SANATOGA PA – Local real estate sales and new home construction may have slumped in the distressed economy, but Lower Pottsgrove’s zoning officer and director of codes, Keith Place, can attest he’s as busy as ever. One reason: property owners are having more work done to fix, improve or upgrade structures they already occupy.
In November (2010) alone, the latest month for which Place and Permits Clerk Diane Cushman issued their regular report to the township Board of Commissioners, 24 separate building, electrical, fire prevention, mechanical, plumbing, road opening, or zoning permits were issued. Several applied to work being performed at single locations; others stood alone. They raised a total of $6,208 in permit revenue.
Perhaps not surprisingly, given winter’s arrival, four permits were for roof replacements. Four more applied to interior alterations. One was for an addition or enclosure; another for a deck. Three covered the installation of storage or work sheds outside homes.
Normally, the report is accepted without comment as part of the commissioners’ packet of information distributed bi-weekly in advance of their public meetings. But it won notice and praise during the board’s Dec. 6 meeting because its format was revised, both by adding new statistics and making it easier to read at a glance.
Previous reports focused on who applied for permits, who owned the property being modified, and how much the project was estimated to cost. The new look expands and changes the report to focus on the type and description of work being done, tax parcels affected, and permit revenues collected.
“This tells us a lot more about what’s happening out there,” board Vice President Bruce Foltz said.
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Dec. 6):
- Board Says New Building Permit Report ‘Tells Us More’
- Change Date Or Return Money Choice A No-Brainer
- Township, School District Settle Assessment Dispute
- Township Settles Today On Newest Open Space Purchase
- Even With 2011 Transfer, Township Cash Cushion At $1.7M
- Slowing Down In Sanatoga Proposed As A ‘Groovy’ Idea
- With Keim Bridge Out, Signal Coming In To Lower Pottsgrove
- Township OKs New Fire Police Law, Approves Members
- Township, Moyer Estate Settle Late Treasurer’s Accounts
- Commissioners Meet Tonight, With A Busy Agenda
Photo from Google Images
