§ 22-205. Procedures for permit approval.

(a)

Application review. The building and code enforcement department will be responsible for the processing and review of any building demolition permit application. As part of the review process, an inspection of the property may be performed by the building and code enforcement department.

(b)

Notification. Within five working days of receipt of a complete building demolition permit application for a principal structure, the building and code enforcement department shall, by regular mail, notify the owners of the real estate immediately adjacent to or which, in the absence of a street or alley, would have a contiguous or partially contiguous property line with the subject property that a demolition permit application has been submitted for the property. A sign noticing the proposed demolition shall be placed on the subject property by the city.

(c)

Permit issuance. The building and code enforcement department shall not issue a permit for a principal structure less than 30 days from the receipt of the structure demolition permit application.

(d)

Other application processing. The demolition of a principal and/or accessory structure may also be processed as part of an annexation, subdivision, zoning, or special use permit application. Any such application which includes the proposed demolition of a structure must include the permit application information referenced in section 22-202.

(e)

Meeting with neighbors.

(1)

Applicability. A meeting with abutting neighbors shall be undertaken by any property owner seeking a permit pursuant to this article authorizing demolition of an existing house (the "applicant")." For purposes of this section an "abutting" property shall be any property having any common boundary with the property owner's property and property which would have a common boundary if not interrupted by a street, alley or other right-of-way.

(2)

Required meeting. At least 30 days prior to submitting an application for demolition or building permit, a meeting must be conducted by the applicant with the owner or adult resident of each property that immediately is adjacent to and across the street from the subject property (the "abutting owner").

(3)

The meeting must be made at a time and place when it is reasonable that the abutting owners will be present. Notice of the meeting date shall be given by letter delivered via the U.S. Postal System to the abutting owners not less than seven days prior to the meeting date.

(4)

Scope of meeting. During the meeting, the applicant shall show the abutting owners a copy of the proposed site plan, building elevation plan for the project and traffic control plan. The applicant shall explain to the abutting owners, in general terms, the scope of work, the timetable for the work, any special measures such as those being made to protect property, and other matters that may be relevant to the abutting owners. The applicant shall also provide the abutting owners with a city-prepared packet of information including, among any other things, a summary of construction regulations and procedures.

(5)

The purpose of the meeting is not to secure any form of approval from the abutting owners, but instead to ensure that the abutting owners have had an opportunity to learn, in general terms, about the proposed project.

(6)

Record of meeting. The applicant must file with the city, prior to the issuance of any permit for work on the subject property, a standard "meeting completion form" that states that the applicant successfully completed the required abutting owners' meeting.

(7)

Condition precedent to building permit. The filing of the meeting completion form is a condition precedent to issuance by the city of a permit for work on the subject property.

(8)

Demolition notice requirements still applicable. The meeting visit provisions of this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the demolition notice provisions of this article.

(Code 1996, § 22-205; Ord. No. F-1044, § 1, 5-16-2005; Ord. No. F-1133, § 1, 1-6-2006; Ord. No. F-1185, § 1, 7-5-2006)