Code and Program Changes related to Affordable Housing Advisory Board

goal to reduce the cost of housing by 5%

1. Method of installing sidewalks in new subdivisions – A concern exists for both developers and the city that sidewalks in new subdivisions are often damaged one or more times at different points of constructing a home leading to additional time, costs, and even poorer quality sidewalks.  Reviewing this issue will require a team of city department, utility company and industry representatives to define the goals and consider options to refine the practices.

2. Plat studies – Review the thresholds for when downstream sanitary sewer and 7-step traffic studies are required to be submitted for replatting property to lower engineering costs associated with creating new lots in the city.

3. Modify street tree standards and methods of ensuring compliance – Consider revising the street tree standard from locating trees every 40 feet on center to every 50 feet on center.  The city’s Horticulture & Forestry Manager is accepting of this revision.  Also, revise the process for generating the master street tree plan to reduce costs associated with drafting and recording the document.

4. Building permit fee – Consider revising the permit fee structure for new 1 & 2 family homes based on size of house (footprint, number of floors, etc.), with smaller, less complex homes being charged a lower flat rate.

5. Manual D duct work as built drawing – Consider deleting this requirement as it is recognized as unnecessary by Building Safety Division staff.

6. Insulate hot water lines - Consider revising the requirements for insulating pipes that are underground and/or under-slab.

7. Retaining wall engineering – Review the height threshold for requiring walls to be engineered at time of permitting.