Watsonville Community Development Will Provide Remote Services

From City of Watsonville:

April 3, 2020

On April 1st, the Community Development Department shifted its service delivery approach to electronic means, due to the Santa Cruz County Shelter in Place Order that has been extended to May 3, 2020.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (CDD) WILL CONTINUE ALL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC REMOTELY

CDD will be accepting electronic copies of plans remotely by appointment, and plan review services will continue to be conducted by staff remotely.

Staff is available to respond to voicemails; however, most of the communication will be via email. The best way to leave a message is to email cdd@cityofwatsonville.org or by calling us at 831-768-3050. Let us know if you need to make arrangements to submit a new application.

Staff continues to provide housing services. For questions regarding eviction protections, or any other housing-related services, please call 831-768-3080 and leave a message.

We will evaluate the situation throughout April as guidance is received from local, state and federal officials. We understand that closure of the public counter and unavailability of in-person appointments may be inconvenient, and thank you for your patience. Please check updates on COVID-19 and City services on the City website at www.cityofwatsonville.org

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to a time when we can resume regular services. In the meantime, please take care and stay healthy.

Spanish - Services Offered

CDD will only issue building and engineering permits and will provide inspections for the following types of projects:

• Essential infrastructure
• Healthcare operations
• Deed restricted affordable housing projects
• Essential government-related public works projects
• Shelters and temporary housing (does not include motels/ hotels)
• Serve the homeless, elderly, economically disadvantaged, and persons with special needs
• Securing existing construction sites that must be shut down under this order to ensure their safety and security
• Residential construction necessary to ensure health and safety of the structure that cannot be reasonably delayed*
• Commercial construction necessary to ensure the health and safety of the building that cannot be reasonably delayed*

Please call 831-768-3050 or email cdd@cityofwatsonville.org for assistance.

*What is considered necessary construction to protect health and safety?

• Existing reroof projects under construction
• New reroof permits for active leaks only
• furnace/water heater replacement
• Immediate repair of fire damage/vehicle damage
• Repair of dangerous electrical or gas lines*****************************************************************************************************

Hasta el 3 de mayo de 2020, aceptaremos solicitudes para proyectos de construcción, ingeniería y planificación solo por correo y correo electrónico.

El departamento de desarrollo urbano solo emitirá permisos de construcción e ingeniería y proporcionará inspecciones para los siguientes tipos de proyectos:

• Infraestructura esencial

• Operaciones de salud

• Escritura restringida de proyectos de vivienda asequible

• Proyectos esenciales de obras públicas relacionadas con el gobierno

• Refugios y viviendas temporales (no incluye moteles / hoteles)

• Servir a las personas sin hogar, ancianos, personas con desventajas económicas y personas con necesidades especiales

• Asegurar sitios de construcción existentes que deben cerrarse bajo esta orden para garantizar su seguridad.

• Construcción residencial necesaria para garantizar la salud y seguridad de la estructura que no pueda demorarse razonablemente

• Construcción comercial necesaria para garantizar la salud y seguridad del edificio que no pueda demorarse razonablemente

Por favor llame al 831-768-3050 o mande un correo electrónico a cdd@cityofwatsonville.org para asistencia.

¿Que se considera construcción necesaria para proteger la salud y seguridad?

• Proyectos existentes de reemplazo de tejado actualmente bajo construcción
• Permisos de reemplazo de tejado solo disponibles para reparar fugas
• Reemplazo de horno/calentador de agua
• Reparación inmediata de daños por incendio/ daños vehiculares
• Reparación de líneas eléctricas o de gas que se poseen un peligr

Gracias por su paciencia y consideración, y manténgase seguro y saludable

This press release was produced by City of Watsonville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.