Community Development
General Services Dept. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Building Window Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12-1 for lunch)
Program Overview
The Community Development Department consists of the Planning Division, Building Division, and Engineering Division.
Planning Division
Counter Hours (Asst. Planner): Monday & Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Counter Hours (Planner): Tuesday & Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
(Meetings by appointment only): Tuesday & Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Planning Division carries out the various functions and activities which create a vibrant livable community for our citizens and planning for future growth. Effective planning processes seek to manage growth and change in such a manner as to avoid unsightly and uncoordinated or inconsistent development, destruction of environmentally sensitive areas, and the creation of unfunded infrastructure needs. This division is responsible for the creation and provision of the General Plan and City Zoning Ordinances. These are the blue print and standards which guide the physical development of the community. In addition to providing development services this division also coordinates the establishment of Public Facility Impact fees used to pay for public facilities and infrastructure.
Building Division
Permit Counter Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12-1 for lunch)
Buidling Inspection Contact Information
**ATTENTION**
THE BUILDING INSPECTION REQUEST LINE HAS CHANGED TO: (209) 356-2529
You can also send your request via email to: building@atwater.org and provide, the permit number, job site address, type of inspection, technician name and number.
The Building Division provides plan reviews and field inspections of buildings to ensure a safe and healthy environment and compliance with local ordinances and state regulations. This division provides customer service by assisting citizens and contractors on proper procedures pertaining to building within the Community. For the 12/13 FY the Building Division has been reduced to a full time Building Official and a part-time Administrative Assistant.
Links:
- State of California Building Standards Commission
- State of California Energy Commission
- State of California Architects License Board
- State of California Contractor’s License Board
- State of California Licensed Engineers and Land Surveyors
- State of California Building Standards Commission
Downloadable Documents:
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division provides for the administration and management of a full spectrum of activities including capital planning, engineering and design of public facilities and utilities, and public improvement inspection. This division is responsible for plan preparation and specifications for the various city capital improvements and expenditures and to ensure compliance with state competitive bidding and construction quality compliance. It is responsible for right of way management and for issuing encroachment permits. This division also coordinates the review of plans or various maps for compliance with state and local standards and ensures engineering of such projects comply with state and local standards and legal requirements.
Downloadable Documents:
Encroachment Permit Application
General Plan
The City of Atwater General Plan was adopted in 2000. It was developed to anticipate the needs of the physical development of the community through the year 2020. The City of Atwater General Plan is now available for download. The document has been separated into eight sections.
Copies of the most current General Plan Map and Zoning Map are also available for download from this site. These are located on the City Maps Page.
The City also has copies of the General Plan Document, General Plan Map, and Zoning Map available for purchase at City Hall, 750 Bellevue Road in Atwater.
Downloadable Documents:
Grants
Grant administration for the City of Atwater has been managed by the Grants Manager since October 2007. Grant applications are made through federal, state and, occasionally, private sources for a variety of City projects. When appropriate, the City also partners with other agencies and community groups to maximize community benefit.
For grant statistics or further detail on currently open grant awards, pending applications and past grant projects completed, click on the links below.
Downloadable Documents:
Redevelopment Agency
The Atwater Redevelopment Agency is a separate entity within the City of Atwater; however the Board of Directors is composed of the Mayor and City Council Members. The Agency is focused on issues in the project area which was created in 1976 for the purpose of remedying physical and economic blight.
The Atwater Redevelopment Agency is the primary provider of business assistance and support under the various state and federal programs administered locally. These include the Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone, local Revolving Loan Fund, and Recycling Market Development Zone. In addition to business support the mission of the Agency is to stimulate new private investment, job creation, and market the opportunities available in the community. An emphasis of the Agency is to recruit and retain businesses so that local citizens have job and shopping opportunities, provide housing opportunities to low and moderate income residents through the use of Agency funds for low and moderate income housing, assist in providing a viable downtown business district, and facilitate capital improvements and investment to improve the Redevelopment Project Area.
Housing
Through the contributions of the Atwater Redevelopment Agency and by way of grant writing the city has developed a housing program. Currently, the city provides assistance to low and moderate income residents under the first time home buyers program and the housing rehabilitation program. The combination of agency funds, Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG), and Home Funds establish a strong local base to provide quality and affordable housing.
Downloadable Documents: