PLAN REVIEW & PERMIT CHANGES
The City of Rock Hill is expected to see some changes to the building and zoning plan review and permit fee schedule, effective July 1, in order to bring the City of Rock Hill more in line with fees used by other jurisdictions. The most significant changes include adding resubmittal fees for specific types of plans, change order fees, and civil plan review fees.
In addition to the above, in an effort to stay more in line with the Building Valuation Data Table provided by the International Codes Council and to avoid significant increases at once, City Council also is expected to adopt the 2022 ICC Building Data Valuation Data Table to replace the 2021 table that is currently in use. This change is expected to take place July 1, 2022.
Please contact Kassey Evans, Permit Center Manager, at 803-329-5698 or kassey.evans@cityofrockhill.com for more information.
PERFORMANCE & WARRANTY BOND PROCESS CHANGES
City Council also is expected to adopt changes to our performance and warranty bonds process, effective July 1. Key changes include using bond agreements similar to other jurisdictions, adding an annual review process for the bond amounts, and adding alleys and minor improvements remaining under a temporary Certificate of Occupancy to the items for which bonds may be allowed.
Please contact Leah Youngblood, Planning & Development Director, at 803-329-5569 or leah.youngblood@cityofrockhill.com, for more information.
FIRE IMPACT FEE PROCESS CHANGES
Also expected to start July 1, fire impact fees will be required to be paid either at the time of approval of water and/or sewer service/extension requests (for specific land uses within 2.5 road miles of a City fire station, with the concurrence of a local fire district, if applicable), or at the time that an annexation application is submitted.
Please contact Amy Jo Denton, Senior Planner, Long-Range Planning Division, at 803-326-3869 or amyjodenton@cityofrockhill.com for more information.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
The Planning & Development Department has seen a few big changes in personnel over the past few months:
- We have promoted Becky Mullett to the position of Open for Business coordinator. She will be managing that program as well as the business license issuance and renewal processes.
- We hired Frydman Valiente to fill Becky’s former permit technician role. He speaks Spanish fluently, and so is a tremendous asset for our team.
- We have hired Bryman Suttle as the Planner I in the Zoning division. Bryman performs various zoning plan reviews and serves as the staff liaison to the Board of Historic Review.
- We have hired Donna Welch as our zoning administrative assistant. She will be helping with the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Historic Review, and Traffic Commission, among other functions.
- We have promoted Melody Kearse to the position of Landscape Plans Examiner. Until we fill her former role of zoning coordinator, she will continue to also help with the Zoning Board of Appeals as needed.
- We have hired Michael Kirby as our new Development Services Engineer. He is scheduled to start on July 5th.
- Commercial code enforcement has moved to the Neighborhood Services Department. Dart Raymes is now working there.
- We expect to have a fifth building inspector position budgeted for the coming year, starting on July 1.
Because of these changes, and the high volume of development plans and permit applications that we are seeing right now, we ask that you build into your schedules additional time for the plan review and permitting process. While we are working very hard to process your plan review and permit submittals as quickly as possible, some delays should be expected as we continue to build and train an incredible team to serve you.
We are still looking to fill our deputy building official position, and RFATS is looking for a couple of transportation planners. If you know anyone who seems like they may be a good fit for any of our vacant positions, please let us know!
WEBSITE & FORM IMPROVEMENTS
We are working to make improvements to the Planning & Development Department’s webpages and forms so that it is easier for you to find the information you need.
This is still very much a work in progress, but if you have any ideas about specific things we should consider changing in this respect, please contact Leah Youngblood, Planning & Development Director, at 803-329-5569 or leah.youngblood@cityofrockhill.com.
Modifications to Residential Home Builders Act
The South Carolina Residential Home Builders Act has been modified. The changes went into effect May 16th. While we are still working to incorporate the changes into our processes, we believe that the impact will be very minimal.
BUILDING CODE CHANGES - COMING JANUARY 1, 2023
Building Code Changes—Coming January 1, 2023
Beginning January 1, 2023, the City of Rock Hill is expected to adopt the 2021 edition of the International Building Codes.
Please contact Mike Nugent, Certified Building Official, at 803-329-5598 or mike.nugent@cityofrockhill.com for more information.
If you have received this e-blast on behalf of a state license holder that you work with, please forward this message on to them.
|
