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$Text Box: TOWN PLANNING STRICTER BUILDING ORDINANCE By Dave Chitwood The town attorney has prepared a draft revised building ordinance which would provide fines for violations of the town’s requirement that a town building permit be obtained for all construction in Glen Echo. The current ordinance requires that a town permit, which costs $2, be obtained within seven days of receipt of the county permit. The law provides that the town has 30 days to file an appeal after a building permit is obtained from the county. However, the county usually does not inform the Town of granted building permits, and residents or builders do not always comply with this request. In at least one case, a resident refused to obtain a town building permit. The draft revised building ordinance has several provisions. First, neighbors of the applicant must certify that they have seen the construction plans. Second, if the permit was not obtained, a municipal violation would occur at a cost of $500. Each day beyond the seven-day window would be regarded as a separate violation with its own $500 fine. (Maryland law limits municipal violation fines to $1,000, hence the need for multiple infractions in order to have meaningful economic clout.) Mayor Beers said she believed the council could readily discuss each permit at a regular council meeting in order to decide if a special public meeting were necessary. Approximately six permits a year are issued.$