In the interest of insuring compliance with the Zoning Ordinance provisions, protecting the natural resources and the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city of St. Johns and future users or inhabitants of an area for which a site plan for a proposed use has been submitted, the City Commission may require the applicant to deposit a performance guarantee as set forth herein. Performance guarantees shall be required in instances where an occupancy permit is requested prior to completion of all improvements on an approved site plan. The purpose of the performance guarantee is to ensure completion of improvements connected with the proposed use as required by this chapter, including but not limited to roadways, lighting, utilities, sidewalks, drainage, fences, screens, walls, landscaping, and widening strips.
(A) Performance guarantee as used herein shall mean a cash deposit, certified check or irrevocable bank letter of credit in the amount of the estimated cost of the improvements to be made as determined by the applicant and verified by the Zoning Administrator.
(B) Where the city or the Planning Commission requires a performance guarantee, it shall be deposited with the City Treasurer prior to the issuance of a building permit. The city shall deposit the performance guarantee, if in the form of a cash deposit or certified check, in an interest-bearing account.
(C) An approved site plan shall also prescribe the period of time within which the improvements for which the performance guarantee has been required are to be competed. The period will begin from the date of the issuance of the building permit.
(D) In the event the performance guarantee deposited is a cash deposit or certified check, the city shall rebate to the applicant 50% of the deposited funds when 60% of the required improvements are completed as confirmed by the Zoning Administrator, and the remaining 50% of the deposit funds when 100% of the required improvements are completed as confirmed by the Zoning Administrator. If a request is made by the applicant for a temporary certificate of occupancy without completion of required exterior improvements, the performance guarantee may be applied by the applicant to assure compliance with Zoning Ordinance standards and the specifications of the approved site plan.
(E) Upon the satisfactory completion of the Improvements for which the performance guarantee was required, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, the Treasurer shall return to the applicant the performance guarantee deposited and any interest earned thereon.
(F) In the event the applicant defaults in making the improvements for which the performance guarantee was required within the time period established by the city, the city shall have the right to use the performance guarantee deposited and any interest earned thereon to complete the improvements through contract or otherwise, including specifically the right to enter upon the subject property to make the improvements. If the performance guarantee is not sufficient to allow the city to complete the improvements for which it was posted, the applicant shall be required to pay the city the amount by which the costs of completing the improvements exceeds the amount of the performance guarantee. Should the city use the performance guarantee or a portion thereof, to complete the required improvements, any amount remaining after said completion shall be applied first to the city's administrative costs in completing the improvement with any balance remaining being refunded to the applicant. If the applicant has been required to post a performance guarantee or bond with another governmental agency other than the city to ensure completion of an improvement associated with the proposed project prior to the city's conditional approval, the applicant shall not be required to deposit with the city a performance guarantee for that specific improvement. At the time the performance guarantee is deposited with the city and prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall enter an agreement incorporating the provisions hereof with the city regarding the performance guarantee.
(Ord. 616, passed 9-23-2013; Am. Ord. 657, passed 12-14-2020)