Below is information on a few recent changes to rules for neighborhood meetings and notification as well as application updates.
Neighborhood Meetings UDO amendments to allow virtual neighborhood meetings to continue regardless of whether there are restrictions on public gatherings were approved on May 25, 2021. Please review Sec. 2.2.7 of the UDO and the updated Neighborhood Meeting Info Packet to ensure all requirements are met. Please note that the invitations to the neighborhood meeting must be mailed 14 days prior to the meeting now instead of 10. Notification Requirements UDO amendments were also approved on May 25, 2021 to add a requirement to notify tenants in addition to property owners. Since tenant addresses are only available from Town staff, they are now requiring that the notification list be obtained by emailing addressing.team@apexnc.org. The list will be provided 5-10 business days from the initial request, so please account for that when you’re preparing for a meeting. When producing the notification list, the Town will do their best to remove as many duplicates as possible (i.e. not including a “Current Tenant” on the list for an owner occupied building) while ensuring that they don’t miss anyone. You will provide a copy of this list with the application. It does not need to be certified (notarized) since it comes from the Town. Application Updates The Town has recently updated most of their applications to reflect the changes above in addition to fee changes effective July 1. All applications are available here: Applications & Schedules | Apex, NC - Official Website (apexnc.org) Another significant update was made to the Rezoning and PUD applications to remove the request for a Land Use Map amendment. That information has been replaced with a yes/no question of whether the proposed rezoning is consistent with the 2045 LUM Classification(s). This change is based on NCGS 160D-605(a) which states that the LUM is automatically updated when a rezoning is approved that is inconsistent with the map. Town staff reports will note whether a proposed rezoning is consistent or not. If the rezoning is inconsistent, they will include information in the staff report on what change is needed to the Land Use Map. If you have any questions at all about the changes described above, please reach out directly to: Amanda Bunce, AICP Current Planning Manager Department of Planning and Community Development Town of Apex, NC (919) 249-3529 www.apexnc.org/180/Planning-Community-Development Please note that effective July 1,2021, a new fee will be added to active permits for damages to electric pedestals. The fee is $149.00 + the cost of the pedestal. The fee will be charged to the closest lot to the damaged electric pedestal.
If you have question/concerns, please contact: Emily Woody Electric Programs and Technology Coordinator PO Box 250 I 105-A Upchurch St. I Apex, NC 27502 919-372-7449 I www.apexnc.org The Inspections Department will begin recording impervious built-upon areas for any project on a residential lot that requires a permit, in accordance with directives from the Town Council. Many builders are already including this information on their submitted projects, but not all. Here are the important dates:
March 15th – preliminary plot plans submitted at plan review are required to include the total new impervious area (in square feet) for the project being permitted. So for new houses, this will include all driveways, patios, etc. For additions and accessory structures, it will include only the items being added as part of the permit – patios around pools, pavers under decks, etc. The 1-2 Family Dwelling permit application has been modified to include the impervious area. April 1st – the impervious area (in square feet) will be required to be included on the certified final plot plan for all new houses. Please note that these new requirements do not change what types of projects require permits, and the Town will not be checking total impervious limits on individual lots unless that requirement was established as part of the subdivision approval. (Other departments may check these limits.) At this time, they are just recording the areas. If you are unfamiliar with pervious vs impervious improvements, the Town’s Water Resources group can help. But here’s a list to get you started: Impervious surfaces: rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, roofed porches, patios, pavers, fire pits/stonework, concrete/asphalt Pervious surfaces: slatted decks, water area of a pool, grass/sod, dirt/sand/mulch As always, the Town is available to help. If you have any questions, please use their online form here: LINK or give them a call at 919-249-3418. The Inspections Department will begin recording impervious built-upon areas for any project on a residential lot that requires a permit, in accordance with directives from the Town Council. Many builders are already including this information on their submitted projects, but not all. Here are the important dates:
March 15th – preliminary plot plans submitted at plan review are required to include the total new impervious area (in square feet) for the project being permitted. So for new houses, this will include all driveways, patios, etc. For additions and accessory structures, it will include only the items being added as part of the permit – patios around pools, pavers under decks, etc. April 1st – the impervious area (in square feet) will be required to be included on the certified final plot plan for all new houses. Please note that these new requirements do not change what types of projects require permits, and we will not be checking total impervious limits on individual lots unless that requirement was established as part of the subdivision approval. (Other departments may check these limits.) At this time, we are just recording the areas. If you are unfamiliar with pervious vs impervious improvements, the Town’s Water Resources group can help. But here’s a list to get you started: Impervious surfaces: rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, roofed porches, patios, pavers, fire pits/stonework, concrete/asphalt Pervious surfaces: slatted decks, water area of a pool, grass/sod, dirt/sand/mulch If you have any questions, please use the Town online form here: LINK or give the Town of Apex a call at 919-249-3418 or reach out to Suzanne Harris at the HBA by email or phone (919-232-5886). The Town of Apex is rather rapidly moving forward with a draft Affordable Housing Plan. A stakeholder group was convened this summer and met several times to provide input into the draft plan. The draft plan is now available for public comment, currently through December 28th, 2020. You can find a copy of the draft plan here. We have made a request that the public comment period be extended through the end of January 2021, but have yet to find out if that request has been granted. This draft plan talks about "Affordable Housing Incentive Zoning" which uses the word "incentive", but may end up really meaning "mandatory". If you do business in Apex, please take some time to look over this plan and provide comment by clicking here.
