(A) Every duly issued grading permit shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance, and all work covered in the permit shall be completed within that period, except as specified in this section.
(B) Expiration.
(1) Every permit issued shall expire by limitation and shall become null and void if the work authorized by the permit is not commenced and diligently pursued within 90 days from the date of permit issuance, or if after work is commenced, the work is terminated, stopped, suspended or abandoned for a period of 90 days.
(2) Upon written request from the permittee, submitted prior to the expiration of the 90-day period in which work was to commence, the Director of Public Works may extend the period in which the permittee must start work for no more than two successive periods of 90 days each, provided the permittee demonstrates to his or her satisfaction that circumstances beyond the permittee's control prevented his or her commencement of the approved work. If work is not commenced, or diligently pursued within the extension periods specified in this section, then the permit shall thereafter be deemed expired and null and void.
(C) If the work authorized by the grading permit is not completed within the six-month permit period, the Director of Public Works, upon written request from the permittee, submitted prior to the expiration of the six-month period, may extend the permit for a period or periods reasonably necessary to complete the work. The total of all such extension shall not exceed a total of one additional year.
(D) City's intent in enacting this chapter is that there will generally be no extension of grading permits beyond the initial six month term of validity. However, city intends this § 162.160 to provide the Director of Public Works with the discretion necessary to implement and enforce this chapter equitably.
(E) For the purpose of this section, diligently pursued work shall be grading of such magnitude, frequency or complexity so as to require the regular services of the permittee's soil engineer, and/or civil engineer, or other professional and which is inspected at regular intervals, by the city.
(F) As a condition of the extension of any grading permit time period, the Director of Public Works may require the payment of additional permit fees, inspection fees, or other additional fees as are required to cover the administration of the extensions or to meet any fee schedule then in effect.
(G) If the permittee is unable to complete the work within the original permit period, or any extension thereof as provided in division (C) of this section, or has failed to request the extension in division (C) of this section, the Director of Public Works, upon written request and justification submitted 30 days following the permit's expiration, may renew the grading permit for a period not to exceed six months.
(H) The Director of Public Works may require the payment of additional fees for any of the following reasons:
(1) Extension or renewal of the grading permit;
(2) Enlargement of the scope or quantity of grading or any change which increases the need for inspection or administration of the project.
(I) The Director of Public Works may require the amendment or change of approved grading plans, erosion control plans, or landscape-irrigation plans for any of the following reasons:
(1) Extension or renewal of the grading permit;
(2) Changes have been made in the actual work which is not reflected on the approved plans;
(3) Enlargement of the scope or quantity of grading;
(4) Construction, traffic, drainage, soil, geologic, public safety or environmental problems not considered, known or evident at the time of permit issuance or plan approval.
(Ord. 1449, passed 10-19-05)