Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Barry Walthall, Building Codes Administrator

 

CC:

Scott McCullough, Planning & Development Services Director

 

Date:

June 6, 2013

 

RE:

May 2013 Monthly Permit Reports

 

 

The Building Safety Division issued 198 building permits in May, with total construction for the month valued at $16,097,946.  Total permit fees assessed for the month were $54,781.90.  Permits were issued for 15 new residential projects, all for new single-family dwellings.  Comparisons to previous years will be tracked throughout 2013 in the following table:

 

 

One- & Two-Family Permits

Multi-Family Permits (Units)

Total Number of Permits

Total Valuation

Permit Fees

Year

Month

YTD

Month

YTD

Month

YTD

Month

YTD

Month

YTD

2013

15

74

0(0)

23(374)

198

811

$16,097,946

$70,924,543

$54,781

$402,842

2012

10

49

0(0)

22(184)

211

980

$7,838,118

$41,445,665

$61,181

$301,411

2011

16

51

0(0)

10(63)

159

811

$21,088,007

$40,567,033

$92,472

$263,733

2010

14

70

0(0)

0(0)

192

799

$14,711,012

$43,483,699

$75,587

$244,052

2009

10

31

0(0)

15(172)

133

698

$3,949,165

$32,205,349

$38,385

$233,146

 

Two permits were issued for public projects in May, including a permit for renovation and addition to the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont, valued at $9,709,509; and a permit for electrical work for groundwater pumping systems at the former Farmlands property at 2700 E 23rd Street, valued at $21,595.

 

The highest valued projects for the month included the Lawrence Public Library Project, with total value, including deconstruction work for which a permit valued at $200,000 was issued in April, of $9,909,509; and a remodel project for Dillons Food Store, 3000 W 6th Street, valued at $1,278,261.  Also, a permit valued at $118,071 was issued for a new leasing office for the apartment project at 5100 W 6th Street, bringing the total valuation of that project to $13,060,626.

 

These statistics are of interest in tracking construction activity in the community, but only partially tell the story for staff workload and performance.  Staff has established performance goals of completing “initial” reviews for residential permits within 5 business days and for commercial permits within 15 business days of the application date.  An initial review is a comprehensive first review of an application and plans for a building project, and may include review work performed by staff from Planning and Development Services, Fire Prevention Division, Utilities, Public Works Departments and other relevant review agencies depending on the nature and scope of the project.  Initial and subsequent reviews and comments are tracked in the Innoprise permit tracking system from which reports may be extracted.  Development Services staff is responsible for coordinating review work and disseminating review comments to applicants.  In May, staff completed 74 of 92 (80.4%) residential reviews within 5 business days, and 106 of 118 (89.8%) commercial reviews within 15 business days.  The following table tracks performance in meeting these objectives.

 

 

Residential Permits

Commercial Permits

 

Total Number of Reviews

Number of Reviews Completed within 5 Business Days

Average Review Time

Percent of Reviews Completed within 5 Business Days

Total Number of Reviews

Number of Reviews Completed within 5 Business Days

Average Review Time

Percent of Reviews Completed within 15 Business Days

Mar

129

116

3.1

89.9%

114

108

6.4

94.7%

Apr

111

86

3.2

77.5%

110

105

5.6

95.7%

May

92

74

3.2

80.4%

118

106

5.8

89.8%

YTD

332

276

3.1

83.1%

342

319

5.9

93.2%

 

Permit reports for May are attached.

 

 

Top Projects for 2013:

Rank

Construction Valuation

Project Description

1

$13,060,626

Apartments on 6th, 5100 W 6th Street

2

$9,909,509

Lawrence Public Library Addition, 707 Vermont Street

3

$6,000,000

Rock Chalk Park, 6100 Rock Chalk Drive

4

$5,527,060

Camson South Apts, 525 Congressional Way

5

$4,508,497

Hallmark Cards building modifications, 101 McDonald Drive

6

$2,500,000

Neuvant House of Lawrence, 1216 Biltmore Drive

7

$1,278,261

Dillons Food Store Renovation, 3000 W 6th Street

8

$1,059,330

Discount Tire Company, 4741 Bauer Farm Drive