tasks checked off – but behind each dry statement there is a full Report that could be written, if time and space allowed. Code Administration, Building Permits: Here are the permit summary statistics for May 2013: Month YTD 13 YTD 12 Month YTD 13 YTD 12 New Single Family 8 23 17 1,143,478.00 5,071,594.00 1,822,153.00 New Multiple Family (12) 1 1 2 961,069.00 961,069.00 455,000.00 No. Units - YTD 13 (12) No. Units - YTD 12 (15) New Manufactured Homes Residential Remodel 26 64 74 424,064.00 761,531.00 918,184.00 New Commercial or Industrial 1 358,686.00 New Public Facilities Commercial, Industrial or Public Remodel 8 28 24 4,363,809.00 20,971,267.00 1,975,102.00 Demolition 1 6 3 600,000.00 1,690,000.00 29,290.00 Signs 3 9 7 11,220.00 148,146.00 35,070.00 Electrical 40 102 111 157,080.00 2,798,483.00 2,284,834.00 Plumbing 47 136 113 289,200.00 4,672,566.00 1,152,884.00 Mechanical 19 73 76 125,000.00 4,328,846.00 1,138,887.00 Misc. TOTALS 153 442 427 8,074,920.00 41,403,502.00 10,170,090.00 Permits Valuations1 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--- July 1, 2013 Page 2 May is traditionally the month when our building season moves into high gear, and that is quite true this year. One-third of our total YTD permits in 2013 were issued in May. You will note that we continue our accelerated pace in Commercial, Industrial or Public Remodel this year, compared to YTD 2012 – the gain is modest in number of permits, but striking in valuation, where we are nearly 10 times ahead this year in permits valuations for the Commercial Remodel category. Many of those projects have already been discussed in earlier Reports – e.g., the IMH expansion. This May, the largest contributors to that category are UW projects. (As an interesting side note: It isn’t often that a single roof replacement costs more than $2 million, but that figure was reached in May. The Centennial Complex (American Heritage Center) on campus has possibly the most complex roof design in Laramie, and the project now underway is proportionally expensive. This is the single largest individual project valuation filed in May 2013.) Around six months ago, I noted our relatively higher percentage of single-family remodels and lower percentage of new single-family houses – not uncommonly a sign of homeowner caution in uncertain times. It is early yet, but we may be cautiously optimistic that the trend is now the opposite direction: New single-family valuation is substantially ahead of last year, and remodels somewhat behind. Code Enforcement: Here are the Code Enforcement figures for June 2013: New Issues for June 2013 Type of Violation Total Number Not Resolved Total Number Not Resolved Total Number Not Resolved Offensive Growth 120 118 146 264 165 297 165 Junk 47 19 31 50 26 124 26 Junked Vehicles 16 12 4 16 14 25 14 Abandoned vehicles 1 0 2 2 0 10 0 Other 11 1 2 3 0 49 0 Snow removal 0 0 0 0 0 243 0 Nuisance Totals 169 150 185 335 205 748 205 Volunteer Hours 52.5 0 0 5.5 0 58 0 2013 2013 2013 Coordinated and supervised 1 forced abatement at 1360 7th Street End of Year to Date End of June May ---PAGE BREAK--- July 1, 2013 Page 3 The Code Enforcement statistics at this point in the cycle are on a par with previous years. Instead of discussing numbers, I would like to note that we were obliged to undertake our first forced abatement of 2013 this past month. The Department typically needs to take the forced-abatement step 3 or 4 times each year. A forced abatement is the end result if a property owner does not voluntarily comply with our graduated series of abatement notices. In this case, it was necessary to remove a large accumulation of junk, including abandoned or inoperative vehicles and other machinery. The lawn had not been cut this year and was also overdue for attention. In such cases, the Department will contract with one or more local services to remove the junk, cut the lawn and otherwise bring the property into compliance. Per the nuisance sections in City Code (LMS 8.28 and 8.32), the Department is authorized to take abatement action and bill the property owner, which has been done. An appeals process is available via the Nuisance Board of Appeals, if an owner wishes to contest the need for abatement or the cost incurred. There is also a relief mechanism (basically, no charge) for those owners who are over 65 or have a recognized disability. Thankfully, the vast majority of