Feb 27, 2012 By Patty Yauger heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE — Connellsville Planning Commission has requested Connellsville City Council consider updating its subdivision/land development ordinance to include areas not addressed in the current documents.

Tom Currey, city health and code officer, told officials recently that it likely would be a costly and long process to update the 1954 regulations.

In addition to regulating the subdivision of property, the ordinance also sets guidelines for road surfaces, lighting and other issues.

“We have no ordinance that addresses large lighting projects so that the city can limit the number of lumins that may extend into a neighboring property,” said Currey.

“If someone proposed a change in traffic flow, it is not included in the current ordinance.”

Councilman Tom Karpiak said that he did not support the update because any cost would eventually raise permitting and other costs for developers.

Also, the commission requested that the city conduct Uniform Construction Code (UCC) inspections now being done at the Fayette County level.

“That would allow the (UCC) fees to come into the city rather than going into the county coffers,” said Currey.

Mayor Charles Matthews said the changeover would require the city to hire qualified electrical and plumbing personnel to conduct the inspections and could be costly to the city.

“We (initially) went with the county because it was pretty much forcing us into joining together because it had all these people in place,” he said. “I think now it would be something we can at least take look at and discuss.”

Currey said that the commission also is asking council to consider increasing the $25 building permit fee to $30.

Council took no official action concerning the requests.

Currey also offered the commission’s annual permitting report that indicated the agency had authorized 59 building permits in 2011, including four house renovations, the construction of 14 sheds and garages, eight fences, six porches, and installation of eight swimming pools within the city limits.

The larger projects included the construction of a utility building and generator pod by Armstrong Cable; the conversion of the former Burns drugstore to the Connellsville Community Ministries; construction of a garage by the Connellsville Municipal Authority and the construction of a pavilion and concrete pad by the Connellsville Area Historical Society.

“It brought in about $1,500 in permitting fees to the city, but more importantly it meant more than $800,000 in renovations or improvements throughout the city,” said Currey.

Those planning to make improvements to their homes or businesses or engage in new construction, must secure a permit from the city.

Building permit applications are available on the city website at www.connellsville.org under the customer services tab.