HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember (quarterly)
PLANNING &
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
NEWSLETTER
Building a Better Community with You
P OPULATION : T HE D ECEMBER POPULATION ESTIMATE IS 102,117
YEAR IN REVIEW 1
TRACKING THE NUMBERS 1
BUILDING INSPECTIONS 2
BUILDING PERMIT CHARTS 2
BUILDING PERMIT TOTALS 3
NEW Multi-Family and Mixed-Use
Zoning Districts
4
PLANNER-ON-CALL FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTION
5
FUTURE BUILDING CODE ADOPTIONS 6
Inside this issue:
PO Box 9960
1101 Texas Avenue
College Station, TX 77842
979-764-3570
Fax: 979-764-3496
www.cstx.gov
DECEMBER 2014
New Single-Family Homes:
YTD – 1yr YTD– 2yr
31% 36%
Year-to-date, single-family home
permits increased in quantity when
compared to last year at this time,
December 2013, and increased when
compared with two years ago, De-
cember 2012.
Tracking the Numbers
New Commercial:
YTD - 1yr YTD - 2yr
6% 29%
Year-to-date, new commercial permits
experienced an increase in quantity
when compared to last year at this
time, December 2013, and an increase
when compared with two years ago,
December 2012.
Total Permits:
YTD - 1yr YTD - 2yr
10% -2%
Year-to-date, total permits experi-
enced an increase in quantity when
compared to last year at this time,
December 2013, and a decrease
when compared with two years ago,
December 2012.
Year in Review
As the New Year has begun, it provides an opportunity to reflect on 2014 and
its accomplishments. It was a busy year again with over 250 zoning or develop-
ment applications received for various projects. While staff processes and ap-
proves many applications administratively, some requests need approval from a
City board or commission. Consideration of these applications are made possi-
ble by the dedication of City Council and the citizens appointed by them that
volunteer their time to serve on boards and make decisions on behalf of our
community.
In 2014, 22 regular City Council meetings, 21 regular Planning & Zoning Com-
mission meetings, seven Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings, eight Bicycle,
Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Meetings and six Design Review
Board meetings were held. These meetings, and other staff approvals through-
out the year, resulted in final action on the following requests:
4 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
23 Rezonings
3 Conditional Use Permits
16 Preliminary Plans
47 Final Plats and Development Plats
48 Site Plans
38 Architecture Reviews
1 PDD Concept Plan Amendment
52 Administrative Adjustments
6 Design Review Board requests
10 Variances
As we are at the start of another year, staff would like to recognize the valuable
service provided by our Council, boards, and commissions that help College
Station continue to be a growing, vibrant community.
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 753 753 $129,120,857
Duplex 11 22 $2,809,150
Tri-Plex/Four-plex 1 4 $440,100
Apartment 29 145 $70,297,676
New Commercial 66 N/A $36,557,911
Commercial Remodel 82 N/A $10,864,914 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/December 2014/www.cstx.gov
MONTH BUILDING PLUMBING ELECTRIC MECHANICAL LAWN SIGN POOL TOTAL
JANUARY 415 264 136 100 15 5 7 941
FEBRUARY 358 232 161 116 11 12 6 896
MARCH 520 322 205 187 13 10 6 1,263
APRIL 602 336 273 235 29 9 11 1,497
MAY 549 331 274 208 14 9 17 1,401
JUNE 566 380 307 266 13 16 17 1,563
JULY 642 384 325 323 23 4 13 1,718
AUGUST 437 277 224 199 18 20 8 1,183
SEPTEMBER 456 269 172 181 14 16 6 1,112
OCTOBER 506 284 201 197 41 7 15 1,251
TOTAL 5,050 3,084 2,271 2,009 191 108 106 12,825
MONTH BUILDING PLUMBING ELECTRIC MECHANICAL LAWN SIGN POOL TOTAL
JANUARY 415 264 136 100 15 5 7 941
FEBRUARY 358 232 161 116 11 12 6 896
MARCH 520 322 205 187 13 10 6 1,263
APRIL 602 336 273 235 29 9 11 1,497
MAY 549 331 274 208 14 9 17 1,401
JUNE 566 380 307 266 13 16 17 1,563
JULY 642 384 325 323 23 4 13 1,718
AUGUST 437 277 224 199 18 20 8 1,183
SEPTEMBER 456 269 172 181 14 16 6 1,112
OCTOBER 506 284 201 197 41 7 15 1,251
NOVEMBER 313 214 145 132 9 19 4 839
DECEMBER 449 273 184 166 30 2 6 1,110
TOTAL 5,812 3,571 2,600 2,307 230 129 116 14,774
Month of December 2014
Type of Permit Permit Unit Total Sq. Ft.Heat Sq. Ft.Amount Permit Unit Amount
Single Family Home 67 67 155,199 128,134 $10,396,341 87 87 $12,507,889
Duplex 3 6 11,640 10,389 $759,756 1 2 $358,000
Tri-plex/Four-plex 0 0 0 0 $0 1 4 $6,000
Apartment 1 5 12,085 11,998 $849,121 0 0 $0
Residential Addition 0 N/A 0 0 $0 10 N/A $251,032
Residential Remodel 5 N/A 420 420 $121,013 5 N/A $50,000
Residential Garage/Carport Addition 0 N/A 0 N/A $0 1 N/A $10,000
Residential Demolition 14 N/A N/A N/A $33,700 6 N/A $13,400
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 4 N/A 12,907 12,907 $2,404,000 1 N/A $165,377
Commercial Remodel 2 N/A 64,950 10,400 $45,000 5 N/A $847,500
Commercial Addition/Retaining Wall 1 N/A 0 0 $127,998 0 N/A $0
Commercial Demolition 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 1 N/A $2,000
Commercial Slab Only 2 N/A 0 0 $1,275,000 0 N/A $0
Swimming Pool 4 N/A N/A N/A $193,000 1 N/A $48,000
Sign 7 N/A N/A N/A $0 5 N/A $0
Moving & Location 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0
Storage / Accessory 1 N/A N/A N/A $4,000 1 N/A $2,200
Roofing 10 N/A N/A N/A $227,500 27 N/A $316,955
TOTALS 121 78 257,201 174,248 $16,436,429 152 93 $14,578,353
Month of December 2013
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Type of Permit Permit Unit Total Sq. Ft.Heat Sq. Ft.Amount Permit Unit Amount
Single Family Home 753 753 1,980,032 1,548,959 $129,120,857 575 575 $93,557,777
Duplex 11 22 41,242 37,161 $2,809,150 6 12 $1,435,777
Tri-plex/Four-plex 1 4 9,499 7,846 $440,100 3 12 $746,000
Apartment 29 145 979,470 812,985 $70,297,676 10 420 $40,923,427
Residential Addition 42 N/A 38,636 20,913 $2,249,807 51 N/A $2,692,113
Residential Remodel 116 N/A 41,800 32,231 $2,125,430 110 N/A $1,599,076
Residential Garage/Carport Addition 23 N/A N/A N/A $361,862 18 N/A $231,316
Residential Demolition 48 N/A N/A N/A $171,000 51 N/A $117,300
Residential Slab Only-SF 26 N/A N/A N/A $308,858 3 N/A $59,500
Residential Slab Only-DPLX 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0
Residential Slab Only-3&4 5 N/A N/A N/A $339,072 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 49,728 49,728 $13,838,226 2 N/A $8,100,000
New Commercial 66 N/A 211,231 196,286 $36,557,911 62 N/A $40,190,809
Commercial Remodel 82 N/A 268,638 157,363 $10,864,914 95 N/A $13,877,566
Commercial Addition/Retaining Wall 12 N/A 0 0 $709,944 9 N/A $961,378
Commercial Demolition 11 N/A N/A N/A $735,000 20 N/A $1,492,597
Commercial Slab Only 14 N/A 0 0 $4,227,092 6 N/A $2,785,013
Swimming Pool 57 N/A N/A N/A $2,553,753 47 N/A $2,188,330
Sign 128 N/A N/A N/A $0 122 N/A $0
Moving & Location 0 N/A N/A N/A $0 0 N/A $0
Storage / Accessory 22 N/A N/A N/A $637,142 17 N/A $108,769
Roofing 56 N/A N/A N/A $1,131,929 155 N/A $1,552,141
TOTALS 1505 924 3,620,276 2,863,472 $279,479,723 1363 1019 $212,658,889
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Page 3/December 2014/www.cstx.gov
Building Permits
Page 4/December 2014/www.cstx.gov
Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan through the Creation and Consolida-
tion of Zoning Districts – NEW Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts
The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and acts as a guide to ensure that the vision for College Station is
realized through the future growth and development of the City. The Comprehensive Plan approaches the growth
of College Station in a manner different from the City’s previous plans; it focuses on the creation and enhance-
ment of places of distinction in College Station. The Plan recognizes the importance of character and capitalizes
on that to offer the greatest flexibilities for development, while protecting special places.