property owners in Laramie are able and willing to keep their properties free of nuisance issues. Three or four per mandatory abatements per year would be less than 0.02% of our individual properties. We will continue to strive for voluntary compliance and education about code requirements as our foremost tools in this area. Planning: June 2013 highlights include: Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment met twice in June holding a hearing on the following matters: FP-12-04 Indian Ridge 1st Final Plat (Recommendation to Deny) FP-13-03 Krijensa Subdivision (Recommendation to Approve) PP-13-03 Cirrus Sky Technology Park Preliminary Plat (Recommendation to Approve) Planning Commission Resolution PC 2013-03 CUP-13-06 UW Performing Arts Parking Lot (Approved) VAR-13-03 1729 Ord Street (Approved) CPA-13-02 Glacier / Beech (Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan proposing Land Use Plan change from Open to Auto-Urban Multifamily at the southwest corner of Glacier and Beech Streets). (Approved) Z-13-01 Turner Tract – High School (Boulder Addition Plat) (Recommendation to Approve) Z-13-02 Glacier and Beech O/APO R3/APO (Southwest corner of Glacier and Beech Streets) (Recommendation to Approve) Z-13-03 Court LM/APO R3/APO Court) (Recommendation to Approve) DA-13-01 Laramie Country Club De-annexation (postponed to July 8, 2013) At the June 10 Planning meeting, the applicant requested withdrawal of CPA-13-01 (Land Use Plan Amendment requesting a change from Estate to Auto Urban Multifamily at the northeast corner of Bobolink Street and Vista Drive) to the Planning Commission due to the fact that the ---PAGE BREAK--- July 1, 2013 Page 4 Board of County Commissioners did not concur with the Plan amendment. The application was withdrawn by vote of the Commission. 13 new development applications were submitted to the Planning Division during the month of June, consisting of: o PP-13-04 & PPUD-13-01 Grand View Heights Preliminary Plat and Preliminary PUD o CUP-13-07 3501 Willett Dr. (UW Golf Practice Facility) o CUP-13-08 Legacy Apartments (36-unit Senior Living Complex on Court) o LL-13-03 2529 & 2531 Knadler (Lot Split) o MS-13-02 Block 7 Snowy Range Addition o A-13-02 Silver Sage Estates Annexation o Z-12-04 Silver Sage Estates Establishment of Zoning o VAR-13-02 Variance to setback from vulnerable features for Glacier Apartments (Southwest Corner of Glacier and Beech Street) o CUP-13-09 1878 Van Buren Accessory Building o DR-13-12 Laramie Valley Chapel Addition o DR-13-13 3501 Willett Dr. (UW Golf Practice Facility) o DR-13-14 Enzi STEM Laboratory o DR-13-15 16th & Gibbon, UW Storage Building The Ad-Hoc Committee established to oversee the update to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan met twice in June. The committee continues to work on providing guidance to City Staff in the drafting of the Plan. Staff continues to work with AVI Engineering on preparation of the LaBonte Park plat. Planning Staff continues to receive a high number of complaints regarding zoning enforcement action. In June, 6 complaints were under investigation, 1 was resolved, and 5 were still pending investigation. We regret to report that Cody Jennings, Assistant Planner with the City, resigned effective June 20 in order to take a position in the Sapulpa, Oklahoma area. The vacancy has been advertised locally in the Laramie Boomerang, on the City website, and with the Work Force Center and through regional planning organizations including the Western Planner, WyoPass, and the Colorado Planning Association. The position is advertised as a full-time permanent position at the Assistant Planner level. Work on other UDC Updates continues: o Staff held a work session with the City Council on proposed UDC Round Three revisions on June 25, 2013. A second work session will be held on July 23rd. The item is proposed for Planning Commission Review in September and Council consideration beginning in October. o Staff continues the process to update the UDC Use Table and received input from the City Council. Staff continues to solstice comment for the City webpage and social media platforms and from area organizations. The item is proposed for Planning Commission Review in September and Council consideration beginning in October. o Tri-Hydro continues work on the I-80 Aquifer protection Monitoring Well Design and Hazardous Spill Detention Pond Design. o