August 2015 – Planning and Building Report

1) APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW 

a) File No. 15-031 DR – Staff approved a 24 unit apartment complex located on Vista Loop Drive.

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY 

a) Total value for the month was $612,529.
b) 1 permit for a single family dwelling with a value of $253,365.  
c) 1 permit for an addition to a single-family dwelling with a value of $13,012.
d) 0 duplexes.
e) 3 commercial permits with a value of $345,852.

Through August we have had 87 residential buildings permits for the year.  This number exceeds the yearly total for each year back to and including 2008.

FROM TERRE GIFT, BUILDING OFFICIAL – While the number of residential inspections remained steady, the number of new residential permits decreased slightly and the number of plans submitted also decreased.  Hayden Homes and Vista Homes continued to lead as the busiest residential contractors.  Hayden Homes has 14 homes scheduled for completion in September and is about to excavate for another block of homes.  Vista Homes has slowed their pace somewhat due to 2 other developments underway and not enough sub-contractors.  In fact, all the builders have expressed frustration in scheduling sub-contractors due to the high volume of homes being built in the entire region.   Jerry Gravell is more than 50% completed with his last 4 townhomes.  Cashatt Construction is nearing completion of his 3rd home on Ichabod.  Jim Raze construction is nearing completion of  his home in Salmon Creek estates. In addition to the new construction, there is about half a  dozen residential remodels currently underway.

Commercial activities remained active in September.  The Cedars Laundromat has officially opened.   The establishment boasts all new machines that are the most efficient in the industry and are monitored remotely on line.  The place has been very active and is open every day. Three years after opening, the Sandy High School has obtained their Certificate of Occupancy.  There had been several small items, and one larger one that needed to be completed.  The Fire Department Connection (FDC) for the building is located at the southwest corner of the building.  It is a 8 inch pipe with 2 hose connections that normally has red, tamper-resistant covers.  The covers had been missing for more than a year.  We required that the high school camera the line to verify that nothing had been dropped into the FDC and might block the line in the event of a fire.  Upon inspection, sure enough there was a trash bag from someone’s school lunch was at the bottom of the riser, and most surely would have caused a serious problem.

Lastly, Clackamas County and the City of Sandy has been in discussion to update coordination of permitting and inspections and through inter-governmental agreement.  All Electrical permits and inspections are provided by Clackamas County, as authorized by Oregon Building Codes Division.  (The Building, Energy, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits and inspections are provided by the City of Sandy Building Department.   Our goal is to provide all permitting and inspections through the City of Sandy within the next 5 years

3) URBAN RENEWAL – Activities this month have been pretty quiet on the urban renewal project front.