Long Beach building commission denies Grandmere Way permit over missing sewer approval

The Long Beach Building Commission on Feb. 13 denied a permit application for a guest house and an attached basketball court on Grandmere Way after staff found the application lacked a required La Porte County septic or sewer permit and other supporting approvals. The denial was made on a motion citing code section 150.021 requirements and carried by voice vote.

Why it mattered: staff identified three unresolved items in the application: (1) written approval or a determination from the Long Beach Advisory Plan Commission where required, (2) a La Porte County Health Department septic or sewer permit, and (3) a street‑cut permit for a new driveway. Without a sanitary permit, staff said, they could not lawfully issue a building permit.

Committee member moved to deny the permit specifically on the absence of the sewer permit; the motion was seconded and the commission voted to deny. Chair noted, “without a sewer permit, we don't issue permits,” stressing the commission’s standard that applicants must supply either a septic permit or a sewer‑connection permit before a building permit can be issued.

Several commissioners and staff counseled the applicants to pursue an Advisory Plan Commission (APC) determination if questions remain about comprehensive‑plan compliance and to secure the county sanitary approval and driveway/street‑cut permit before returning. Commission counsel and staff said sending the matter to the APC is discretionary but recommended if the applicant wants a formal determination for future submissions.

Next steps: staff will record the denial and notify the applicant. Commissioners said applicants may resubmit after obtaining the county sanitary permit and the APC determination if they choose to do so.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 109; topfinish SEG 389.