Share your Input on the Design of Gateway Signs!
Please review the gateway options and complete the online survey at https://publicinput.com/N3238 by January 8, 2021 to be sure your input is considered. The Town of Apex is developing a Wayfinding Signage Program to provide consistent and attractive information to residents and visitors discovering and navigating to key destinations in Town. Gateway signs are intended to let people know they have reached a special place – The Peak of Good Living! They want to hear your thoughts on the proposed design of gateway signs! Gateway sign design options are consistent with the wayfinding sign designs developed with community input earlier this year. Each incorporates the Town logo and colors as well as “The Peak of Good Living” tagline. Multiple gateway sign sizes and base styles are provided to address the context of each gateway location. Questions? Contact Jenna Shouse, Long Range Planner II, jenna.shouse@apexnc.org Learn more about the Town of Apex Wayfinding Signage Program We have just received word from the Town Manager that all Town facilities, including the inspections offices within Town Hall, will be closed to the public from this Wednesday, December 16th until Tuesday, January 19th. This action is being taken in response to the increasing number of COVID cases within Wake County and in order to protect Town staff so that they can continue to serve you.
The Inspections Department remains open. They ask that you return to the processes previously in place at the start of the pandemic – a drop box for plans will be located near the front door during normal business hours. Payments can be made in the locked drop box - checks only (no plans in this drop box), in an envelope clearly labeled "Inspections Department". Staff in the office and in the field is available by phone, staff working remotely has access to email. To All Contractors,
The Town of Apex Inspections and Permits department will be implementing their new online inspection request procedure on or about June 10, 2019. As they prepare for the change, you may see some created inspections on the ePermit site. Clicking on them will NOT schedule an inspection. For now, please continue to request inspections in the normal way until you are notified that the system is live. It will be very significant on your part to make sure you are requesting the inspections in the correct sequence. Inspections that you request will be scheduled as requested and any inspections requested out of sequence will be charged a re-inspection fee of up to $150 when determined by the field inspection that the inspection is out of the normal sequence. If you do not know or understand the correct sequence of inspections, please visit the website to view a flowchart: Inspection Sequence - Foundation - Raised Slab Inspection Sequence - Foundation - Basement Inspection Sequence - Foundation - Superior Walls. Inspection Sequence - Foundation - Mono Slab Inspection Sequence - Foundation - Crawl Space If you’ve reviewed the appropriate flowchart and still have questions, feel free to discuss with your inspector and/or visit Town of Apex office with questions. Instructions for the new on-line system will be posted soon. If you have any questions please contact the Town at 919-249-3418. ![]() Open House Thursday, May 9, 2019 4:00-6:30 (drop in) Halle Cultural Arts Center Drop by the open house to learn about the Town of Apex Downtown Master Plan and Parking Study (Downtown Plan) and to provide initial input about needs, opportunities, and your vision for downtown! This plan will address: commercial and residential markets, place-making and public spaces, parking strategies, and more. Can't make it? Take the online survey at: https://downtownapexonlinesurvey.questionpro.com Sign up for email updates at: https://www.apexnc.org/downtownplan The Town of Apex is making some changes in an effort to increase consistency with other jurisdictions. They will begin requiring the standardized Design Professional Inspection Form developed by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. This form will be in lieu of a letter from your engineer when they perform the inspection of an element or component in accordance with General Statute 160A-413.5. Link: http://www.apexnc.org/DocumentCenter/View/27199/Design-Professional-Inspection-Form
This form will be required for design professional inspections beginning on May 13th. If you have specific question, you can always call the Town of Apex office at 919-249-3418 with any questions or concerns. You may also pick up copies of the form at their office in Town Hall (73 Hunter Street, Apex). |
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