The Owen Planning Commission met on Thursday, January 16 to discuss building permits, the Business Park, and zoning issues.

Chairman Ray Kilty brought forward a new building permit form and procedure for approval. He is building a new building in Owen and used his building as a test for the procedure and form. His building is a commercial building without a need for state approved plans. The fees may need to be looked at by the Ordinance Committee to make sure they match the fee schedule that committee recently set.

The new permit provides space for information on property use, type of work, location, property owner, and contractor doing the work, along with a space for a description of the work and the estimated value of the work.

Spaces will be added per the Planning Commission to list electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors on the form, if applicable to the work being done.

The applicant will certify that the statements on the form are true and accurate. There is a place to fill in information about state approved plans, if needed for the project. There is also information in regard to any zoning review that might be needed.

The form ends with a checklist for office staff to make sure all fees are paid and all requirements met. The permit, if issued, will be valid for one year. If the permit is denied, the reason will be given and the property owner will have the chance to amend their permit.

The form/procedure was approved with the addition of the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors, so the city will know licensed people are doing the work.

The Business Park was looked at now that Jim Bohl has forfeited the property he was going to build on. There was some discussion of how to get water and sewer to the other lots. DPW Chad Smith said they might be able to run off the manhole that is already on Badger Avenue. Kilty said that Xcel Energy has a program where they will put the available property on their website if the city answers some questions. Kilty said he would work with the city clerk to get that done. That information can also be given to Clark County Economic Development. It was felt that a sign needs to be put on the property so people traveling by on Highway 29 will know it is for sale. The land on the north side of the highway should also be advertised. The Planning Commission approved putting up a sign and going through the Xcel Real Estate Program.

Under Zoning Issues, there was a question about Countryside Estates. It was explained that although the property is zoned correctly, the city assessor didn’t have it listed correctly. He still had the land listed as agricultural. This is in the process of being corrected. For the finished properties built by Jim Bohl, he will receive a tax bill for two years of back taxes and the current year once the corrections are complete.