§ 315. Administrative Permits.

315.1.   Purpose.

This Section is established to provide for the granting of Administrative Permits by the Department Director for certain activities, which by their scale, duration or nature, would not generally have an adverse impact on their surroundings when controlled in accordance with the standards set forth in this Code.

315.2.   Administrative Permit Required.

Those uses listed in the schedule of uses in Chapter 4 as AP may be established in that district only after issuance of an Administrative Permit in accordance with this section. The issuance of an Administrative Permit does not waive the requirements for a building permit or other required approvals.

315.3.   Approval Authority.

The Department Director is hereby authorized to decide all applications for Administrative Permits but shall not have the authority to attach conditions, to waive or modify the requirements of this Code, rule on the compatibility of proposed uses, or exercise any other discretionary authority except as may be specifically authorized pursuant to this Code. The Department Director may, however, include terms in Administrative Permits that impose time limitations, limitations on transfer, and restrictions on renewals or extensions of such permits.

315.4.   Application Requirements.

The Department Director shall establish administrative procedures setting forth the requirements for information to be submitted with any application for an Administrative Permit.

315.5.   Review Procedures.

All applications for Administrative Permit shall be reviewed and processed for completeness and sufficiency pursuant to this Chapter. Within a reasonable time after receipt of the sufficiency review comments, the Department Director shall approve or deny the application and shall furnish the applicant a written statement (if requested in writing by the applicant) of the reasons for any denial.

315.6.   Standards for Review and Approval.

All Administrative Permits shall be reviewed under the standards set forth in this Code, including, without limitation, Chapter 5. No Administrative Permit shall be issued unless found to be in compliance with such provisions.

315.7.   Appeals.

See Part X of this Chapter.

315.8.   Effect of Approval.

Administrative approvals authorize the applicant to proceed with a Building Permit application (if not processed concurrently), or Certificate of Occupancy if no building permit is required.

315.9.   Expiration.

An Administrative Permit approval without a site plan approval (general development, preliminary or final) shall expire automatically without notice in one (1) year unless, before that time, the applicable Building Permits or Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion have been issued or the use has been otherwise legally established in accordance with this Code. Administrative permit approvals with a site plan approval shall be valid for the life of the site plan approval.

315.10.   Extension.

An extension of this time period may be requested by filing, prior to the expiration, a letter requesting an extension with the Department Director. The letter must state the reasons for the request. No more than one (1) extension may be granted under the provisions of this subsection. Such extensions may not exceed a period of one (1) year from the original date of expiration of the Administrative Permit.

315.11.   Abandonment.

An Administrative Permit for any use that is discontinued for longer than one (1) year shall be deemed abandoned, and rendered invalid. Such use may be reestablished only through the approval of a new Administrative Permit pursuant to this section.

315.12.   Alterations to Approved Administrative Permits.

Modifications to a development approved through the AP process shall be handled as follows:

A.

Site plan layout modifications and changes to the use require a new Administrative Permit.

B.

Building additions of less than one thousand (1,000) square feet, which do not affect the site plan layout, do not require Administrative Permit approval.