Building Division Report – Q1 2021:

The beginning of 2021 has been predictably unpredictable!   Despite the pandemic and uncertainties of the financial markets or the local and national politics, residential construction and the building industry in general, is still active.   The monthly report of Sandy’s permit activity are evidence:

• 29 active Residential building permits, plus 3 new permits. (Compare this to July 2020 when we had 63 active residential dwelling permits.)   
• 12 active commercial permits, plus 1 new permit.

Residential and commercial contractors say things have slowed due to the lack of affordable buildable lots, the unusually wet, winter weather, the record-high costs of building materials, and the shortages of manufactured products due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Along with the increase in COVID-19 cases, the number of unpermitted construction projects has also increased.  Several contractors have anonymously confided that they have been asked to work an increasing number of small remodel projects involving electrical, structural and mechanical and/or plumbing, but the owners were not wanting to obtain permits. Thankfully, Sandy has many honest and ethical contractors who insist on pulling permits whenever required by law to protect themselves and the owners from needless harm and liability.   Below are three examples that show the need for permits and inspections:

Recently, the Building Department was asked to conduct a walk-thru of two older, commercial buildings.  The first building had been remodeled and reconfigured on multiple occasions, with much of the work having not been permitted or approved.  The owner and prospective buyers wanted to know what the Building Codes will require before they could start a new business in the building. The Building Official was able to help answer all their code questions, outlined the priorities to obtain permits to provide accessibility and safety, and achieve their goals. 

The second site visit was in one of Sandy’s older commercial buildings, which has a large open showroom.  The visit revealed that 1/3 of the large structural floor had been replaced with new rough-sawn lumber and topped with 4 inches of concrete slab, in the recent past.  The buyer asked if Sandy had record of any inspections or permits for the work.  Unfortunately, this unpermitted work voided the insurance coverage and placed full liability on the owner.  The building and land had additional incumbrances which caused the buyer to withdraw his offer.    

The last example is of a complete remodel of a small, vacant house.  It involved creating a new floor plan, new bathroom, new kitchen and master bedroom.  The required permits were issued, and all the rough inspections approved.  After a long period of time, the Final inspection was requested.   The owner was now living in the house but didn’t know the smoke detectors in the upstairs hall and bedroom were not connected, nor had the electrical work been signed off.   It is now corrected and all approved.  The builder, the building inspector, and the owner are happy.

Respectfully submitted by
Terrence Gift, Building Official

Planning Department items:

20-032 DCA code changes associated with House Bill 2001 related to duplexes and ADUs: Planning staff held a PC work session regarding HB 2001 on October 26^th.  These proposed code changes were heard at the the January 25^th PC meeting.  This item will be heard at the March 3^rd City Council meeting.

Community Center Porte Cochere & ADA Upgrades project (20-050 DR):  Review for this project is now complete.  Final order was issued on January 12^th.

Creekside Loop duplex garage (20-049 ADJ):  This request to adjust setbacks for a garage was issued on December 30^th and is scheduled to be heard at the March 29^th Planning Commission meeting.

Les Schwab Remodel (20-048 DR):  Staff review of this Type I design review is now complete and the final order is being written.

Rogue Fabrication zone change (20-041 ZC):  This request to change zoning designation from I-1 to I-2 for Rogue Fabrication’s new facility at the corner of Champion Way and Industrial Way was recommended for approved by the Planning Commission at their meeting on January 25^th.  Staff is currently scheduling this request for a future Council meeting for final approval.

Downtown Walkability Assessment:  Secondary review by senior staff and the department director is now complete.  Staff is currently making final edits to this assessment and will have it ready for Council review soon.

Pleasant Street Master Plan (18-022 CPA):  This project has been put on hold temporarily due to the current departmental workload.

City of Sandy Comprehensive Plan Update:  Staff continues to review this plan by looking at comp plan updates in similarly sized Oregon cities and reviewing “best practices”.  Staff is also discussing potentially posting an RFQ for consultants to manage this process for us.

The Views Planned Development (20-028):  All materials for this project have now been uploaded to iCompass in preparation for the City Council hearing on February 16^th.

Sandy High School Field House (20-040 DR/VAR):  The final order for this proposal to construct a new indoor athletic field at Sandy High School was issued on February 2^nd.

16600 362^nd (20-053 TREE/VAR):  This request for the removal of healthy trees from the protected vegetation buffer of this property has been deemed incomplete.

Tickle Creek Apartments (20-052 DR/MOD):  Developers of this project, formerly called Phase II of the Double Creek Condos project, request modification adjustments to site layout, amenities and building elevations.  Request is currently under review by staff.. 

