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Resident says permit process required owner-occupancy and caused months-long delay
Summary
A resident told council he experienced an extended delay and confusing guidance from the building department when applying for a permit, saying staff required him to sign an affidavit to occupy the property before issuing a permit; the mayor apologized and offered follow-up.
At Wednesday's council meeting, resident Dan O'Neil described a protracted permitting delay that he said began when the building department questioned whether the owner would occupy a rehabilitated home and made owner-occupancy a condition of issuing a permit.
Why it matters: the resident said the constraint and follow-up communication prevented him from completing normal post-permit tasks for weeks and imposed extra expense and hardship during a major rehabilitation.
Dan O'Neil, who gave his Webster Groves address to the council, described buying a distressed property and leading a months-long rehab so his son and daughter-in-law could occupy the home. He said the building department initially told him it would not issue a permit unless the owner lived in the house; after weeks of delay and a request for assistance at a council meeting, O'Neil said he reluctantly signed an affidavit that he would occupy the home so the permit could be issued. "I estimate the delays cost us over $2,000," he told council, describing the series of communications that he said left his family without standard services and caused hardship during the 10-month rehab.
Mayor Arnold apologized that staff did not follow up as Mr. O'Neil expected and invited the resident to meet with staff following the meeting so the city could investigate the matter and address any internal failures in communication or process.
The exchange did not result in council action; staff said they would follow up directly with the resident outside the meeting. Councilmembers asked that staff report back to the council if policy or process changes are warranted.
