• Building permit applications, site plans and 3 complete sets of construction plans are reviewed by the Building and Fire Officials. Plans must be stamped by a Registered Design Professional.
• Planning staff verifies compliance with zoning and platting ordinances. (Please read Zoning/Land Use Section)
• Building Official will review building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and A/C plans for compliance with local and national codes, floodplain compliance and assess impact fees. Reference the Impact Fee Study adopted by the City of Gonzales, November 2013
• The Utility Department will review application plans for water, wastewater and electrical service; water tap locations and other utility services. All commercial wastewater users will be required to complete a Wastewater Survey prior to issuance of a building permit.
• The City Engineer will review drainage plans for all commercial and subdivision development
• Permits for residential new home construction or remodeling, on a legal or platted lot, with no variance request, can expect to be approved or have comments for further review in seven (7) to ten (10) days.
• Commercial permits typically take longer due to the extent of utility, drainage and access reviews. Staff will work with applicants to insure that these permits are processed as quickly as possible. Department staff will contact applicants for any information that is needed.
• All developments that require access to a State roadway require Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) approval.
• In order to facilitate communication, between City Staff, applicants and other utility providers, construction coordination meetings may be scheduled as needed. City staff may place applicants on the agenda for these meetings, or applicant may request to be placed on the agenda by contacting the Building Official.
Three (3) complete sets of construction documents as per 2015 IBC section 106, by a Registered Design Professional that will coordinate with the City of Gonzales Engineering Standards Manual and the following;
A. Drainage design Criteria
A.2.0 Drainage Policy and Criteria
2.1 Development Categories
In an effort to facilitate development while applying drainage rules, a tier system is established requiring different submittals and different development actions depending on the probable impact on the drainage basin. In all cases, properly sized easements shall be granted across all contiguous property owned by the applicant; and a comprehensive Drainage Plan and Drainage Report shall be provided for all property on the subject plat whether developed by this application or not. Best Management Practices (BMPs) shall be exercised in the design process.
2.1.1 Type 1 Development
A. A Type 1 Development is any development or redevelopment in the following categories.
1. Disturbs less than one acre of land;
2. Creates less than 1,000 square feet of additional impervious cover; or
3. Creates additions to single family or duplex residential structure.
A. Submittals for a Type 1 Development include: location and contact information (e.g.
Name, address, phone number, property location), site drawing for the proposed disturbance, review of applicable BMP’s and temporary erosion control techniques. For a Type 1 Development:
1. Drainage easements may be required to accommodate future or existing development
2.1.2 Type 2 Development
A Type 2 Development is any development or redevelopment in the following categories:
1. Agriculture (not including feedlots), or
2. Single family or duplex residential not in a major subdivision (three or more lots) with more than 1,000 square feet of additional impervious cover, or
3. Non-residential developments of less than 5,000 square feet of additional impervious cover, or
4. Development not meeting criteria for a Type 3 Development.
B. Submittals for a Type 2 Development include: location and contact information, site drawing or sketch for the proposed disturbance (a scaled drawing (scale 1” = (50’ or less)) on 11” x 17” paper showing existing drainage ways, flow directions, floodplain boundaries, proposed grading and development, and proposed drainage, and erosion control facilities with a copy of the survey plat showing the lot layout, streets, and utility and drainage easements), review of applicable BMP’s and temporary erosion control techniques, agreement letter specifying BMP’s to be included in the project. For a Type 2 Development:
1. If any on-site and off-site storm water structure is known to be at or below design capacity, the owner/developer shall be responsible for increasing the size of the structure to accommodate the development.
2. Drainage easements may be required to accommodate future or existing development.
2.1.3 Type 3 Development
A. A Type 3 Development is any development or redevelopment in the following categories.
1. Non-residential development with more than 5,000 square feet of additional impervious cover,
2. Residential subdivision with other than single family and duplex units,
3. Major subdivisions (three or more lots),
4. Disturbs more than one acre of land,
5. Development within a FEMA designated flood hazard area or adjacent to a major watercourse, or
6. Agricultural feedlots
B. Submittals for a Type 3 Development include: location and contact information, Drainage Report, Erosion Control Plan, agreement letter specifying BMP’s to be included in the project or other site specific requirements. For a Type 3 Development:
1. Mitigation through detention, retention, or some other technique must be designed, constructed, and maintained to reduce the post-development discharge rate to below that of pre-development for the 2- year, 10-year, 25year and 100-year design storms. Participation in neighborhood or regional mitigation is an acceptable option when available.
2. In cases where adequate detention is not available and an In-lieu-of negotiation is in place, all on-site and off-site storm water structures must be sized to convey the additional storm water from the property to the first major stream. For existing structures, see paragraph 3 below.
3. If any encountered structures are at or below design capacity, the owner/developer shall be responsible for increasing the size of the structure to accommodate the development, at their own expense or demonstrating cause why the city should partner in the project.
4. On-site drainage easements may be required to accommodate future or existing development. Off-site drainage easements may also be required if the increase in water quantity impacts existing water storage capacity and increases the possibility of flooding.
C. The Drainage Plan and Drainage Report containing the proposed storm drainage and flood protection system must be submitted as part of the vesting platting process or application for a Building Permit. A revised Drainage Plan and Drainage Report shall be submitted after all issues have been resolved with the Designated Official.