By Dennis Box, The Courier-Herald
If you have been thinking about building a new shop, or an extra room, or maybe the best dog house in town, the Building Division of Bonney Lake's Planning and Community Development Department is close to making the process for getting a building permit much easier.
Planning Director Bob Leedy reported that the a fast-track permit process is in draft form in the Building Division for smaller projects such as residential additions up to 750 square feet, garages, patio covers and simple office improvements under 1,000 square feet.
When a homeowner first begins to imagine knocking out a wall and turning a closet-size area into a dream room complete with a big screen TV and surround sound, often the first stumbling block is where and how to obtain the proper permits, and it is there the frustration begins.
"It used to be that both large and small projects were put into the same pile," Leedy said. "With the fast-track permit process the smaller projects and minor alterations will be handled over the counter."
The city is still required by law to enforce the Washington State Building Code ensuring that structures are safe and built according to the code. The new fast track permit is designed to make the beginning of the process, from the dream to the first nail, a streamlined, one-stop shopping affair.
"This doesn't apply to restaurants or schools or medical buildings. A larger project will still go under a major review process," Leedy said.
Earlier this year the Planning and Community Development Department consolidated the permit procedure into one building, the Permit Center, at 8720 184th Ave. E. The department moved to that address in April. Since the move the time period for new construction approval has dropped from an average of 12 weeks to three.
The fast track step is meant to give a boost to the homeowner who is thinking about improvements to his property and accommodating the contractor that may be hired.
Leedy reported, "the idea has been in the back of our minds for a while and we received some complaints from the public that the permits were taking too long."
Building Department official Jerry Hight wrote the current draft, which will be presented to the City Council sometime in November.
Mayor Bob Young reported the plan would be implemented by the end of the year. "Once it come to the council workshop it will move quickly. We really want the permit procedure to be a friendly process," he said.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com
