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CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION, REJECTION, AMENDMENT, AND/OR POSTPONEMENT OF RESOLUTION R-2021-118: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA ESTABLISHING A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING BUILDING PERMIT FEES CHARGED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-105 OF THE NORMAN CITY CODE TO BE ADJUSTED AND SATISFIED AS AN INCENTIVE FOR ELIGIBLE DWELLINGS ACHIEVING CERTAIN VISITABILITY STANDARDS SET FORTH IN INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL (ICC) SECTION A117.1-2009.
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HISTORY OF VISITABILITY CPT MEETINGS: At the May 2, 2019 CPT meeting a Citizen Ad Hoc Committee presented to City staff and Council Members a proposed draft of the Norman Visitability Code. The purpose of the Norman Visitability Code was to establish minimum regulations for the design, installation and construction of single-family homes or other dwellings with less than four units by providing reasonable criteria for Visitability for persons with disabilities or seniors aging in place. A draft copy of the proposed code was provided to staff and Council Members in attendance that was tailored around the Fair Housing Act. It was recommended that staff should review and compare the proposed Norman Visitability Code to applicable and existing code and for Council to discuss its priority during their annual retreat.
DISCUSSION: At this juncture, the proposed Norman Visitability Code has been reviewed by staff. The code comprises a mix of accessibility and visitability concepts using the Fair Housing Act language. The code is not a minimum standard but an elective code that worked around incentives to encourage the building community to build to this higher standard.
Moreover, it is first important to distinguish that the concepts of accessibility and visitability are different as they relate to Single Family Dwellings. Visitability Standards focus around creating a dwelling that's features are welcoming and accommodating to accessible visitors, while also creating a living space that is less c...
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