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Findlay planning committee backs simplified zoning permit fee schedule, recommends council approval
Summary
The Findlay City Planning and Zoning Committee voted to recommend an updated zoning permit and fee schedule intended to simplify tiers tied to building size and floodplain rules and asked staff to confirm the legislative path and effective date.
The Findlay City Planning and Zoning Committee on Oct. 7 recommended that the full City Council adopt an updated zoning permit fee schedule intended to simplify permit tiers and align floodplain-related charges with federal rules.
Committee Chairman Councilman Brian Bauman said the item opened as the committee's first agenda matter: "So item number 1, we will, begin with the proposed zoning permit and fee adjustments." City planning staff explained the revised schedule and distributed printed copies to the committee.
The changes presented tie certain fee cutoffs to floodplain rules and local building patterns. Staff said accessory structures inside the floodplain are capped at 600 square feet under FEMA regulations; on typical non-floodplain parcels the cutoff for accessory structures was raised to 900 square feet. Staff also said many single-family houses built in Findlay in the past decade fall between about 1,800 and 2,500 square feet and that the proposed schedule places most typical single-family work under the $250 permit tier.
"Our flood code only allows an accessory structure to go up to 600 square feet per FEMA regulations," planning staff said. The committee debated whether to keep a distinct 0'to'600 tier or simplify to a single 0'to'900 band for residential accessory work; several members urged simplification to reduce confusion over one- or two-square-foot cutoffs.
Councilman Grant Russell moved the committee recommendation to adopt the updated zoning permit fee schedule as presented; the motion passed on a voice vote. The committee instructed staff to work with the law director to confirm whether the change must come via ordinance and when it would take effect. During discussion staff said, "I anticipate all the changes we're making in 2025 would go in 01/01/2026," and agreed to confirm the date and legislative procedure with the law director.
Committee members and staff said the revision is intended to reduce tiers and administrative burden while preserving charges tied to floodplain administration and other costs. A few members asked staff to return with any clarification on how residential and commercial accessory tiers will work in practice before the item goes to council.
The committee forwarded its report recommending council adoption and requested that city staff and the law director prepare any necessary legislation and confirm the effective date.
The committee's motion and recommendation will go to full council for final action; staff said they will confirm whether the fee changes are adopted administratively or require council ordinance and will prepare the paperwork accordingly.
