Constructing standards
A house under construction in Quincy earlier this year. The city of Quincy is considering implementing its own design standards to ensure quality housing for residents.
FILE PHOTO
QUINCY — The proposal is still under review, and when it’s done Quincy officials will submit a proposal for design and construction standards to the Quincy City Council. A separate series of city standards would be a first for Quincy.
Municipal Services Director Carl Worley said the goal is to make the design process easier for people to navigate.
“We needed to update the standards and while doing so we are making them available electronically. In the past we had hard copies and cut sheets,” Worley wrote in response to an email from the Herald. “Our standards are (included) throughout our municipal code and are not easily located. We are attempting to make it more user-friendly.”
Council discussion, and possible approval, were scheduled for the regular meeting Tuesday but were postponed. Quincy 1 Water Program Manager Bob Davis said the proposed standards were reviewed by city department employees, and there were some questions and comments that needed to be answered and resolved.
The proposed standards cover everything from initial plan reviews to street design and storm drains, sewer and water systems.
If they’re approved, the standards will apply to all new subdivisions, improvements in the public right of way and any project that requires approval of the Quincy Planning Commission or the public works department.
“Alternate design standards may be accepted when it can be shown, to the satisfaction of the city, that such alternate standards will provide a design equal to or superior to that specified,” according to the proposal.
People could request a preliminary review as part of the pre-application process, and could ask for variances. For some developments, a traffic study will be required.
City officials will have 30 days to review plans when they are submitted. Once the plans are approved, they couldn’t be changed without written authorization from the city engineer.
It will be up to the developer or the property owner to ensure the approved plans are followed.
“The owner/developer is ultimately responsible for the work that is done,” according to the draft standards.
The standards will set requirements for street widths, fire apparatus access, street grades and driveways, storm drains and stormwater systems, water and sewer line construction, among others.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.