Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner presented a 2014 year-end building and planning department review and overview of 2015 projects during Tuesday night’s Warsaw City Council meeting. The building department issued 557 building permits in 2014, including 72 new home permits. However, the number of remodels and additions continues to be below average. The city experienced $17 million in new residential construction and roughly $25 million in commercial construction last year. Of the $17 million in residential construction, less than $1 million of that total was remodels and additions. The remaining $16 million was divided between new home ($10 million) and multi-family construction ($6 million.) Based on the average inspections, the city inspectors completed more than 1,100 inspections last year. There were 316 violation letters issued and 36 code hearing cases in 2014. Of the code hearings, two cases resulted in fines levied against the property owners and one demolition was ordered. Warsaw Plan Commission reviewed cases including the Parkview-YMCA Subdivision, Parkview Development Plan and Mitchell Reserve Subdivision. The commission and city council adopted its comprehensive plan and Market Street Neighborhood Plan. Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals reviewed 20 variances, special exceptions and development standards requests in 2014. Warsaw Redevelopment Commission reviewed the Technology Park Development. Plans for 2015 include updating fence and accessory structures laws and a neighborhood preservation and rental registration ordinance. Other projects are completing the first phase of Warsaw Technology Park and completion and marketing of the shell building of Warsaw Technology Park. Other goals are continuing completing various bike and pedestrian master plan projects and for the Husky Trail Project starting right of way acquisition as well as bidding the project for construction.
