r/GarnerNC • u/Big-Gingey • 15d ago

Town of Garner permits

I own a small business and I’m having to get building permits and stuff. Is it normal for people to not respond to email for weeks? The guy asked me to get an engineering firm to come out and do a site plan. Spent $2k on a firm to come out and draw a rectangle with some marks on it. I sent him the plan and it’s been almost two weeks since I sent the plans over. This is all bc I put a 50sqft room in the warehouse portion of my office.

Also I applied for zoning permits to fully complete my business permit stuff. It’s been about two months since I submitted that and no one has reached out.

It’s just so exhausting having a looming threat of being put out of business because people aren’t responding to me.

9 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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5

u/Redmen1212 15d ago

I would just give them a call. If you get no answer, try going up the chain— 2 months is reasonable to get an answer, there is no reason it should take that long. Could have just got stuck under a pile of papers on a desk, or the guy went on vacation. Just be nice and explain you’re just looking to move forward

2

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

I called up there last week having to get the building permit extended again. I applied for it Feb 2025 and once I got the deficiency report, I tried getting up with the guy with calls and emails. he didn’t respond for a month so I just gave up. I had a fire inspector come by 2 months ago and tell me I need my permits still. So I got it reopened and got ahold of the guy finally and I’ve done everything he told me to do.
The 2 months one is my zoning permit, the person I was on the phone with sent an internal email to zoning to get them to check on it.

It’s just aggravating having to pester people for things they’re forcing me to get. It makes me feel like they care about getting their permit fees more than the actual purpose of the permit.

4

u/One_Pomegranate_5385 15d ago

I would call every day and be extremely polite in order to let them know you are very serious about moving forward and need this to happen.

If it were me being as tenacious as I am, I would go down to Town hall and try to talk to someone, namely Paul Padgett, the guy in charge. Again, being polite, since no one wants to help a jerk (I know you aren’t one)

1

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

I was a lil sassy on the phone ngl. When I finally got ahold of one of the permit guys, I was like yeah haha tried getting ahold of you last year

1

u/One_Pomegranate_5385 15d ago

What did they say about moving forward? Are you missing anything on your application? Have they assigned a plan reviewer? Are there any fees ready to pay?

1

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

There is an inspector assigned to my permit. We called after I got my deficiency report. He told me to get an engineering firm to do a site plan and send it to him once I get it. I got the first set of plans 2 weeks ago and I emailed them to him twice now. No response. I’m waiting on him to review the plans so I can get a sealed set from the firm I’m using.
I’ve also already paid all my fees for now. I think more pop up when it’s time for someone to do a site visit.

1

u/One_Pomegranate_5385 15d ago

Dang sorry about the wait, it is so frustrating. I hope you can move forward soon!

4

u/susannccd 15d ago

When you need something from the government it’s wait wait wait. When the government needs something from you it’s NOW!

1

u/kaylerbug369 15d ago

They're out sick this week with Garnerrhea

1

u/Bazgabb 15d ago

I am not understanding why they required a site plan if you only had interior renovation work. Was there a change of use for the property? I could see them requiring MEP engineering plans for an interior renovation.

1

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

I believe it’s bc a change of use. The suite was used for an office. Now it’s being used to make prosthetics. It’s a 800sqft suite. With 400 of it being office and the back 400 being warehouse w garage door. I made a small room to grind sockets in. He originally said it needs to be changed to manufacturing and now he is saying it’s a factory

1

u/Bazgabb 15d ago

Ok, that may have triggered it in that case.

1

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

It makes no sense to me bc the business park is zoned for light industrial, so why does purpose even matter? I’ve talked to several other small labs and they’ve never had this much gov overreach in their perspective towns. Even at the old location in Raleigh off of capital we had no issues.

1

u/Bazgabb 15d ago

It is likely just an administrative site review, which is typical for changes of use as far as I know. I don't deal with site review though, so I may be missing something. It was a full site review it would take months to get through. Sucks you are getting the run-around though.

I am more curious why they didn't require architectural and MEP drawings for something that sounds like a Level 2 Alteration.

1

u/GreenEggplant16 15d ago

The mayor, Buddy Gupton, is heavily involved with the Garner Chamber and is generally pro-small business (my opinion having met him at small business events) - might be worth shooting him an email and just saying hey, this is a royal pain as a small business owner
https://www.garnernc.gov/government/town-council/town-council-members

1

u/Big-Gingey 15d ago

I might if this stuff keeps getting worse, the guy responded and I feel like each time he does he’s just listing off more and more stuff that I need done.

And it’s a little ridiculous and overwhelming, I’m just a 24 year old business owner and I’m being treated like I’m so deep pocketed corporation.

Even the firm I had do my stuff thinks this is all ridiculous.

1

u/GreenEggplant16 15d ago

Email Buddy, tell him someone from the Garner Chamber told you to get in touch with him about the permits.

1

u/Time_2_Ride 15d ago

I hate to tell ya, but I can almost guarantee your going to end up needing architectural and engineering plans.