HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-30-minutes-foundation-only-permits2018-07-30 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONER’S AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY 11:00 A.M. JULY 30, 2018
Board members present: Chairman, Laura Osiadacz; Vice-Chairman Obie
O’Brien and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Dan Carlson, CDS
Director; Mike Flory, Building Official; and 8 members of the
public.
SPECIAL MEETING FOUNDATION ONLY PERMITS CDS
At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Osiadacz opened a Special Meeting to consider
Foundation Only Permits.
Dan Carlson, CDS Director explained how they had begun discussions
previously about limiting Foundation Only Permits as they are
slowing the overall plans review process. He said they have reached
out to the building community and notified them of the meeting and
for any feedback.
Mike Flory, Building Official reviewed the process for Foundation
Only Permits. He said in the past they’ve tried to get the
applications processed within 2 weeks, but this past year they’ve
been hit with a 60% increase in overall building permit
applications. He explained how the Foundation Only Permits are not
related to fire, life, or safety but only load to ground. He said
for every Foundation Only Permit they review, it sets the rest of
the permits back. They have currently reviewed 60 of those permits
this past year, and each one takes approximately 4 hours to review.
They have contracted with outside agencies to assist with reviewing
and they are just now beginning to get caught up. Mr. Flory said
they are proposing to only accept Foundation Only Permits from
August/September to January. Mr. Carlson provided information on
their outside contract and other options relating to external and
internal Staffing which could bring in some relief.
Dave Reed, a local contractor said he applied for a permit for a
small art studio. He said that when he finally submitted his
application, the time for review went from 3-4 weeks to 6 weeks.
When prioritized over other permits for one time builders they are
pushed back due to the Foundation Only Permits. Pat Deneen said the
permits are needed but since it can be an 8-10 week process in the
summer, and that length of time can almost shut them down. He
doesn’t see how they can live without those permits and believed
it’s more of a Staffing issue. He does not see it slowing down
2018-07-30 MINUTES 2
anytime soon. Tim Merrel said he did not want to see the Foundation
Only Permit go away. He didn’t feel one month was more important
than another and would like to assist in working together for a
solution.
It was suggested to have SAFEbuilt who the County is currently
contracting with, perform a peer review prior to submitting the
permits to CDS, but Mr. Flory worried about it would push other
applications further down the timeline. He said there could be
others who could do the review but they need to know the local area
(snow load requirements, etc.) before they’d let other private
entities do the review.
Commissioner O’Brien said he would be in favor of ramping up Staff
and get them up to speed. Chairman Osiadacz felt that hearing from
the building community it’s been made clear that we’re not in the
position to get rid of Foundation Only Permits, as it could
essentially hurt economics and possibly contribute further to lack
of housing within the County. She said she would like to have Staff
to look at options including obtaining additional contractors;
increase Staff; and if the builders could be allowed to find
contractors for themselves prior to bringing it to the County.
Commissioner Wright said he’d like to explore more options including
having a professional plans review agency located within the County.
He said he’s in favor of allowing the private sector to make money
and it would maybe take pressure off of County Staff. By having an
agency in the County it would possibly allow for the builders to pay
more money in order to get it pushed through quicker. Commissioner
Wright said he appreciated the building community’s input and asked
them to work with the County in trying to resolve the issue.
The Board provided direction to Staff and to look into options and
bring it back to the Board of County Commissioners at a later date.
Commissioner O’Brien moved to not change the Foundation Only Permit
process through this calendar year. Commissioner Wright seconded.
Motion carried 3-0
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman