Montgomery Waiving Permit Fees for Sandy Repairs

Montgomery Township has approved some charity for township residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.

In a 4-0-1 vote, supervisors Monday approved the waiving of permit fees associated with building permit applications for repairs associated with damage from the storm.

"Any business or resident that comes in and can document to our department that damage sustained to their property was due to the storm that recently went through, this would give us the authority to waive the permit fee for the work to be completed," said zoning director Bruce Shoupe. "It doesn't waive the requirement for getting them to fill out the proper paperwork so we can document it. There's still a need for the permit and we have to go through the process and review."

Supervisors Chairwoman Candyce Chimera said it was a very kind gesture by the township.

"We are all behind that," she said.

"It's the least we could do," said Supervisor Robert Birch.

Shoupe said at least three residents from Neshaminy Falls have filled out necessary paperwork for repairs due to the storm. There have been at least three businesses that had roof damage as well.

Shoupe said building permit applications would be needed for a variety of damages: roof damage, sign damage, trees falling onto houses, trees penetrating roofs, trees taking out front porches and the like.

"It's an impact enough. It's an inconvenience enough. So, this is something government is doing to give back to the community," Shoupe said.

Shoupe said residential roofing permits can run anywhere between $90 and $100. Commercial permits can be upwards of $2,000, depending on size and damage, he said.

Shoupe said contractors still have to register with the township, in order to make sure they have the proper insurances.

"A lot of municipalities are doing this. At the end of the day, we have to get this stuff up and running. We have to get everybody back to some normalcy when you really look at this," Shoupe said.

Shoupe said when the eye of the storm hit land, the outer edge was in Chicago.

"Put a dot on Middlesex, PA — which is south of Carlisle and an interchange on 81. It's the trucking hub on the East Coast. Draw a 400 mile radius from Middlesex — you just picked up 40 percent of the population of the United States. That's what this storm hit," Shoupe said.