Community Development Department

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11/16/07 - Rolla: 5 Years of Trends Graphic Booklet (3 mb)

10/30/07 - Major Thoroughfare Plans

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Rolla 2020 Comprehensive Plan Brochure | Front | Back | (Large File - 5.0 mb)

Rolla 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update, 2005 (144 pages, PDF 1.8mb)

What we did...

The Comprehensive Plan Update provides a single document that incorporates the major issues and policy recommendations contained in other plans and planning reports or discovered through the citizen involvement process. The Plan update insures that the Rolla Comprehensive Plan continues to address the needs of a growing community and provide guidance for future public and private decision-making on a variety of topics.

Why we did it...

Work on the current Rolla Comprehensive Plan was initiated in 1995 and the Plan was completed in 1996. The Plan has been amended several times to reflect changes in the community, such as the completion of the South side annexation process. Although the Plan has served its purpose, the continued growth and changing needs and conditions in the Rolla area  necessitated revisiting important community issues with a view towards the future.

About the Process

Between November 2004 and January 2006 a Planning Advisory Committee, consisting of representative members of the community and appointed officials, worked with staff to update the 1996 Comprehensive Plan. The Committee provided input, advice, and feedback to the project team as the process moved forward. Community input was an important part of this process.

For complete information of the Rolla 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update, including documents, graphs, and maps, see this page.

If you have questions concerning the adopted Plan contact Community Development at 426-6979, or at comdev@rollacity.org.

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Meeting Information

All requests for subdivisions or rezoning require approval of both the Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council. Planning & Zoning Meetings are held at City Hall (901 North Elm) and City Council meetings are held at City Hall, 901 North Elm Street. The regular meeting schedule is as follows:

For a full calendar of meeting dates, along with other city events, see our Event Calendar.

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News & Notes:

Swimming Pool Safety

Spring is here and everyone will start thinking about swimming pools.  There are several concerns dealing with the installation of swimming pools, spas, or hot tubs, all of which require a permit for their installation if over 24" deep.  Please contact the City of Rolla Community Development Department at (573) 364-5333 prior to installation of a pool, spa or hot tub.  We have a handout available that will cover most every aspect of your pool, spa, or hot tub installation.

Clearances

Pay strict attention to any surrounding electrical equipment, overhead wires, receptacles, lighting, or windows when selecting a location for your new pool, spa, or hot tub.  There are minimum clearances pertaining to all of these.  Too many times we have been out for inspections only to find the hot tub next to the meter base, under a low light fixture, or even a swimming pool directly beneath overhead electrical conductors.  The 1999 NEC governs the electrical installation and clearances associated with these installations.

Barrier Requirements

Outdoor swimming pools, either above-ground or in-ground, hot tubs, or spas require a barrier to protect against unauthorized entry. A swimming pool or similar facility creates an attractive temptation to children, including very young children and infants who do not know how to swim.  Providing an effective barrier can help reduce the number of accidental deaths or injuries incurred every year as a result of open access to a pool, spa, or hot tub.

The top of the barrier shall be at least 48" above grade, with a 2" maximum clearance between the fence bottom and the ground.  When the side of the pool, such as an aboveground pool, serves as the barrier, it too must also be 48" above grade.  Additional railing or guards may be placed on top of the pool walls to achieve this height provided there is a 4" maximum clearance beneath the bottom of the guard and the top of the pool.

Barriers must be constructed with openings that will not allow passage of a 4" sphere and do not have openings or projections that would create a ladder for small children.  When using chain link fencing, 1.25" is the largest mesh size allowed and 1.75" for lattice fence or decorative cutouts within vertical members of a fence.  All fences shall contain a gate that is self-closing and self-latching.  Where the release mechanism is less than 54" above the bottom of the gate, it shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least 3" below the top and the gate can have no opening greater than ½" within 18" of the release or latch.

Whenever a wall of a dwelling unit or building serves as part of the barrier, the pool, hot tub, or spa must be equipped with a power safety cover; the doors equipped with audible alarms; or other means such as self-closing and self-latching doors.
Where an aboveground pool structure is used as a barrier, the ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked, removed, or shall have a barrier around the steps.

Electrical

Receptacles that provide power for filter motors or other related loads must be GFCI protected and may be located between 5 feet and 10 feet from the inside wall of the pool, hot tub, or spa.  Other receptacles on the property shall be located not less than 10 feet from the inside wall of the pool. All outlets located within 20 feet of the pool, spa, or hot tub must be GFCI protected. All switches must be located at least 5 feet horizontally from the pool, spa, or hot tub.

Outdoor lighting must be a minimum of 12 feet above the water unless located outside of a zone that extends 5 feet horizontally beyond the pool, spa, or hot tub edge.  Indoor lighting clearance may be reduced to a height of 7' 6" above the water when the fixture is a totally enclosed type and GFCI protected.