Internal projects: 

• Permanent Outdoor Covered Structures grant program:  Here is where the program stands currently:
  • Review of all current projects to occur at the 3/1 Council/UR meeting.
  • Ria’s/SFR – Revised bid price: $69,820; permit complete, contract being created now.  This project will be ready to start construction week of 2/15.
  • La Bamba – Assisting owner with concepts for using this program to convert his front porch to more usable dining area – this is a unique build that will have a different trajectory than other projects.
  • In design/engineering phase: Boring Brewing, Le Happy
  • Application received: No Place Saloon (scheduling design meeting now)
  • Email describing program going out to additional qualifying businesses on 2/12 (Red Shed, Mtn Moka, Golden Key, Bunsenbrewer, Buddha Kat Winery)
• City Hall Repipe Project:  This project is now tentatively complete.  Initial walk through showed a couple of minor items that were missed; contractor is working on completing these items now.  Contractor performed admirably and Building Official has done a preliminary walk through and seems generally satisfied pending an official inspection.

• Cedar Ridge Demo RFQ:  Staff met with the selected contractor (PBS Environmental and Engineering of Portland) on February 2^nd to discuss project scoping; references have been checked and were positive.  Staff is continuing to work with contractor to develop a scope of work and contract price.
• Community Center Porte Cochere & ADA Upgrades project:  Planning review for this project is now complete.  Staff will be developing a scope of work for this project and putting it out to bid shortly.
• Minor changes to Community Center:
  • Lighting:  Complete.
  • Garbage enclosures:  Complete. 
  • West entrance awning:  Complete.
  • West entrance – new metal door:  Door is currently on order – installation will occur at end of February barring manufacturing or shipping delays.
  • Homeless lighting: CS Director requested bright LED lighting with a hair trigger motion detector at both north landings to discourage homeless camping, which has been happening with increasing regularity at the Community Center.  Bull Run Electric met staff with on 2/9 to survey the site and prepare a quote.

Economic Development items:

Econ Devl – Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, etc.):

• Façade project – Mtn Moka Building:  Only work remaining to be completed on this project is the mural lighting component.  This project is 95% complete.
• Façade project – Old Church on Pioneer Blvd:  Work continues on this project – general contractor seems to have completed building siding and is now working on paint and steeple siding. Paint is being done in fits and starts as weather permits – end result will be a new coat of white paint with a Sandy-Style accent color for the trim. City is assisting property owner with design work to replace entry flat work with an ADA accessible path to the front door.  Project appears to be about 75% complete.  
• TI project – Smoky Hearth:  Owners submitted a TI grant application for the resurfacing and resealing of the concrete floors throughout the interior of this restaurant.  Bids have been received and applicants are currently under contract.
• Three of the empty lots next to the Sandy Action Center were recently purchased by Shan Hill of Barlow Trail Vet Clinic. Mr. Hill hopes to build a new home for his veterinary clinic on the site as the business has outgrown its current location, and is also currently attempting to purchase the one remaining lot (the one that Joe’s 6-Pack used to occupy) from a different owner to maximize his build. He also purchased the lot with the derelict garage on it at the corner of Junker and Strauss as part of the overall project — they intend to pave this lot and use it for employee parking for the clinic.
  

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

Downtown maintenance:

• Homeless encampment cleanup:  AntFarm Youth Services cleaned up three homeless encampments on the Sorensen property behind the coin op car wash on Pioneer.  The crew also removed a large blackberry bramble behind the car wash, eliminating an eyesore and improving site visibility for law enforcement monitoring the area.
• AntFarm also continues to assist the Parks Department by removing damaged trees felled in our parks through regular maintenance processes or by storms. This wood is split into firewood and used in AntFarm’s firewood assistance program (formerly operated by Kiwanis)
• All other downtown maintenance issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis throughout the winter, with non-critical items waiting until regular maintenance work resumes in the spring.

Econ Devl – Economic Development Committee:

The February meeting of the Economic Development Committee was held on February 3^rd.  Following a brief update for the committee regarding various grant funded projects happening around town, members reported out on the current status and future plans for their respective businesses.  Committee discussion items included an update on the 362^nd extension project from City Manager Wheeler, and a review of the Covered Structures Grant program and the current status of that program, including a look at the design of the pilot project at Sandy Family Restaurant.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

There were no conferences or training opportunities for Economic Development in the month of January.  Looking forward to the Agile Management training course taught by Dr. Lazenby through Portland State University in late February.