New rule would limit construction time in Findlay

FINDLAY — Building permits could soon come with time limits aimed at reducing the number of unfinished construction projects throughout the city of Findlay. In a meeting of Findlay City Council's Planning & Zoning Committee held earlier this month, Matt Cordonnier, director of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, said building permits now require work to start within one year of issuance. Beyond that, however, he said the zoning code has "no teeth." The committee is working to develop draft legislation that would set time limits on building permits. Committee members include Dennis Hellmann, R-2, Dan DeArment, R-4, Jim Niemeyer, R-6, and Grant Russel, R-at-large, with Brian Bauman, R-5, chairman. The legislation would require a vote of council. Cordonnier said the goal is to set reasonable time limits for new construction, additions, alterations, or any major renovation, both residential and non-residential, that require a building permit. The proposed rules would set a 12-month time limit for single-family/duplex building permits and 18 to 24 months for multifamily, commercial, or industrial building permits. Minor, non-structural alterations would be required to be completed within six months of the building permit being issued. Cordonnier said the rules will allow for extensions based on "reasonable cause." Violations subject to enforcement would occur after 90 days of the project remaining idle, Cordonnier said. How the city would enforce the time limits hasn't been determined, and there is also the question of how existing unfinished projects would be addressed. The committee is seeking input from Findlay Law Director Robert Feighner Jr. Cordonnier said set time limits for building permits are not a common rule in smaller communities, but in cities the size of Findlay or larger, it's more common. The committee agreed to continue the discussion after the law director reviews the proposed rules.