The Comprehensive Plan identifies 15 unique Future Land Use and Character designations and calls for the crea-
tion of zoning districts that align with the objectives of the Plan as one means of implementation. Zoning and its
associated development criteria help to ensure that the form, character, and quality of development reflect the
City’s planning objectives. The intent of the new districts is to both align with the updated Comprehensive Plan
and to simplify the nomenclature.
Phased Approach
The new zoning districts were developed and adopted in phases over the past couple of years, with our non-
residential districts being adopted in fall 2012 and our one- and two-family residential districts being adopted in
fall 2013.
On December 18th, 2014, City Council adopted new multi-family and mixed-use zoning districts. Staff worked
with a sub-committee of the Planning and Zoning Commission to develop the concepts and language for the pro-
posed "MF Multi-Family" and "MU Mixed-Use" districts based on direction in the Comprehensive Plan and input
from stakeholder groups. The City’s existing multi-family districts, "R-4 Multi-Family" and "R-6 High Density
Multi-Family," have been “retired” with this amendment. Retired districts remain active for those properties with
the zoning designations, but may not be requested to be applied to other properties in the future. The districts cre-
ated and retired through this process include:
New Zoning Districts - Proposed
"MF Multi-Family"
"MU Mixed-Use"
Retired Zoning Districts - Proposed
"R-4 Multi-Family"
"R-6 High-Density Multi-Family"
Opportunities for Input
Staff engaged stakeholders in two separate meetings – one on December 13, 2013 and a second one on January
31, 2014. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss concepts related to the creation of the new zoning districts
based on direction in the Comprehensive Plan. Information gathered during the stakeholder meetings was re-
viewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission Sub-committee and was used in the creation of the ordinance lan-
guage. Once specific ordinance language was developed, stakeholders were again asked to provide comments.
The draft zoning district language was also placed online for a two-week public review period.
For more information on the New Zoning districts, contact Jennifer Prochazka at jprochazka@cstx.gov or 979-
764-3826
Page 5/December 2014/www.cstx.gov
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 development. 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: I want to install a carport at my home to protect my car from weather damage. After doing some preliminary
measuring, it doesn’t look like it would meet the setbacks for GS General Suburban; the carport is in the set-
back about 6 feet. Do carports have to be out of the setback? If so, can I get an exception?
A: Residential carports, including those of a temporary nature, are accessory structures. Carports must have a
rear setback of 20 feet. A street side setback of 20 feet also applies if a carport gains access from the side
street. All other setbacks, front and side, must follow the GS General Suburban Dimensional Standards, front
25 feet, side 7.5 feet, and side-street 15 feet.
There are two possible variance processes to setbacks, depending on the degree of the request. The Planning
Administrator has the authority to grant an Administrative Adjustment up to 10 percent to Residential Dimen-
sional Standards such as a setback. To approve an adjustment, the administrator must find that the adjustment
will ensure the same general level of land use compatibility, will not adversely affect adjacent land uses or the
character of uses in the vicinity, and is consistent with the purpose and intent of the UDO. If the adjustment is
more than 10 percent, the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) can hear variance requests. The applicant must
prove to the Board there is a special condition with the land, granting the variance is necessary for the enjoy-
ment of the property, the hardship is not the result of the applicant’s own action, and the variance is not detri-
mental to public health, safety and welfare.
If the carport can be installed meeting the setback requirements, without a variance, a Building Permit would
be necessary before installation. A Building Permit can be obtained at the P&DS office through the Building
Division.
For additional information regarding accessory structures or other standards, please contact the Planner-on-
Call.
Page 6/December 2014/www.cstx.gov
FUTURE BUILDING CODE ADOPTIONS
The City of College Station Building Division will be reviewing the 2015 International Codes and 2014 National
Electrical Code (NEC) for adoption later this year. The family of International Codes consists of the following:
International Building Code
International Residential Code
International Fire Code
International Mechanical Code
International Plumbing Code
International Fuel Gas Code
International Energy Conservation Code
International Property Maintenance Code
The City of College Station is currently under the 2012 edition of the International Codes and the 2011 National
Electrical Code (NEC). The NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association. The International Code
Council and National Fire Protection Association issue updated codes every three years. The code modifications
help clarify intent, recognize new construction methods and materials, and improve the minimum requirements de-
signed to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare.
The code adoption process is a lengthy one, involving reviewing/considering the proposed code editions, and present
each proposed code and code amendments to the Construction Board for their consideration prior to the codes being
presented to City Council for adoption. The code adoption is projected to occur in late 2015.
For more information on the New Codes, Contact Ben McCarty at bmccarty@cstx.gov or at 979.764.3574