Council adds grading-permit fee, creates standalone permit type for large grading and floodplain work

The Seguin City Council amended the fee schedule to add a new grading permit type for large earthwork and floodplain reclamation projects, giving those activities a standalone permit rather than fitting them into subdivision or site-development permits.

Melissa (planning staff) told the council the fee- schedule change formalizes a permit type the city has handled in ad hoc ways for years — for example, large subdivisions or floodplain-change work that requires moving significant quantities of dirt. She said the new grading permit will provide clearer, fair and consistent fees and a permit pathway for projects that were previously shoehorned into other permit categories.

Council opened and closed a public hearing on the change; no members of the public spoke. Councilmember Levens moved to approve the fee-schedule update; the motion carried on voice vote.

Melissa said the type of project envisioned for the new permit includes large grading efforts (the presentation cited recent activity on North Huber adjacent to the softball complex as an example) and floodplain work that may accompany future development. She told the council the new permit is not mandatory for every project but is intended for applicants who request grading-only permits or whose work does not fit neatly into an existing subdivision or site-dev permit.

Staff said this change will improve transparency on fee calculations and allow consistent treatment of grading-only applications going forward.