
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994                    TAG: 9406240239 
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS                     PAGE: 06    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940626                                 LENGTH:

WHAT IS ALLOWED WHERE

{LEAD} Once again the city bureaucracy apparently failed to check zoning and other conditions on a piece of property before issuing building permits to a new owner.

An owner spent $15,000 on a building and didn't know he couldn't use it, Mayor Gloria Webb reported at a recent City Council meeting.

{REST} Webb asked for a report on the procedure that occurs when a person applies at city hall for a construction permit. She and others on the council have asked in the past for a sort of ``one-stop'' procedure that would provide zoning and historic district information about property for which a permit is requested.

However, time and again, citizens claim they have not been told of such regulations when a building permit is issued.

A procedure should be established requiring city employees to follow a check list of information. Applicants should be required to sign off on the list to indicate the information about zoning and historic districts has been spelled out.

A copy of the signed document could accompany any zoning requests received by the Planning Commission and City Council, who would be able to determine who knew what when.

It's the only way to be fair about a sticky situation and, at the same time, adhere to rules and regulations designed to make Portsmouth a more attractive place to live.

by CNB