In this Issue:
- BuildSA News
- Habitat Compliance Form Update
- Legislative News
- Short-Term Rental Mobile-Friendly Form Now Available
- Latest on Public Hearing Notices
- SABCA - April 8 & 9
- Online Resources
- Performance Measures
- Department News
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BuildSA Release 2 is Underway
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March is proving to be a very busy month for team members working on the BuildSA project for Release 2. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) have spent over one hundred hours in productive discussions with our product integrator, GCOM, regarding Release 2 business processes for plan review, building and fire permitting and inspections; contractor licensing and registration; and code enforcement. As the team moves through the collection of requirements, Development Services remains focused on providing thorough and direct information, and real-time communication to our customers.
During the sessions, SMEs discuss, in depth, the various processes this new technology will improve and how it will help make procedures more efficient. Given this, BuildSA will bring all the disparate systems together, allowing reviewers and customers to follow all the activity related to an address or a parcel.
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Electronic Plan Review
As part of Release 2, Development Services will procure a new Electronic Plan Review (EPR) solution that integrates with BuildSA. Our goal to deliver a system that works best for our customers continues to be a primary focus. To help, we invited representatives from our Stakeholder Committee, including members from our Development Community, to assist in the selection of an EPR solution.
Currently, our evaluation committee consists of advisory representatives from PEPP/AIA and several Architect/Engineer firms. Development Services received proposals from various EPR firms on March 15. We will continue to keep you posted on the selection process.
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Habitat Compliance Form Update
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Since November 2018, a Task Force composed of representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Military, the development community, environmental consultants, and neighborhood representatives have met to discuss changes to increase the efficacy and clarity of the Habitat Compliance Form (HCF).
The HCF was originally developed in 2009. While the HCF is intended to be a communication tool that provides notification of development activity within the jurisdiction of the City of San Antonio to USFWS and TPWD, the purpose of the form is to alert USFWS so they can enforce the Endangered Species Act. Recently, city staff identified the form lacks clarity, is difficult to understand, and can result in confusion. As such, the task force met to make changes to the HCF to ensure the communication tool is conveying accurate and useful information.
The task force completed their work and presented the revised HCF to the Community Health and Equity Committe
e on Feb. 28, 2019. Th
e Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee recommended approval on Feb. 25, and the full Planning Commission recommended approval on March 13. The HCF is on track to be presented to City Council on April 11 for final approval.
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The 86
th
Texas Legislature, held in Austin, Texas, is currently in session and runs through May 27, 2019.
In line with the process, Development Services, in partnership with the City’s Department of Government and Public Affairs, continue to monitor and review bills that are filed for possible impacts to our department operations.
To date, most of the legislative activity involves tax relief and school funding, but a few bills with the potential to affect DSD operations were filed. We are pleased to report Senator Menedez filed a bill that, if passed, will allow our Code Enforcement Officers to carry “bite sticks” for protection against vicious dogs encountered when conducting neighborhood inspections. Other bills filed relate to determining costs of building permits and expedited proceedings for substandard and dangerous structures.
The department is actively engaged in the process. On Feb. 14, 2019, Michael Shannon, DSD Director, testified to the House Urban Affairs Committee regarding the City of San Antonio’s process for regulating short-term rentals. On March 18, Mark Bird, City Arborist, spoke to the House Agriculture and Livestock Committee about the city’s tree ordinance.
DSD will continue to monitor bills as they are proposed and filed throughout the legislative process.
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Short Term Rental Mobile Application Now Available
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With the Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance in place, STR owners are required to obtain a permit and register for payment of the Hotel Occupancy Taxes in order to operate a STR in the city limits of San Antonio.
To date, we have issue
d 1,096 STR per
mits.
In an effort to make this process easier for our customers, the department offers an online mobile-friendly version of the
application form
. This application allows customers to register for a permit and pay taxes online using any computer, tablet and/or smartphone. The form looks similar to the image below:
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Public Hearing and Tentative Board/Commission Agendas
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Development Services is required by state law to keep the community informed on upcoming public hearings, including the Planning Commission, Zoning Commission, and the Board of Adjustment. To support this effort, DSD mails out notices to alert property owners of upcoming hearings they are invited to.
Recently, we received feedback that these notices were confusing and overwhelming. Specifically, several groups voiced concerns that the public notice provided so much information, that the purpose of the public notice – inviting citizens to a hearing to provide feedback on the case – was lost.
In an effort to improve communication and ease concerns, DSD partnered with community and neighborhood leaders to streamline and show only critical information. The information we removed was placed in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. The Public Hearing documents and the FAQ have all been translated into Spanish. The new FAQ documents will be included in the required public hearing mail outs. We hope you find this new format helpful.
To see the sample Public Hearing documents, in English and Spanish, for each hearing, see below:
To see the FAQ documents, in English and Spanish, for each hearing, see below:
Visit the
Boards and Commissions website f
or more information about specific hearing notices, FAQs,
and meetings.
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Also available online, we added the tentative hearing notices and agendas to the homepage of our
DSD website
, making it easier to locate for those who don't get the direct mail outs.
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April Classes Still Available
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The April session of the
San Antonio Building Codes Academy (SABCA) still has a few spots open. Sign up to attend either the April 8 or April 9 class, and learn about the 2018 IRC Braced Wall Provisions.
The sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center, Gathering Hall, 8400 N.W. Military Highway, San Antonio, TX.
SABCA’s goal is to bring high-quality educators and necessary building-related codes training to code officials, design professionals, builders, tradesmen and building owners and managers. The training provides Continuing Education Units and is provided by International Code Council professional instructors.
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The Information Bulletin (IB) listed below is new; to learn more, select the link.
DSD created IB 571 to detail the policies and procedures regarding the development of an Urban Farm, and to explain other important development criteria regarding Greenhouses, Indoor Growing, Residential Gardens and Markets, accessory structures, and permitting requirements.
IB 567 clarifies how DSD issues permits for modifications of existing streets, medians, intersections, and other areas of City right-of-way when such modifications are part of the approved project scope for new development within the City. The IB also provides submittal requirements, and details the process of review and permitting, and the inspection of these more extensive improvements located in the right-of-way.
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For a complete list of resources, visit the following sites:
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Performance Measures & Permit Report
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Performance Measures
The performance measures report is available
online
.
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Job Opportunities:
If you are interested in joining our department, apply
online
.
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Promotions, new hires, and certification
news
, click
here
.
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City Holiday Announcement
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