Council approves first reading to streamline building‑move approvals, adjust false‑alarm fee trigger

The Eden Prairie City Council on Tuesday approved the first reading of an ordinance that removes the requirement for planning commission (board of adjustments and appeals) review of administrative building‑move approvals and clarifies when the city will charge user fees for excessively frequent false fire alarms. City staff said the building‑move provision rarely required substantive planning commission input because technical building‑move details are within the building official’s authority under the building code. The ordinance removes the planning‑commission review step and makes the approval administrative. The ordinance also aligns the municipal code with the city fee schedule for false fire alarms by clarifying that user fees will be charged after two false alarms in a year — i.e., on the third instance, consistent with the fee schedule. Mr. Getchell and staff described the changes as housekeeping that streamline the process without changing technical permit requirements. Councilmembers moved and seconded the first reading; the motion carried on a voice vote. A second reading and final adoption will follow at a later meeting.