December 2015 – Planning and Building Report

For my last 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.

2015 Summary

  • 56 land use applications were submitted and reviewed or are currently under review (32 in 2014, 37 in 2013, 36 in 2012, 41 in 2011, 35 in 2010 and 32 in 2009).
  • The most notable planning projects in 2015 included: Subdivision approval for the Idelman Park, Sandy Bluff Annex 5, and Zion Meadows Subdivisions.  Design Review approval for a 24 unit apartment complex (Doug Fir Apartments), Carlson Food Carts, a Tesla Motors charging station at Fred Meyer, Phase II Tupper Hill Apartments and annexation of Oja Lumber and Sandy Animal Clinic properties.
  • 118 single family building permits were issued (83 in 2014, 74 in 2013, 32 permits in 2012, 32 permits in 2011, 45 in 2010 and 46 in 2009) with a value of $25,106,512.
  • 20 single family addition permits were issued (25 in 2014, 27 in 2013, 31 permits in 2012, 22 permits in 2011, 13 in 2010 and 18 in 2009) with a value of $675,541.
  • 76 commercial permits were issued (60 in 2014, 65 in 2013, 91 permits in 2012, 65 permits in 2011, 44 in 2010 and 32 permits in 2009) with a value of $4,607,362.
  • Total value of all permits was $30,443,113 (2014 value = $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 – December has surprised Sandy building contractors with a mixture of weather, from heavy rains, winter freezes, snow, to unusually mild temperatures.  New construction and remodel projects are dealing with the usual rain and mud.  Fortunately, there have been no reports of frozen water pipes or significant delays to construction other than the usual challenges.  The only delays reported were due primarily to Christmas and New Year Holidays.  Thankfully the mild weather that followed has allowed the builders to keep up a better-than-expected pace so far into 2016.

There are 54 new homes being constructed in Sandy.   Hayden Homes has a total of 13 homes in the Sandy Bluff development.  Villa Vista Homes currently has total of 14 new homes under construction. Gibson Homes has 8 townhomes underway.  Raasch Construction and West Ridge Homes each have 4 homes under construction.  Richard Haggerty is building 3 new homes, and his father, Ron Haggerty, has 2 homes underway.  Wolverine Construction, Raze Custom Homes, Oregon Custom Homes, Cashatt Construction and Alan Seymor, are currently building one home each. There were 4 commercial remodel projects started in December, including a new doctor’s office opening next to Block Buster Video in the space formerly occupied by the Magic Bean Bistro.