Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Permit Extension topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tiburon council grants 6-month extension and waives penalty for waterfront rebuild delayed by storms
Summary
After hearing from the applicant about heavy-rain and disaster-declared delays, the Tiburon Town Council voted to grant a six-month building-permit extension for 4916 Ranch Road and waive the five-times penalty fee, which staff had estimated at $87,935.
The Tiburon Town Council voted Dec. 3 to grant a six-month extension and waive the five-times penalty fee for a major reconstruction project at 4916 Ranch Road after the owner cited repeated storm-related delays in 2023 and 2024.
Staff told the council the project’s original permit was issued Jan. 3, 2023, and that the applicant had already used prior extensions and paid prior fees. Under town code, a fourth extension must be approved by the council and carries a fee equal to five times the original permit fee; staff quoted that amount as $87,935 while noting the council has discretion to reduce or waive the fee with a prorated refund if the project is completed early.
At the public hearing the applicant described extended periods when work could not proceed because of heavy rainfall and wetlands on the property. The applicant said inspections were delayed and that, "this was beyond our control," asked the council to "please waive my fees because of that," and noted she had already paid about $100,000 in permit fees and penalties.
Building official Doug Haidt and town staff explained the permit-expiration and extension framework to councilors and said that certain exterior elements (for example, pool and landscaping) could be deferred and permitted later if needed to expedite completion under the current permit. Staff’s standard recommendation was to impose the fee and prorate a refund if the project finishes early; councilors instead moved to grant the extension and waive the penalty for the six-month period.
Council member Fredericks moved to grant the six-month extension and waive the fees; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Fredericks — Yes; Nick Farr — Yes; Ryan — Absent; Vice Mayor Wallner — Yes; Mayor Thier — Yes.
The decision means the permit’s expiration will be extended by six months under the town’s municipal code. The council and staff noted the applicant must return if additional extensions are needed, because municipal code limits extensions to six-month increments awarded by the council. The council also retained the option to prorate fees if the applicant completes the work before the extension period ends.
Next steps: the applicant will proceed under the six-month extension, and staff said they will continue to monitor progress and may refund a prorated portion of any fee if the project completes early.
