2. Permits/Development ProcessPLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
MONTANA
Myrt Webb, Interim City Manager
Tom Jentz, Planning & Building Director
May 19, 2009
Planning Department
201 151 Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 758-7940
Pax: (406) 758-7739
www.kalispeR.com/planning
Kalispell Building Permit Process - May 26 Council Work Session
Please find attached an overview of the building permit process for the City of
Kalispell_ Note that there are several variables to the process. These variables
coupled with several "doorways" in which to enter the development review
process are essential elements in assisting the general public through the
review process.
In addition, staff has presented an actual case study using Wal-Mart as an
example to illustrate how this process works.
KALISPELL
BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS
(Doorways to Development)
People enter the building permit process from different directions and
processes based on the type of project they are undertaking and the type of
approvals they need.
The Four Doorways To A Building Permit Are As Follows:
1. Building Deportment - Submission of building, structural, mechanical
and fire sprinkling plans.
2. Architectural Review Committee - Submission of architectural
renderings, parking and signage.
3. Site Review Committee - Preparation of a site layout including traffic
flow, utilities, pedestrian access, drainage, parking, landscaping, garbage
pickup, etc.
4. Planning Board - Conditional Use Permit
Building Department Process - Typical:
The most common process involves an applicant who submits a set of building
plans, site plan and architectural renderings to the Building Department. The
process is as follows:
The Building Department receives a building permit application along with a
set of building, mechanical and plumbing plans, a site plan and architectural
renderings.
1. if it is a single family or duplex project:
Building Department begins review of building plans, Planning
Department reviews zoning criteria, review typically takes one week.
Upon completion of review, applicant pays building permit fee and
impact fees and is given a building permit.
2. If it is a multi- family, commercial or industrial project:
+ Building Department begins review of building plans.
+ Planning Department concurrently takes the site plan information
submitted and circulates it to the Site Review Committee. Site review
meets weekly, every Thursday morning and addresses parking,
access, drainage, utilities, landscaping, traffic flow, pedestrian access
and other issues associated with the actual lacation of the hijilding on
the site. When all issues have been addressed, the Site Review
Committee provides a written approval with comments and conditions
from each department.
• Planning Department concurrently takes the architectural drawings
and forwards them to the Architectural Review Committee. The
committee meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month and
addresses issues with the exterior design of the building and with all
free standing signs. When all issues have been adequately addressed,
the Architectural Review Committee votes to approve Lhe subin.i.ttal.
+ Mniti-family, commercial or industrial projects typically are reviewed
and completed in 30 days. Upon completion of review, applicant pays
building permit (determined by the Building Department) and impact
fees (determined by Public Works) and picks up building permit.
Exceptions to standard process:
Often times, projects do not follow a traditional process but instead enter
through different doorways based on specific needs or issues facing the project.
For exaa-xxple:
1. Projects that need a conditional use permit before they proceed: In
recent history, this would be the Montana Club Restaurant & Casino.
If a multi -family project, a church, a day care or a casino needs a
conditional use permit prior to construction, the applicants will submit a
conditional use permit application to the Planning Department for what
is typically a 90 day review process. They will also submit a site plan to
the Site Review Commmittee so that the city staff can comment on the site
layout, parking, landscaping, access, etc. Finally, depending on the
complexity of the project, they may also submit architectural drawings
for the Architectural Review Committee in order to determine if there are
any "show stoppers" in the process. Once the planning board and city
council have approved the conditional use permit, the applicants would
then apply for a building permit. Time lapse would be 90 days for the
condition,. d Lase Permit anci ,in clays fnr the hziilding permit.
2. Projects which have significant architectural or free standing sign
challenges or issues: In recent history, this was Super 1 Foods.
Such projects typically submit to the Architectural Review Committee
first to get the design issues worked out. Once these issues are worked
out, the final design can be completed on the building and the project
proceeds through the building permit process. This may add 30 or so
days to the process.
3. Projects that have extreme site or utility limitations. An example would
be Wal-Mart.
Such projects start with submission to the Site Review Committee to
ensure that they can locate their building and address storm water
drainage, sewer and water access, parking, and access onto the existing
street system, etc. Once these issues are resolved, the applicants
complete final building design and submit through the building permit
process.
KALISPELL BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS
Wal-Mart Chronology as an example:
February, 2008 , -- Phil Harris begins discussion with staff as to
ability to locate Wal-Mart at Hutton Ranch. Planning Department
determines that it is a retail commercial use and it meets the criteria for
the Hutton Ranch PUD. It is noted that it will consume all the remaining
space on the site. Staff points out the following issues that needed to be
explored more thoroughly:
• The interior property lines will have to be consolidated,
• Underground utilities serving the site may will have to be
relocated,
• The original access points onto Hutton Ranch Road would need to
be reviewed.
• Future bypass widening of Hutton Ranch Road may impact the
landscaping plan and the amount actual lot size.
Four-sided architectural would be expected_
Discuss parking ratios
March -- October, 2008 - Several meetings with Phil Harris concerning
development process.
October 21, 2008 - Wal-Mart submits architectural drawings to
Architectural Review Committee.
October 28, 2008 - Architectural Review Committee meets first time on
Wal-Mart. Note that the architect travels from Texas for each meeting.
November 14, 2008 - Second Architectural Review Committee meeting on
Wal-Mart.
December S, 2008 - Wal-Mart pre -design meeting. Wal-Mart
development team meets with Kalispell staff (planning, building, public
works, fire and parks) to review the entire project_ (186,000 square font
building on 17 acres) . Note the engineers travel from Olympia,
Washington.
December 9, 2008 - Third Architectural Review Committee meeting
December 12, 2008 - Complete set of site plans formally submitted to
Kalispell Site Review Committee_ Project is reviewed weekly_ Major
issues discussed in ensuing weeks with the Wal-Mart architects and
engineers which included:
• Relocating main access point into parking lot
• Making provision for future widening of HULLun Ranch Road
• Revising interior circulation plan for parking lot
• Requiring site drainage to comply with current standards
• Revising landscaping plan along Hutton Ranch Road
• Reviewing exterior parking and building lighting plans
• Modifications to the loading dock area and garbage
screening.
• Pedestrian access on the site.
December 26, 2008 - Wall -Mart development team asks for listing_ of all
fees that will be due associated with the building permit.
January 13, 2009 - Fourth Architectural Review Committee meeting
January 27, 2009 - Architectural Review Committee grants approval of
the building design.
February 20, 2UU9 - Public Works approves the demolition (removal) of
water and sewer lines previously installed in the site in anticipation of
the new b-Lilding pad_
March 12, 2009 - Wal-Mart receives Site Review Committee approval.
March 12, 2009 - Wal-Mart receives design approval from Public Works
to install new service lines for water and sewer, fire hydrants and storm
water collection.
March 18, 2009 -- Planning Department advises Wal-Mart architect in
Dallas that no building inspectors would be in office on April 7 to review
their building plans submission (all are at training school that week).
Asked them to deliver plans the following week so they could meet
inspectors as well.
April 1, 2009 - Effective date of Transportation Impact Fees.
April 13, 2009 - Wal-Mart submits a complete set of building,
plumbing and mechanical plans for review. Plans incorporate the
Architectural Review Committee conditions and Site Review Committee
conditions.
May 11, 2009 - Building Department sent out comments and changes
to the building plans, waiting for response.
May 26, 2009 - Anticipated building permit issuance
August 1, 2009 - Anticipated start of construction.