Important City of Ann Arbor Planning & Development Services updates for November 2011

Planning & Development Services, Parking Referees move back to Larcom City Hall next week
Approximately two years ago, construction/building and rental housing staff from the City of Ann Arbor Planning and Development Services Unit relocated to 2000 S. Industrial as part of the construction of the new Ann Arbor Justice Center and the renovation of the first and sixth floors of Larcom City Hall. We are pleased to announce construction/building and rental housing services will move back to City Hall (301 E. Huron Street) the week of Nov. 14.

Scheduled inspections will not be interrupted as a result of the move. The last day of service at the South Industrial office will be Monday, Nov. 14. Construction/building and rental housing services will be available for service on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the new offices on the first floor of Larcom City Hall.

Please remember to use our e-TRAKiT online permitting system (https://www.a2gov.org/etrakit) to access planning and building records and general planning and development information. Search by permit number, contractor and case (code enforcement) records.

Or use our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System to schedule, reschedule, cancel and obtain inspection results and plan review status. STEP 1: Call 734.794.6267. Select Option 2, then Option 1 to reach IVR.

Planning and development staffs — including city planners, inspectors, historic preservation, zoning and building/construction — will be located on the first floor of Larcom City Hall. A new, metered parking lot also will be open on the north (Ann Street) side of Larcom City Hall, including spaces for handicap-permitted drivers and motorcycles. The metered spaces on Fifth Avenue and angled, back-in parking on Ann Street will also be available. The north atrium entrance (Ann Street-side of the building) is now open.

Additionally, the City of Ann Arbor Parking Referee offices will also relocate back to the fifth floor of Larcom City Hall (301 E. Huron Street) on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Referee sessions will be cancelled on that day to accommodate the moving of staff. A new feature coming soon for customers will be the ability to pay tickets using a wireless kiosk located in the waiting area of the Parking Referee Office on the fifth floor. For additional information visit http://www.a2gov.org/parking.

Important information about Certificate of Occupancy for commercial re-occupations
All new commercial ventures coming into Ann Arbor are required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy prior to opening for business. The process for receiving a Certificate of Occupancy begins with the submission of a re-occupation application. The re-occupation application is available in the “forms” section of the City web site http://www.a2gov.org. If the applicant intends to re-occupy without building modifications, repairs, or alterations, there is an inspection fee of $190. If the application is submitted with construction permit applications and drawings for alterations, the $190 fee is waived.

The purpose of re-occupation inspections is to protect the public, the building owner, the tenant, and the City infrastructure. These inspections are also instrumental in determining Occupancy Use changes, which sometimes require compliance to code sections designed specifically for that Use – addressing such elements as handicap accessibility and fire-safety features. There is also a strong life safety element to the inspections, identifying electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems that no longer function as they were intended. Repairing or upgrading these systems could alleviate future unexpected repair costs, lower insurance rates, and eliminate hazardous conditions.

Commercial re-occupations are administered through the Planning and Development Services area, and all questions can be addressed to the Ann Arbor Building Official.
rwelton@a2gov.org. 734.794.6261.

2009 Michigan Rehabilitation Code for Existing Buildings
901.2 – Change in occupancy with no change of occupancy classification. A change in occupancy, as defined in Section 202, with no change of occupancy classification shall not be made to any structure that will subject the structure to any special provisions of Sections 902 through 911, without the approval of the code official. A certificate of occupancy shall be issued where it has been determined that the requirements for the change in occupancy have been met.

101.4.2 – Buildings Previously Occupied. The legal occupation of any building existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as is specifically covered in this code, the International Fire code, or the International Property Maintenance Code, or as is deemed necessary by the code official for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ― CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
p. 734.794.6263 | f. 734.994.8460 | building@a2gov.org