It is important to make sure all metal parts such as piping, ladders, rails, reinforcing steel, lighting, motor or heater housing, or other parts that might become energized with an approved bonding clamp or terminal.  Small conductive parts such as towel bars, mirrors or jets not connected to metal piping are not likely to become energized and do not require bonding.  A #8 solid copper shall be the minimum size bonding conductor. 

General

Prior to filling the newly installed pool, hot tub, or spa, make sure the hose bib is equipped with a vacuum breaker or other means of backflow protection to prevent contamination of the water supply.  All pools, spas, and hot tubs must be maintained in a sanitary condition throughout the season.  Owners should be properly instructed in proper pool maintenance and care.  Chemicals should be stored in a safe area with proper ventilation and out of the reach of small children.  In addition to these requirements, any additional caution or care exhibited might save the life of a child!

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Is your backyard party friendly?

Summer safety tips from the Community Development Department

As Memorial Day approaches, the Community Development Department is urging homeowners to take the time to check their outdoor areas for potential safety hazards. Proper inspections now can help to keep your family and friends safe in the future.

Porches, Decks and Balconies

Porches can be at risk of collapsing if they are not properly constructed or if they are old. A common safety hazard occurs when porches are nailed to buildings rather than being attached with the proper anchors or bolts. Nails are a poor method for attaching porches to buildings because they work their way loose over time. Other safety hazards to look for are:

• Split or rotting wood
• Wobbly handrails or guardrails
• Loose, missing or rusting anchors, nails or screws
• Missing, damaged or loose support beams and planking
• Poor end support of the porch deck, joists or girders
• Excessive movement of the porch when walked on
• Swaying or unstable porches

Building or repairing to code, which requires a building permit and an inspection, will help ensure that the porch is safe. The International Codes specify the amount of weight a porch is required to support. However, be careful not to allow the porch to become overcrowded. If the people on the structure have difficulty moving about, the porch could be exceeding its capacity.

Grills

Grilling on or near combustible areas can be a fire hazard. It not only puts your family and visitors at risk, but, especially in condos and apartment buildings, can put your neighbors in danger as well. The most common grilling hazards are open flames and heat generated in the grill base that can be transferred to the wood of a porch or the home's siding, causing a fire. When grilling, follow these safety tips:

• Place the grill away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches
• Periodically remove grease or fat buildup
• Use only proper starter fluid and store the can away from heat sources
• Check propane cylinder hoses for leaks before use
• Do not move hot grills
• Dispose of charcoal properly, keeping ash containers outside and away from combustible construction

Swimming Pools

Because they can be attractive—and dangerous—to young children, in-ground and above-ground pools should be surrounded by a fence or other barrier. Small, inflatable pools must also be protected. The International Building Code states that any pool with more than 24 inches of water has to have a four-foot fence or other barrier around it. Any gates in the fence must be self-closing and self-latching. Other things to consider when installing a pool:

• Building permit requirements
• Zoning requirements
• Electrical clearances and utility easements
• Insurance policies

When conducting remodeling, construction or any type of work on your home, you should always contact our department beforehand to determine what permits are needed and what codes must be followed.  You may contact Brian Epstein, the Building Codes Administrator for the City of Rolla, at (573) 364-5333.

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Deck Safety and Maintenance

By Brian Epstein - Building Codes Administrator

It has become a news topic often linked to multiple injuries and in some instances, death.

June 1, 2004: A second story deck that was the only entry to the apartment collapsed after the occupants placed an above ground swimming pool on it (see pictures).

Several other instances such as this or the June 29th, 2003 tragedy in Chicago where a porch collapsed killing 12 and injuring 57 others still stir in our memory. These as well as others all have one of three things in common that resulted in the failure of the construction; improper construction, over-loading, or lack of maintenance.

Things to remember when purchasing a home with a wooden deck or constructing a new one:

1. Decks, stairs, and landings should not move!!! Movement, other than slight deflection, is good evidence of poor construction.
2. Use treated lumber or composite deck materials.
3. All hardware such as screws, bolts, hangers, etc. should be noncorrosive.
4. Decks should be bolted to the house.
5. All beams or girders must be at least doubled where the floor joist attach.
6. 36 min. high guards with vertical balusters having a maximum spacing of 4 .
7. All floor joist rest on beams, girders, hangers, or ledgers.
8. Wood should be free of excessive splintering or cracking, rot, decay, soft spots, insect damage, and all fasteners should be tight. Ideally the wood should be sealed with a good coat of exterior grade wood sealer or water repellent.

Decks are constructed and designed to support a 40-pound per square foot live load. This would be no more than a 200-pound person for each 5 square feet of deck. Doesn't sound like much? A 12 x 12 deck would support 28 - 200 lb. persons or 5600 lbs., which is greater than the weight of an average car. You must be aware that these persons must be evenly distributed on the total deck. Crowd them together and you have overloaded the deck.

By follow the eight steps above, you can properly maintain a deck and keep it in a safe condition.

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Contact Information

About Us

The Community Development Department is the branch of the City Government that is responsible for Planning, Zoning, and Codes Enforcement.

Subdivision regulations, rezoning requests, building permits and inspections are among the chief functions of the department.

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