HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 05 01 Stock Plan Staff Report + Notice of Award1
JEFFERSON COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION
Staff Report
TO: Honorable Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
FROM: Brent A. Butler, AICP, Chief Strategy Officer
DATE: May 1, 2024
RE: Grant Awards for Pre-approved (Stock) Plans & Commercial Property
Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) Program
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On April 22, 2024, Jefferson County received notice of two grant awards in response to the
Department of Commerce’s call for applications under the Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Block Grant (EECBG) which provides capacity-building planning grants for local
governments (see Attachment 1 – Grant Award Notice). On April 1, 2024, the Chief Strategy
Officer (CSO) submitted grant applications requesting $160,000 and $110,000 to advance two
county projects currently underway including (1) the Preapproved (Stock) Plans program and
the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) program
respectively.
The purpose of this staff report is to identify next steps to fund engineering of the selected
stock plans should there be insufficient funding for all of the plans to be engineered through
the recently received grant award.
BACKGROUND:
Given the small size of the Jefferson County community and the concern that architects or
designers would have little incentive to submit plans engineered in accordance with the new
building codes without payment for their services, the CSO submitted a grant application after
briefing the Board of County Commissioners (“BoCC” or “Board”) in March. The Board
recommended that the CSO seek appropriate funding to obtain the detailed engineering that
typically goes along with submitted floor plans, if eligible. At the Board briefing, the CSO
was accompanied by the Chair of the Climate Action Committee (CAC), Kees Kloff, MD,
because a second grant was sought on the CAC’s behalf to advance the C-PACER program
through commercial energy audits.
As recommended by the Joint City/County Stock Plan Committee (“SPC”) on December 13,
2023, the Board approved funding for eight plans vetted by the SPC. This step followed
closely on the heels of the SPC’s unanimous December 13 vote to advance eight plans from
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the 34 plans received after this year’s public solicitation for plans. After considering comments
at a publicly noticed meeting (see Attachment 1 – October 9, 2023 minutes), a lunch and learn
scheduled in the Council Chambers (see Attachment 2 – November 8, 2023 Lunch and Learn
Notes), and survey/questionnaire resulting in nearly 50 responses, the SPC completed their
assigned task by identifying eight plans for submission to the BoCC for funding.
The SPC consisted of two Jefferson County Planning Commissioners, and two City of Port
Townsend Planning Commissioners who were nominated by the Port Townsend City Council.
They unanimously selected eight plans for funding after extensive public outreach that
included publicly noticed community meetings, newspaper articles, website promotion, and a
questionnaire followed by a separate survey, which had 42 responses.
ANALYSIS:
Stock plans are used as an innovative tool to reduce permitting timelines, cost, and
noncompliance with local state and federal regulations. They can be used for a primary house,
accessory dwelling unit, or multifamily structure. Currently many jurisdictions throughout
western Washington authorize stock plans. Some of these municipalities limit stock plans to
accessory dwellings while others allow them for other housing types. Currently, the cities of
Port Angeles (see, https://cityofpa.us/1306/Permit-Ready-Plans), Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater,
Renton, Kent (see, https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/community-planning-and-
economic-development/community-planning/comprehensive-plan-home/lacey-olympia-
tumwater-joint-plans) and Seattle, among others, have approved stock plan programs. The
three cost categories include 1) plan set, 2) plan engineering, and 3) hourly support.
While site-specific land use review is still required as some areas may have critical areas or
other development constraints unique to the site, the availability of stock plans will provide
many benefits, including:
• Expedite delivery of housing by eliminating the need for review and approval of the
initial plan set
• Architect is available to assist the homeowners/builder for an hourly rate
• Reduced design costs
• Designs may be more appealing and offer cost competitive options to manufactured
structures
• Pre-packaged designs are guaranteed to meet local and state building codes
• Applicant saves on the jurisdiction’s Plan Review fees since the structural plans are
already approved
• Reduced design costs. New structural single family designs average 8-12% of the total
valuation of the construction cost. At an average of $300/sq ft of building cost for
average grade construction, project valuations for these designs range from $86,400-
$450,000. Typical design costs on a per project basis would therefore range between
$8,600 and $45,000. However, this program enables the designer to skip several steps
and lower costs on their designs similar to cheaper pre-designed plans available on the
internet. Multifamily designs are typically more expensive; therefore, reduced plan
costs may encourage more infill development within the Tri-Area where sewer is
planned.
