The Licking County Commission adopted a fee schedule during its November 25 meeting for its contracted consultant to review plans, studies, and reports for major subdivision, development, and construction projects.
According to the November 25 meeting agenda, on a motion by Commissioner Timothy E. Bubb, the board followed the lead of the Licking County Planning Commission to adopt professional engineering and planning services for plan, study, and report reviews. The professional consultant was deemed necessary to meet Ohio Revised Code-specified review times and accommodate an increase in applications. The engineering firm will ensure applicants' compliance with regulations concerning subdivision improvements, soil erosion and stormwater management, access management, flood damage prevention, and the Newark Heath Airport Airspace Zoning Resolution.
The agenda further notes that the Licking County Planning and Development Department has an agreement with DLZ Ohio Inc. for plan review services for pending applications so that the county can maintain desired plan review timelines.
The fee structure is based on the consultant's hourly rate, the classification of the staff member reviewing the plan, study or report, as well as travel and mileage expenses. These classifications include engineer I and IV, architect associate I, III, and IV, landscape architect I and IV, department manager, and division manager. If travel is required for meetings or site visits by a staff member, mileage and travel expenses are included.
The resolution attached to the agenda states that the review fees listed in the fee schedule shall be a deposit used to pay invoices from the consultant. If this deposit is depleted during the process, an additional deposit must be made by the applicant.
A subdivision preliminary plan requires a $3,000 deposit plus $100 per lot for single-family residential developments. Additional fees may apply for soil erosion and stormwater considerations. Should a preliminary plan need resubmission, there is a $2,500 fee. Traffic impact study reports will cost $5,000 for non-single-family residential developments and $3,000 for single-family residential developments. The complete fee schedule is available on the county website.
