Staff reports Alliance Industries permit, River North construction, inspector staffing changes and proposed permit-fee updates

City staff provided a multi-part development and permitting update at the Nov. 5 meeting.

Juliana Stosz, community and economic development director, reported that the city issued a building permit to Alliance Industries for a new industrial development on Runway Drive. On the residential side she said the River North Subdivision has listed its first house at 1927 Huffcutt Lane and the second house has started framing; the next four houses are expected to begin framing soon.

Stosz announced staffing changes in the inspections program: commercial electrical inspector Chuck Hoffman passed away last month; the city contracted with the commercial electrical inspector who works with Stevens Point, Cody Hoffman, to provide as-needed coverage, but staff has since learned Cody Hoffman accepted a full-time commercial building inspector position with Stevens Point and will not remain long-term. Residential building inspector Brian Bunke has announced his retirement at the end of the year and will transition to part-time support during the handover; the city will post the residential inspector position publicly.

On permitting metrics and fees, staff reported issuing 72 permits in October (20 zoning permits and 52 building permits). Staff said it is updating the permit fee schedule (last updated in 2021) and will send a fee-schedule memo and the proposed updated schedule to the City Council. The update removes several fees that are no longer part of city practice (for example, project-concept review and individual comprehensive-plan amendment fees), adds a fee to capture inspector time for change-of-use and conditional-use inspections (performed by the building inspector and fire chief), and reduces some fees for minor residential work such as water-heater repairs and like-for-like window/door replacements. Staff also reported progress on simplifying application forms by merging zoning and building applications for certain project types (decks, new homes, accessory buildings, residential additions).

Commissioners praised staff for streamlining the permit process and making some fees less burdensome for minor residential projects. Stosz said the permit-fee schedule changes will be shared with council at the next meeting.