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The eight recommended plans are listed in alphabetical order. Each plan recommended by the
BoCC appears on a separate page
Artisan Group – Flexible (600 square feet) / Plan Review $667.55 / Inspection: $1,027
Notable Characteristics: (1) American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible, (2) Energy
Efficient Design
4
The Blackberry Plan – 432 Square Feet / Plan Check $503.75 / Inspection $775
Notable Characteristics: (1) Prescriptive Engineering; (2) Roof Design Variation Available to
reduce cost (Hip, Gable or Shed Roof), 2’ increments for ease of construction/decreased waste
5
Cabo – 544 Square Feet / Plan Review $614.90 / Inspection $946
Notable Characteristics: (1) Includes a Loft Version with an additional 200 square feet (2)
Variations include front or side porches
6
Care Pod – 448 square feet / Plan Review $ 521.30 / Inspections $802
Notable Characteristics: (1) Equipped for persons with disabilities, e.g., lift and mobilization
track, and other interior monitoring systems
7
Freedom – 320 Square Feet (net)/ Plan Review $398.45 / Inspection $613
Notable Characteristics: (1) American with Disabilities (ADA) Accessible, (2) Veterans
Administration Approved, (3) Ceiling and Lift Stations available
8
Hilltop – 828 to 1015 Square Feet / For the two-bedroom option – Plan Review $981.50/
Inspection $1,510.
Notable Characteristics: (1) Two Bedrooms
9
Tomato – 1,008 Square Feet / Plan Review $976.75/ Inspection $1,503
Notable Characteristics: (1) Two Bedrooms, (2) Universal Design, (3) Utility Room
10
Urban Cottage – 288 Square Feet / Plan Review $363.35 / Inspection $559
Notable Characteristics: (1) Accessible, (2) Lot Cost, (3) Best Bath ADA Compliant, (4)
Insulated Roof Panels – ready cut, easy to assemble kit of parts
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FISCAL IMPACT
Completion of the next steps are fully funded by this grant, as it includes the recovery of staff
costs not to exceed 10% of the professional engineering services.
RECOMMENDATION:
After hearing the presentation consider the best approach to prioritize plans for review.
ATTACHMENT 1 – Grant Award Notice
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ATTACHMENT 1 – GRANT AWARD NOTICE
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2024 4:17 PM
To: Brent Butler <BButler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: mmccaulley@co.jefferson.wa.us; Amanda M. Christofferson
<AMChristofferson@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Chelsea Pronovost
<CPronovost@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Commerce grant award - EECBG
Dear Brent Butler,
Congratulations! Jefferson County has been selected for two awards from the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.
Cornerstone Commercial Audits Serving the Rural Economy/CPACER - $110,000.00
DIY Residential Plans Engineered for Energy Efficiency/Stock Plans - $165,000.00
These awards are contingent upon no successful protests of the award decisions. Award letters
officially confirming the awards are scheduled to go out the third week of May. After that and
as soon as contract negotiations are completed, the grant contract can be signed and projects
begin.
Next Steps:
• I would like to set a 30-minute introduction meeting with you on May 1, 2, or 3. It
should include the Project Manager and any additional staff that will be involved, for
example on the grant accounting. Will you please reply with some windows of times
available on those dates?
• We will send an award letter through DocuSign to Mark McCaulley for signature and
Amanda Christofferson, Chelsea Pronovost, and Brent Butler will receive a copy.
Contact us if we should send this letter elsewhere.
• Sign the award letter by June 1, 2024. If you will be unable to return the letter by this
date, please contact us now to discuss.
I will be your contract manager. Please do not hesitate to email our team at
energyretrofits@commerce.wa.gov or call me at (360) 515-8112, if you have questions or
need assistance.
We look forward to working with you to complete your EECBG project!
Kristen Kalbrener
Kristen Kalbrener (she/her) | PROGRAM MANAGER
Energy Retrofits for Public Buildings
Washington State Department of Commerce