THE HISTORY OF A PERMIT

Plans for a five-building, 45-unit apartment complex, to be constructed at 801 Good Hope St., moved smoothly through the Cape Girardeau Division of Inspection Services.

Plans for the multi-family rental apartments at the site of old St. Francis Hospital, which covers about a half-block area along Pacific Street, between Good Hope and Morgan Oak, were submitted to the city Aug. 14 and everything was ready to issue the permit by Sept. 26 and the permits were picked up Oct. 5

The Phillips Cos. of Little Rock, Ark., which purchased the property in April of 1999, plans to build the apartment complex as soon as the old hospital building has been demolished.

"We try to get permits ready in three to four weeks," said John H. Creutz, plan review specialist for the city permit office.

When Telecorp Cellular Tower, at 354 S. Silver Springs Road, applied for a permit to build a 190-foot Monopole Tower, it took only three days to receive the permit. The application was filed Sept. 19. One quick revision, and the permit was written, and picked up by Telecorp Sept. 21.

In contrast, a case a few years ago a permit for a new building went through 10 revisions, one complete change of plans, and 19 months before a permit was issued.

The Division of Inspections Services has issued thousands of permits and conducted thousands of inspections since the city first adopted its building code ordinance on May 8, 1925.

Commission Form Ordinance No. 326, established fees for permits and inspections and regulations on unsafe buildings.

More than 500 a year

"We average more than 500 building permits a year," said Tarryl D. Booker, director of the inspections services. "Inspection totals are in the thousands each year."

Inspections are needed for building permits, plumbing and electric permits, and a number of times during construction.

A building permit must be obtained when you want to construct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure. All permits must be acquired prior to starting the work covered by the permits. If in doubt as to whether a permit is needed, call the inspection services officer, 334-4466.

With computerization, permits can be tracked from day one to issue. In some remodeling requests, the permit may be issued the same day it is requested.

Permits are "worked" in the order they are requested, said Booker.

No action on some

But, "we have had some permit requests on the books six months, with no action."

"The requests may have been filed in April or May," said Booker. "But, no plans have been filed yet. In other instance, some plans are placed on hold' for a while."

"Any contractor who feel they are having problems with permitting, should call the office," said Booker. "I'm available to talk with anyone."

When a permit request is filed, it is assigned to a plan reviewer. The plan is reviewed, and if revisions are needed, the company, or individual, is notified. In some cases, revisions are hurriedly returned. In other cases, revisions may take longer.

"Building Plans in Review" will be a new feature in The Southeast Missourian. New buildings, expansions to existing buildings, and remodeling projects, and the status of those projects, will appear monthly in the newspaper.

BUILDING PLANS IN REVIEW

New buildings

Telecorp Cellular Tower, 354 S. Silver Springs Road, 190-foot Monopole Tower, 9/18/2000. Revisions, 9/21; permit issued, 9/21.

Cape Public Senior High School, preliminary plans, 8/16/00. No further action.

Fort Hope Apartments, 801, Good Hope, new apartment buildings, 8/14/2000. Plans to fire department, 8/14; Need address, 8/14; Letter sent, 8/29; Revisions, 9/21; permit ready, 9/26.

Red Oak Apartments, 431 Olive St., new apartment building, 6/21,2000. Plans to fire department, 6/23; sent letter, 7/13; revisions, 7/18; letter sent, 7/26; need name of licensed contractor and total estimated cost of construction before permit can be issued, 7/26; square footage of lot needs to be 4000 square feet per unit, 8/18/ board of adjustments passed variance the square footage required by zoning code, 9/6; read, 9/14; need name of contractor and estimated cost of construction before permit can be written, 9/18.

Kidd Oil Inc., Convenience Store and Car Wash; 133 N. Kingshighway, 6/13. Letter sent, 7/14; revisions, 8/3; revisions, 8/15; letter sent, ;8/11; revisions, 8/15; permit written, picked up, 8/14.

Logan's Roadhouse, s. Mount Auburn Road, new building, 6/7/2000. Needs address, site plant, 6/13; On hold, 7/11.

Gospel Assembly Church, 2402 Boutin Drive, new utility building, 6/5, 2000. Need commercial plans, plans received 7/21; plans to fire department, 76/24; need structural calicos., 87/10; revisions, 9/14; permit written and picked p, 9/19.

Lynwood Hills Townhouse, 2760, 2764, 2780, 2784 Lynwood Hills Drive and Lynwood Hills Drive, total 5 lots, apartment buildings, 6/5/2000. Site plan, 6/16; letter sent, 7/7, revisions, 8/18; letter sent, 8/28; partial revisions, 9/4, partial revisions, 9/12.

Green Enterprises, new building, need address, 9/13, 1999. Letter sent, 10/25/1999; revisions, 2/23/2000; letter sent, 3/31; revisions, 4/12; sent letter, 5/5; fire dept. comments, 5/10.

D-Mart, 523 Siemers, new building, 9/13/1999. Letter sent, 10:21/99; revisions, 11/16/99; letter sent, 12/20/99; partial revisions, 1/22/00; on hold, 7/12/00.

D-Mart, 15 S. Mt. Auburn Road, new building, 6/11/1999. Letter sent, 7i/12/99; revisions, 8/31/99; letter sent, 9/17/99; revisions, 10/5/99; revisions, 11/16/99; letter sent, 12/20/99; partial revisions, 2/22/00; on hold, 7/12/00.

Expansion and remodeling

Discount Smoke Shop, 340 S. Sprigg, interior remodel, 9/25/2000. Permit written, 9/25/2000.

SEMO Video, 5401 Broadway, wall repair, 9/20/2000. Letter sent, 9/22.

Food Giant, 1120 N. Kingshighway, remodel front of building, 9/15/2000. Fire department set of plans, 9/13.

East Missouri Action Agency, 1111 Linden, interior remodel, 9/12/2000. Fire department set of plans, 9/15; Permit written, 9/20.

Dr. Protzel office, 21 Doctors' Park, interior remodel, 9/5/2000. Fire department, set of plans, 9/5; wrote permit, 9/14; permit picked up, 9/15.

Project Hope, 815 North Caruthers, remodel, 8/31,2000. Sent letter, 9/13.

Golden Goose Antiques, 2 N. Lorimier, storage edition, 8/25/2000. Letter sent, 9/1.

Dana Corporation, 2075 Corporate Circle, addition, 8/17/2000. Revisions, 8/21; revisions, 8/22; revisions, 8/23, footing &I foundation permits; revisions, 9/12; revisions; 9/26.

Dr. Gregory S. Leet, 2909 Independence St., addition and remodel, 8/16/2000. Sent copy to fire department, 8/16; need electrical and structural calcs., 8/16; need storm water plan for planning services 8/16. On hold, 9/6.

The Medicine Shoppe, 864 N. Kingshighway, remodel, 7i/26/2000. Sent letter, 8/9, need total cost of construction, 8/9; revisions, 9/12/ wrote permit, 9/15.

McDonald's Restaurant offices, 528 Helena St., office addition; 6/15/2000. Revisions, 7/31; revisions, 8/2; letter sent, 8/9; revisions, 8/11; footing and foundation permit issued, 8/11; revisions, 8/24/shell permit, 8/25; revisions, 8/28; revisions, 9;6; permit issued, 9/13.

United States Post Office, 475 Kell Drive, annex expansion, 4/14/2000.

Stereo One, 345 S. Kingshighway, interior remodel, 8/12/1999. Permit ready to write, 4/5.