I am a lawyer
As it happens I am a lawyer. However, you do not need any legal training to appreciate how inappropriate and contrary to the public interest the city's actions have been.
The whole purpose of the building permit process is to enforce of building codes and standards. That is why one must submit plats and plans along with any building permit application. The city needs some basis to make this determination, and is not supposed to issue a building permit until it actually has determined that the proposed building will comply with applicable codes and standards.
How can city officials possibly fulfill their responsibilities if they know that the buildings described in building permit applications are not, in fact, the buildings that the builders ultimately plan to build? What's the point in even reviewing these submissions? It is an empty and pointless exercise, and a clear circumvention of the city's own building permit procedures and responsibilities.
Obviously the purpose of this exercise is to defeat any attempt to set any kind of yearly quota on building permits. However, that is what the voters of this community want. Whose side are city officials on? Who do they represent? The builders, or the citizens of this community? I think the answer is clear.
As it happens I am a lawyer. However, you do not need any legal training to appreciate how inappropriate and contrary to the public interest the city's actions have been.
The whole purpose of the building permit process is to enforce of building codes and standards. That is why one must submit plats and plans along with any building permit application. The city needs some basis to make this determination, and is not supposed to issue a building permit until it actually has determined that the proposed building will comply with applicable codes and standards.
How can city officials possibly fulfill their responsibilities if they know that the buildings described in building permit applications are not, in fact, the buildings that the builders ultimately plan to build? What's the point in even reviewing these submissions? It is an empty and pointless exercise, and a clear circumvention of the city's own building permit procedures and responsibilities.
Obviously the purpose of this exercise is to defeat any attempt to set any kind of yearly quota on building permits. However, that is what the voters of this community want. Whose side are city officials on? Who do they represent? The builders, or the citizens of this community? I think the answer is clear.