Staff continues to work on the Turner Tract Area Plan Update. It is anticipated that staff will have a draft of the plan for internal staff review early July. o Staff continues to review the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the 5 year update. ---PAGE BREAK--- July 1, 2013 Page 5 Engineering: June 2013 activities: Development Review Twelve projects were received by Engineering Staff for review this month. Comments to thirteen projects were returned to the originating division, the remaining projects are in review or being assigned to Staff at this time. Coordination with other City Departments Staff has assisted Parks Department with the Gateway Drainage Project, located near Grand Avenue and Boulder Drive. Staff is working with the Parks, Recreational, Trails, and Natural Areas Master Plan. Engineering has been working with Department of Public Works Staff on writing policies for project management and EADOC. Staff has assisted Street Department with the upcoming South Gateway Drainage project. Construction Inspections Staff continues inspections of local development projects and City projects that are under construction. Staff is conducting inspections of storm water and erosion issues. City Engineering Tasks Staff is working on updating (with intent to have a peer review) the City’s storm water manual. Staff is assisting in updating City Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure Map; project involves Utility Division Personnel, as well as IT/GIS Personnel. Staff is updating City Storm Water Infrastructure Map. Capital Improvement Projects. SPT 26 - Cedar Street – Coffey Engineering – Simon Contractors Construction is progressing extremely slowly (nearly 6 weeks behind schedule), numerous issues are driving requests for change orders and amendments SPT 29 - Fetterman/Russell 5th to 7th – City Engineering – Hamaker/Big Huhnks Construction started, but work will be slow. SPT 36 - B Line (Bradley – Garfield) – AMEC – Simon Contractors Contractor is submitting necessary information to begin project. Start date for construction undetermined. SPT 41 - Garfield/Custer 13th to 14th – AMEC – Domino Construction Construction has reached substantial completion. SPT 42 - 11th Street, Kearney to Park – Wester-Wetstein ---PAGE BREAK--- July 1, 2013 Page 6 Bid opening scheduled for July 9. SPT 43 - Canby/Harney 9th to 13th – Farnsworth Bid opening scheduled for July 9. SPT 45 - Ord/Russell 5th to 7th – Farnsworth Bid opening scheduled for July 9. SPT 46 - B Line (Garfield – UPRR) - AMEC Project is currently under design. - Cirrus Sky Datapark – City Engineering Preliminary Plat obtained Planning Commission recommendation for approval, and is going to City Council in early July. - South Laramie Sanitary Sewer Staff is working to renew funding. GFSRIV - Ivinson St (9th to 15th) – City Engineering The street has been surveyed. Project delayed primarily to allow Grand Avenue Improvements to proceed without undo traffic congestion. – West Laramie (Banner Road) Lift Station – Farnsworth Eng. – Velocity Constr. Project is complete. Started 40 day advertisement for final payment. WWBA07 – West Laramie (Banner Road) Outfall Sewer – Trihydro Project is being resurrected. Staff working to update funding. – Cleveland Street Drainage - SEH Project is under design. Plans have been submitted for review, 90% plans. Cottonwood Estates Drainage 2013 – City Engineering – Six Point Solutions Project continues on hold, until initial paper work and bonds are submitted. 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 Water line, and Landfill. Traffic Commission Traffic Commission did not meet in June. Harold Colby is in the process to be appointed as a new member to the Commission. Cirrus Sky Technology Park: Much of the work in June involved movement on two related fronts: Finalizing the easements and rights-of-way for the properties adjacent to the CSTP site; and finalizing details and elements for the Cirrus Sky Preliminary Plat. Not quite all of these tasks reached closure during calendar June, but the first week of July is expected to bring the full complement of easements and the plat itself to successful conclusion. Engineering design work is continuing. A FY2014 budget amendment of approx. $169,000 to ribbon- pave 30th St. from current end-of-pavement to just south of the WAPA substation will require minor additional engineering design work.