LAWTON — Lawton is launching a program to help qualified builders obtain a final certificate of occupancy more quickly.
The Lawton City Council voted 5-2 May 2 to create the Fast Track Services program, aimed at streamlining the process for obtaining certificates of occupancy. Under the program, all final building inspections will be approved within 48 hours, and a certificate of occupancy will be issued within 24 hours of approval.
“All requirements to call for a final inspection and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy will remain in force,” the council said in the ordinance establishing the program. “However, if there is not a life-threatening issue at the final inspection, the Final Certificate of Occupancy will be approved. Any minor infractions at the time of inspection will be listed on a report from the inspector and a copy will be given to the builder at that time.”
Builders will have 30 days from the date of inspection to complete all items on the report, according to the ordinance. If those items are not completed, the builder will be fined $100 per infraction, placed on a list of nonconforming builders and deemed ineligible for Fast Track Services in the future.
If the inspection discovers any life-threatening problems, the builder must immediately schedule those items for completion before the city can issue a certificate of occupancy.
Acting City Attorney Tim Wilson said he wondered if the council wanted to strike the ordinance from the agenda, since the city’s legal department had not read the measure yet.
“I think earlier in the week, or last week, this was set for a discussion item,” he said. “It changed from a discussion item to an action item, and I don’t think legal has had a chance to see the ordinance or the other item.”
The other item was a companion ordinance to impose a fee for builders who do not adhere to Fast Track Services guidelines.
Acting City Manager John Ratliff recommended postponing a vote on the ordinance until the city’s Processes Oversight Committee has a chance to review it.
“There’s some alleged inefficiency here in the current process, and that is precisely why the committee was created a couple of months ago was to look at these reported inefficiencies and make recommendations to council on how to improve them,” he said. “So, I think that this issue is not ripe for council yet and should be delegated down to the committee for further discussion.”
Councilman Randy Warren proposed sending the ordinance to the Processes Oversight Committee, which would give the legal department time to review it. Councilwoman Onreka Johnson seconded the motion.
But Councilman Kelly Harris made a substitute motion to approve the ordinance.
“We’ve looked at it,” he said. “We’ve talked about it, and I think we should go ahead and take action on it.”
Harris’ motion and the companion ordinance both passed on a 5-2 vote.