For my first report of the year I like to provide the City Council with an overview of Planning and Building related development activity for the past year.

2014 Summary

• 32 land use applications were submitted and reviewed or are currently under review (37 in 2013, 36 in 2012, 41 in 2011, 35 in 2010 and 32 in 2009).
• The most notable planning projects in 2014 included: Design Review approval for new batting cages, tennis dugouts, and a renovation of the maintenance building at the high school, a new building at U.S. Metals on Industrial Way, and a small expansion of the Fred Meyer fuel station.  A seven lot subdivision at the end of Penny Ave. was also approved.
• Code amendments were made to allow food carts and staff was busy working on an updated Urbanization Study.
• 83 single family building permits were issued (74 in 2013, 32 permits in 2012, 32 permits in 2011, 45 in 2010 and 46 in 2009) with a value of $17,364,001.
• 25 single family addition permits were issued (27 in 2013, 31 permits in 2012, 22 permits in 2011, 13 in 2010 and 18 in 2009) with a value of $323,607.
• 60 commercial permits were issued (65 in 2013, 91 permits in 2012, 65 permits in 2011, 44 in 2010 and 32 permits in 2009) with a value of $1,720,657.
• Total value of all permits was $19,530,452 (2013 value = 2012 value = $21,193,274, $17,609,886, 2011 value = $53,977,601, 2010 value = $41,305,292 and 2009 value = $14,091,921).

FROM TERRE GIFT, BUILDING OFFICIAL – The year 2014 proved to be a busier year than expected. A total of 83 plans for single-family residences were reviewed and permitted in 2014 – which is the highest number since 2007.  Commercial activities were also strong in 2014, with 85 non-residential permits in total.

The two most active builders in 2014 were Vista Homes and Hayden Homes: Vista Homes with a total of 40 new single-family houses and townhouses in the Snowberry Subdivision, and Hayden Homes with in Sandy Bluff

Hayden has taken the lead as the busiest of the residential contractors,.   Stonecreek Development continued to hold strong most of the year in both Deer Pointe and Sandy Bluff Subdivisions, but reported that they are running out of building lots and expect to be completely built out by early next year.   Jim Raze Construction completed  8 homes in 2014 and will complete the last 2 lots in 2015.  Ed Wagoner completed 4 new townhomes at Nettie Connett and has submitted plans for 5 more.  Jerry Gravell completed 10 new townhomes and started 4 more, with plans for another 6 in 2015.  Cashatt Construction has complete one new home and is building another in the Tickle Creek Subdivision.

New commercial construction and tenant-Improvement projects included a new AT&T Store, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Store, Mike’s Tire Service, Tamale Factory, Golden Key Chinese Restaurant, Try-My-Thai Restaurant, Crawlers (opening across from Plaid Pantry), Star Bucks relocation, La Milpa Mexican Food purchasing and moving into the large industrial location, Classic Hearth moving also purchasing and moving to a new location in the Ruben Lane Industrial Park, Block Buster Video relocation, Cross-Fit expansion, All-Ways Towing occupancy of the large industrial building on 362, and the Sandy High School converting it’s maintenance building to their IT and printing departments.

Another significant success has been the Business Safety Inspections Program that the building department performs for new businesses and relocation of existing businesses to ensure the minimum fire/life/health/safety and accessibility provisions are current and meet Oregon minimum requirements, with vocal support from the Fire Marshal, Sandy Fire District and the City of Sandy Economic Development Department.

Other notable activities were the demolition of the derelict building located at the corner of Strauss Ave. and Pleasant Street, informally referred as the Muff House, and the fire damage to the “Boarding House” on Pioneer Blvd, which resulted in it being declared an unsafe building.  A third residential building on Bluff Road that had been declared unsafe due to a fire in 2012, is now in the process of plan review for major renovations.  Plans were received in December of 2014 and the owners are excited about starting renovation in 2015.

One final note worth mentioning is that the building department has began the process of updating permit forms in preparation for upcoming software changes.   Permit Specialist, Noryne Robinson, has been working hard to simplify and streamline the formwork.

URBAN RENEWAL – In 2014 only two additional facade enhancement projects were completed and we are looking for other buildings to renovate in the coming year.