(A) Pre-application conference.
(1) Applicants are encouraged to request a pre-application conference with the Department before completing and filing a permit application.
(2) The purpose of this conference is to:
(a) Review the applicant’s project concepts, preliminary project descriptions and/or rough site plans;
(b) Inform the applicant of Zoning Code and Department requirements that apply to the proposed project;
(c) Inform the applicant of requirements from other departments (such as Building, Public Works, Police and Fire) and other governmental agencies (such as the Coastal Commission) that may apply to the proposed project;
(d) Inform the applicant of the city’s review processes;
(e) Identify information and materials the city will require with the application, and any necessary technical studies and information relating to the environmental review of the project;
(f) Provide guidance to the applicant of possible project alternatives or modifications; and
(g) Assign Department staff to serve as the project liaison with whom the applicant should communicate as the application is processed.
(3) The pre-application conference and any information provided by city staff must not be construed as a recommendation for approval or denial of an application.
(4) Failure by city staff to identify all permit requirements does not constitute a waiver of those requirements.
(B) Application contents.
(1) Applications must be made in writing on a form provided by the Department.
(2) Applications must be filed along with all fees, information and materials required by the Department.
(C) Eligibility for filing.
(1) An application may be filed only by:
(a) The property owner;
(b) A property tenant;
(c) An authorized agent of the property owner or tenant; or
(d) A person under contract or with an exclusive option to purchase the property.
(2) The application must be either:
(a) Signed by the property owner; or
(b) Accompanied by a written letter signed by the property owner consenting to the application.
(D) Application acceptance.
(1) The Department may accept an application for processing only if the submittal contains all fees, information and materials required by the Department.
(2) Accepting an application for processing does not indicate Department support for the proposed project or that the application is complete pursuant to § 155.408.040 (Application Review).
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 938-C.S., passed 11-1-22)