Warsaw Council Leery Of Plan Dept. Fee Revisions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Warsaw City Council is looking askance at proposed fee changes by the planning and building department.
In considering a report by city planner Jeff Noffsinger and his staff, the council is taking a look at increases in the fees charged for building permits, inspections and the filing of petitions for variances, special exceptions and annexations.
"A lot of these fees have been stagnant for years. And I would agree that some adjustment may need to be made to them, but I'm not sure all of this (revision proposal) is appropriate," Wiggins said.
City councilman Mac Silveus concurred, saying any changes should be incremental.
"I just think this proposal is too much too fast," he said.
The proposed fee changes include:
• Variance from development standards and special exception requests - $75 per request. Currently there is no charge.
• Use variance requests - $150 per request. Currently there is no charge.
• Development plan review - $100 for new developments, $50 for commercial rehabilitation or remodel. Currently there is no charge for either type of review.
• Subdivision plat (preliminary and final approval) - $150, plus $1 per lot. The current fee is $20, plus $1 per lot.
• Rezoning request - $150 per case. Currently there is no charge.
• Vacation of plat or public way - $75 per case. Currently there is no charge.
• Text amendments to the zoning ordinance - $150 per revision. Currently there is no charge.
• Zoning and other confirmation letters - $10 per letter. Currently there is no charge.
• Encroachment agreements - $35 per agreement. Currently there is no charge.
• Special meeting request (Board of Zoning Appeals or Plan Commission) - $250 per BZA meeting, $300 per Plan Commission meeting. Currently there is no charge.
• Sign permits - $25 for signs up to 100 square feet; $50 for signs 101 to 150 square feet; and $50 plus $2 per square foot for signs over 150 square feet. Currently, the charge is 15 cents per square foot, with a $15 minimum charge.
• Street cut permits - $25 per cut. Currently, the fee is $15 per cut.
The proposal also would raise building permit fees for both new construction and remodels, repairs and alterations 100 percent to 400 percent.
"There are two different types of fees in this proposal: permit inspection fees and petition fees," Noffsinger said. "I think we need to have a goal for increasing those fees and a plan on how we phase into that goal over the next five years."
In other business, the council annexed 161 acres at the northwest corner of County Farm Road and CR 200S.
The property will be zoned residential.
The council also approved an alley vacation between Lake and Washington streets, adjacent to the Kosciusko County Justice Building, and the alley between Center Street and the county jail. The vacation was requested by the Kosciusko County Commissioners for the new jail expansion. [[In-content Ad]]
The Warsaw City Council is looking askance at proposed fee changes by the planning and building department.
In considering a report by city planner Jeff Noffsinger and his staff, the council is taking a look at increases in the fees charged for building permits, inspections and the filing of petitions for variances, special exceptions and annexations.
"A lot of these fees have been stagnant for years. And I would agree that some adjustment may need to be made to them, but I'm not sure all of this (revision proposal) is appropriate," Wiggins said.
City councilman Mac Silveus concurred, saying any changes should be incremental.
"I just think this proposal is too much too fast," he said.
The proposed fee changes include:
• Variance from development standards and special exception requests - $75 per request. Currently there is no charge.
• Use variance requests - $150 per request. Currently there is no charge.
• Development plan review - $100 for new developments, $50 for commercial rehabilitation or remodel. Currently there is no charge for either type of review.
• Subdivision plat (preliminary and final approval) - $150, plus $1 per lot. The current fee is $20, plus $1 per lot.
• Rezoning request - $150 per case. Currently there is no charge.
• Vacation of plat or public way - $75 per case. Currently there is no charge.
• Text amendments to the zoning ordinance - $150 per revision. Currently there is no charge.
• Zoning and other confirmation letters - $10 per letter. Currently there is no charge.
• Encroachment agreements - $35 per agreement. Currently there is no charge.
• Special meeting request (Board of Zoning Appeals or Plan Commission) - $250 per BZA meeting, $300 per Plan Commission meeting. Currently there is no charge.
• Sign permits - $25 for signs up to 100 square feet; $50 for signs 101 to 150 square feet; and $50 plus $2 per square foot for signs over 150 square feet. Currently, the charge is 15 cents per square foot, with a $15 minimum charge.
• Street cut permits - $25 per cut. Currently, the fee is $15 per cut.
The proposal also would raise building permit fees for both new construction and remodels, repairs and alterations 100 percent to 400 percent.
"There are two different types of fees in this proposal: permit inspection fees and petition fees," Noffsinger said. "I think we need to have a goal for increasing those fees and a plan on how we phase into that goal over the next five years."
In other business, the council annexed 161 acres at the northwest corner of County Farm Road and CR 200S.
The property will be zoned residential.
The council also approved an alley vacation between Lake and Washington streets, adjacent to the Kosciusko County Justice Building, and the alley between Center Street and the county jail. The vacation was requested by the Kosciusko County Commissioners for the new jail expansion. [[In-content Ad]]