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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15.F.1. Text Amendment Regarding Certification of foundation level, final grades and topsoil-Ord. No. 730 CITY OF SHAKOPEE IS: F. J ~ Memorandum CASE LOG NO.: TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: R. Michael Leek, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Text Amendment Regarding Certification of foundation level, final grades, and topsoil MEETING.DATE: May 3, 2005 INTRODUCTION: This item was tabled at the last Council meeting to allow review by staff after receipt of comment by Mark Sonstegard of Ryland Homes. That comment has been considered, and changes made to the attached draft in response. DISCUSSION: In recent years and in some newer single-family residential developments, city staffhas encountered situations where building foundation levels are found to be outside acceptable tolerances, and where the final lot grades do not match city-approved grading plans for a subdivision. In addition, there is an ongoing concern that the topsoil requirement for residential properties be met. For those reasons, staff is suggesting to the Council changes to City Code Chapter 4 that would require building permit holders to provide written verification ofthese items from a registered land surveyor. A draft ordinance embodying these changes is attached for Council's consideration. Staffhas looked at other alternatives that involve city staff or a contractor of the city to inspect for these items. However, staff believes that the alternative suggested puts the onus where it belongs (i.e. on the builders), and may in fact be less costly for builders than if the city were to perform the inspections and charge for them. In order to make the building and development community aware of these contemplated changes, for about the past 5 weeks, the attached notice has been distributed to members of the building community. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve Ordinance No. 730, revising City Code Chapter 4. 2. Approve Ordinance No. 730, with revisions. 3. Do not approve Ordinance No. 730. 4. Table the matter for additional information. ACTION REQUESTED: Approve Ordinance No. 730, revising City Code Chapter 4. R. Michael Leek Community Development Director ORDINANCE NO. 730, FOURTH SERIES AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 4, CONSTRUCTION LICENSING, PERMITS AND REGULATIONS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS: Section 1 - That City Code Chapter CHAPTER 4, CONSTRUCTION LICENSING, PERMITS AND REGULATIONS, is hereby amended by deleting the following struck through language or adding the following underlined language. SEC. 4.06. INSPECTIONS Subd. 5. Prior to commencement of framing, or at the time of final foundation inspection, the building permit holder shall submit to the Building Official or the Building Official's assigns written verification by a registered land surveyor that the foundation elevation matches the approved foundation elevation within acceptable tolerances (i.e. -.2 feet and +.5 feet) that have been determined by the Building Official or the Building Officials assigns. SEC. 4.07. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. SUBD. 3. CERIFICATION OF FINAL GRADES AND TOPSOIL. Prior to the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy for a structure, the permit holder shall submit to the Building Official or the Building Official's assigns written verification by a registered land surveyor that the final (or as-built) grades for the site are consistent with the approved grading plan. The permit holder shall also submit written verification that the subject site contains the amount of topsoil required under Chapter 11, Zoning, or other provisions of the City Code. Written verification oftopsoil does not need to be by a registered surveyor. Re-number accordingly. Section 2 - - Effective Date. This ordinance becomes effective from and after its passage and publication. Adopted in session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota held the day of ,2005. Mayor of the City of Shako pee ATTEST: City Clerk Published in the Shakopee Valley News on the _ day of ,2005.