Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember (quarterly) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES NEWSLETTER Building a Better Community with You P OPULATION : T HE S EPTEMBER POPULATION ESTIMATE IS 101,736 PLANNER-ON-CALL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION 1 TRACKING THE NUMBERS 1 BUILDING INSPECTIONS 2 BUILDING PERMIT CHARTS 2 BUILDING PERMIT TOTALS 3 EFFORT UNDERWAY TO REVISE NON- RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURAL STAND- ARDS 4 TAMPER RESISTANT RECEPTACLES 5 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FIVE-YEAR CHECK-UP 6 LOOKING FOR A WAY TO IMPROVE COLLEGE STATION? ADOPT A GREEN- WAY 6 Inside this issue: PO Box 9960 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, TX 77842 979-764-3570 Fax: 979-764-3496 www.cstx.gov SEPTEMBER 2014 New Single-Family Homes: YTD – 1 yr YTD– 2 yr 30% 25% Year-to-date, single-family home permits increased in quantity when compared to last year at this time, September 2013, and increased when compared with two years ago, Sep- tember 2012. Tracking the Numbers New Commercial: YTD - 1 yr YTD - 2yr 16% 68% Year-to-date, new commercial permits experienced an increase in quantity when compared to last year at this time, September 2013, and increased when compared with two years ago, September 2012. Total Permits: YTD - 1 yr YTD - 2yr 10% -8% Year-to-date, total permits experi- enced an increase in quantity when compared to last year at this time, September 2013, and experienced an decrease when compared with two years ago, September 2012. PLANNER-ON-CALL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The Planner-on-Call system helps over 1,800 people a year that call, email, or come into the P&DS office with questions related to planning and devel- opment. This section highlights some of the more common questions. If you have questions for the Planner on Call, please contact us at 979.764.3858 or POC@cstx.gov. Q: What are the requirements to construct a home in the City of College Station’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)? A: There is no zoning in the ETJ and the land use is not regulated. For new construction or development in the ETJ, platting is required and lots must be at least one acre. There are exemptions from platting if the property is more than 10 acres, where each part has access to a public street and no public improvement (water, sewer and streets) is being dedicated. If more than one single-family home will be built on the property, a Development Plat would be required, even if the property is not being subdivided. For more information on development in the ETJ, please contact the Planner-On-Call. MONTH BUILDING PLUMBING ELECTRIC MECHANICAL LAWN SIGN POOL TOTAL JANUARY 361 264 189 100 15 5 7 941 FEBRUARY 301 232 218 116 11 12 6 896 MARCH 464 322 262 186 13 6 6 1,259 APRIL 602 338 273 235 29 9 11 1,497 MAY 483 331 337 208 14 7 17 1,397 JUNE 565 379 307 265 13 16 17 1,562 JULY 644 386 325 323 23 4 13 1,718 AUGUST 438 277 224 198 18 14 8 1,177 SEPTEMBER 454 269 172 181 14 14 6 1,110 TOTAL 3,230 2,168 1,758 1,291 109 69 70 8,662 BUILDING INSPECTIONS: Type of Permit Permit Unit Amount Single-Family Home 557 557 $97,381,296 Duplex 5 10 $1,311,078 Tri-Plex/Four-plex 1 4 $440,100 Apartment 28 140 $69,448,555 New Commercial 54 N/A $32,096,911 Commercial Remodel 73 N/A $10,241,234 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Jan.Feb.Mar Apr May June July Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec. 2012 2013 2014 P E R M I T S BY T Y P E Y EAR TO D ATE TOTAL PERMITS 3 YEAR—COMPARISON BY MONTH 0 50 100 150 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2012 2013 2014 NEW SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS 3 YEAR— COMPARISON BY MONTH 0 5 10 15 Jan.Feb.Mar Apr May June July Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec. 2012 2013 2014 NEW COMMERCIAL PERMITS 3 YEAR—COMPARISON BY MONTH Page 2/September 2014/www.cstx.gov Month of September 2014 Type of Permit Permit Unit Total Sq. Ft.Heat Sq. Ft.Amount Permit Unit Amount Single Family Home 48 48 158,709 121,477 $10,602,946 34 34 $7,248,490 Duplex 1 2 3,814 3,441 $297,492 0 0 $0 Tri-plex/Four-plex 0 0 0 0 $0 0 0 $0 Apartment 0 0 0 0 $0 1 18 $1,500,000 Residential Addition 4 N/A 8,800 3,129 $290,000 5 N/A $94,100 Residential Remodel 4 N/A 3,096 2,231 $203,010 12 N/A $219,333 Residential Garage/Carport Addition 7 N/A N/A N/A $142,500 3 N/A $20,856 Residential Demolition 3 N/A N/A N/A $7,000 1 N/A $2,000 Residential Slab Only-SF 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Residential Slab Only-DPLX 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Residential Slab Only-3&4 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Residential Slab Only-Apt.0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Hotel / Motel / Inn 0 N/A 0 0 $0 0 N/A $0 New Commercial 5 N/A 96 964 $190,700 9 N/A $4,584,720 Commercial Remodel 2 N/A 1,782 1,782 $1,005,000 5 N/A $88,403 Commercial Addition/Retaining Wall 2 N/A 0 0 $83,000 1 N/A $0 Commercial Demolition 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 1 N/A $9,000 Commercial Slab Only 0 N/A 0 0 $0 0 N/A $0 Swimming Pool 2 N/A N/A N/A $90,000 4 N/A $153,400 Sign 9 N/A N/A N/A $0 10 N/A $0 Moving & Location 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Storage / Accessory 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 1 N/A $9,600 Roofing 4 N/A N/A N/A $28,527 7 N/A $38,200 TOTALS 91 50 176,297 133,024 $12,940,175 94 52 $13,968,102 Month of September 2013 January 1, 2014 - September 30, 2014 Type of Permit Permit Unit Total Sq. Ft.Heat Sq. Ft.Amount Permit Unit Amount Single Family Home 557 557 0 0 $97,381,296 428 428 $70,378,265 Duplex 5 10 0 0 $1,311,078 5 10 $1,077,777 Tri-plex/Four-plex 1 4 0 0 $440,100 0 0 $0 Apartment 28 0 0 0 $69,448,555 9 408 $40,076,966 Residential Addition 36 N/A 0 0 $1,910,607 32 N/A $1,268,367 Residential Remodel 99 N/A 0 0 $1,828,495 88 N/A $1,376,959 Residential Garage/Carport Addition 19 N/A N/A N/A $344,125 14 N/A $205,116 Residential Demolition 25 N/A N/A N/A $96,300 42 N/A $102,100 Residential Slab Only-SF 1 N/A N/A N/A $7,100 3 N/A $59,500 Residential Slab Only-DPLX 3 N/A N/A N/A $102,872 0 N/A $0 Residential Slab Only-3&4 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 1 N/A $40,000 Residential Slab Only-Apt.0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Hotel / Motel / Inn 3 N/A 0 0 $13,838,226 2 N/A $8,100,000 New Commercial 57 N/A 0 0 $32,096,911 49 N/A $37,972,432 Commercial Remodel 73 N/A 0 0 $10,241,234 76 N/A $11,383,866 Commercial Addition/Retaining Wall 9 N/A 0 0 $455,158 6 N/A $781,378 Commercial Demolition 8 N/A N/A N/A $477,000 14 N/A $919,097 Commercial Slab Only 10 N/A 0 0 $2,786,092 5 N/A $2,732,513 Swimming Pool 45 N/A N/A N/A $2,061,972 38 N/A $1,575,330 Sign 102 N/A N/A N/A $0 96 N/A $0 Moving & Location 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0 Storage / Accessory 18 N/A N/A N/A $541,950 16 N/A $106,569 Roofing 36 N/A N/A N/A $857,029 105 N/A $838,243 TOTALS 1135 571 0 0 $236,226,100 1029 846 $178,994,478 January 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013 Page 3/September 2014/www.cstx.gov Page 4/September 2014/www.cstx.gov Effort Underway to Revise Non-Residential Architectural Standards One item on the Planning & Zoning Commission’s current Plan of Work is to review the non-residential architec- tural standards for necessary revisions and update. Over the summer, staff presented workshop items to the Com- mission to summarize the existing standards and develop an approach to evaluate and revise them. At the October 2nd meeting, the Commission held a series of public hearing workshops with various stakeholder groups to solicit input on the nature of the current requirements and changes that are needed to them. At the meeting, staff presented the following as an initial list of items to receive consideration:  Simplify the ordinance by moving site, landscape, and other non-building architecture requirements to the appli- cable UDO section;  Simplify the building plot thresholds, perhaps to be based on building plot acreage instead of cumulative build- ing square feet;  Simplify the architectural relief requirement and add architectural features to the list of qualifying elements;  Reconsider the types of metal allowed and the maximum percentage allowable;  Remove or reduce requirements related to pad sites and building plots;  Remove prohibition of neon, metallic, and fluorescent colors, which would be accent colors;  Simplify the allowable percentage of accent colors;  Consider changing bike rack requirement to be based on use and building size;  Revise 10-foot sidewalk requirement along façades facing a right-of-way to perhaps apply only to uses of a cer- tain size that have higher pedestrian traffic;  Revise tree well requirement for façades facing a right-of-way to perhaps façades of a certain length with land- scaping located within proximity to them;  Remove requirement that berms are needed for parking screening along the right-of-way;  Evaluate if additional waiver options need to be added. Public input is still being sought for items to be considered and ideas on how the current ordinance can be revised. Please provide feedback to Jason Schubert, Principal Planner, at jschubert@cstx.gov. The Planning & Zoning Commission will provide direction to staff regarding the final scope of the revisions at their November 20th workshop. Staff will then draft the revised language, which is anticipated to be available for public comment in January. After addressing public comments, the revisions will be finalized as a proposed ordinance amendment and forwarded to the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council for public hearing and consid- eration. Page 5/September 2014/www.cstx.gov Tamper Resistant Receptacles Tamper-resistant receptacles are designed to prevent the insertion of any small object such as a paper clip, into one side of the receptacle. Both blades of an attachment plug must be inserted simultaneously to open the protective shield and allow connection to electricity. The code requires that all 125-volt, and 15-, and 20-ampere receptacles installed in areas mentioned in the National Electrical Code must be listed as tamper- resistant. These provisions primarily intend to reduce the number of elec- trical shock injuries to children. The code requires general-purpose receptacle outlets in all living areas of the dwelling until, including bathrooms, laundry areas, hallways, and foy- ers. In addition, this section prescribes the locations for receptacle outlets in basements, garages, outdoors at the front and back of the dwelling, and at all decks, porches, and balconies accessible from the dwelling unit. New to the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code, at least one receptacle outlet is now required in any accessory building supplied with power. All receptacles installed in these locations are required to be listed as tamper-resistant. Previously, there was no exception to this rule, and even receptacles installed out of reach of children, such as those for garage door operators, were required to be tamper resistant. New exceptions recognize that receptacle outlets located in areas that are not accessible to small children do not need to be tamper-resistant. Receptacles located more than 5 ½ feet above the floor do not count as con- tributing to the required receptacle locations and generally are not required to be installed. When they are in- stalled above the prescribed height they are out of reach for small children. This first exception commonly ap- plies to receptacle outlets for garage door openers, but may also apply to receptacles for clocks, mantels, or wall-mounted home electronics. The second exception clarifies that the code does not intend to require tamper resistance for receptacles that are part of listed appliances or luminaires, and these receptacles typically are not accessible to children. Exception 3 allows receptacles that are not tamper-resistant to be located behind such appliances as refrigerators and freezers because these locations also are not accessible to children. Please contact the City of College Station Building Division at 979.764.3570 with any questions. Chris Haver C.B.O. Building Official Page 6/September 2014/www.cstx.gov Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Check-Up The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and acts as a guide to ensure the goals and objectives of the City are implemented by acting as a long-range planning and policy structure for future growth of the City. In Septem- ber, the City Council approved the Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Evaluation and Appraisal Report to serve as a “check-up” on the Comprehensive Plan. City staff and a sub-committee of the City Council and Planning & Zon- ing Commission worked to identify both successes and shortcomings of the Plan, consider changed conditions, and recommend appropriate modifications to the Plan. The sub-committee included Mayor Nancy Berry, Coun- cilwoman Blanche Brick, Councilwoman Julie Schultz, P&Z Chairman Bo Miles, P&Z Commissioner Jane Kee, and P&Z Commissioner Jodi Warner. Public outreach included an on-line survey, a public open house meeting, and a public review of the draft Report. The Report includes approximately 65 recommended modifications. While most of the recommendations are minor, several larger initiatives will come from the implementation of the Report, including the following:  Thoroughfare Plan Update  Land Use & Community Character Map Update  Harvey Mitchell District Small Area Plan  Annexation Sub-Committee  Non-Residential Architectural Standards Review  Updated Population Assumptions and Projections Please visit www.cstx.gov/CompPlan to review the Com- prehensive Plan Five-Year Evaluation and Appraisal Re- port. Looking for a way to help Improve College Station? Adopt a Greenway! Almost everyone has heard of the successful Adopt-A-Highway program. Roadway signs across the country mark sections that are maintained faithfully by local community organizations and clubs. The program started in Texas in the early 1980s and now has a presence in such faraway places as Japan and New Zealand. The City of College Station took that popular concept and developed the Adopt-A-Greenway program, which encourages volunteers from area neighborhoods, churches, businesses and other groups to help maintain the city’s greenway system. Keep Brazos Beautiful provides the supplies. All that’s required is a two-year commit- ment to remove trash from a designated greenway at least twice a year. Volunteers will be recognized on the city’s website and on signs along their adopted greenway. So… what are Greenways? Greenways are protected open spaces that follow natural features such as creeks and rivers. Some greenways link neighborhoods and parks through trails, and others are located along utility or road corridors. Most of Col- lege Station’s greenways can be found along Wolf Pen Creek, Bee Creek, Lick Creek, Spring Creek, Carters Creek and their tributaries. Greenways not only help protect wildlife and plant habitats, they also improve air and water quality by relieving traffic congestion and reducing pollution with trails for biking and walking. In addition, greenways help protect floodplains that in turn help minimize costly flood damage to developed areas. The environmental benefits are obvious, but greenways also encourage residents to live healthier lifestyles through nature-based recreation and exercise. By protecting and maintaining our greenways, we make College Station a safer, cleaner and healthier place to live. To learn more about the Adopt-A-Greenway Program and get involved, please visit cstx.gov/adoptagreenway or contact Venessa Garza at 979.764.3674 or vgarza@cstx.gov.