Planning and Development

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Department of Planning and Development is to improve and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Alton by providing activities, programs, and initiatives relating to economic development, community development, short & long-range planning, and building & zoning code enforcement.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

The City of Alton is beginning the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. Please Click Here to view the Request for Qualifications seeking experienced urban planning firms to assist the city in this endeavor.

NEW OCCUPANCY PERMIT POLICY-BUILDING & ZONING

Effective February 1, 2015, the Department of Building and Zoning will no longer conduct occupancy inspections of dwellings where the tenant information is not yet known. All occupant information must be on the form at the time the inspection is scheduled. Information for EVERYONE who will reside in the dwelling is required.

Information Required:

For Adults (18 & Over): Full Name (First, Middle, Last), Date of Birth, State Issued Driver’s License or ID Number

For Children: Full Name (First, Middle, Last) and Date of Birth.

There will be no exceptions!!

DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION

The Department of Planning and Development is organized into two divisions, Development and Housing and Building and Zoning. While each division has specific duties, the personnel of each frequently interact to provide the most efficient method of providing customer service and implementing departmental projects. Broad areas of responsibility include:

Administration – provide overall administration of the department and reports departmental activities directly to the Mayor and Alton City Council.

Code Enforcement – maintain the public safety and welfare of the City’s physical structures and property by enforcing building construction codes, life-safety codes, property maintenance codes, accessibility codes, zoning codes, and conducting universal residential occupancy inspections. For more information on the Building and Zoning Department, please click here.

Planning – ensures land use and general planning services in accordance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision Ordinance. In conjunction with the responsibilities of Building and Zoning, the Department provides staff support to the City Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Building Board of Appeals, Appearance Review Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission. For more information on the previously mentioned Boards and Commissions, please click on the appropriate Board or Commission.

Economic Development – provide assistance and guidance for development and redevelopment projects within the City, administer the Riverfront TIF District and the Hunterstown TIF District, coordinate with Madison County on the Riverbend Enterprise Zone, process grants and loans made available by the City, and provide coordination with other governmental organization, civic groups, and private-sector entities. For more information on the City of Alton’s economic development programs, development opportunities, and recent developments, please click here.

CDBG/Grants Management – manage, in conjunction with Madison County, the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and assist other City departments and not-for-profit organizations with the preparation of grant submittals. For more information on the City of Alton’s community development programs, please click here.

GIS Mapping – The City of Alton actively uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) to support a range of municipal planning and administrative functions. GIS integrates hardware, software, and data for spatial analysis of geographically referenced information. The Department employs this technology to support departmental goals and objectives including, but not limited to land use planning, zoning administration, site selection, code enforcement, and property acquisition. To view the Zoning Map, Enterprise Zone Map, Historic District Map, or TIF District Map, please click here. Please be advised that these maps are large files and may take a moment to download.

Click here to download the City of Alton Comprehensive Plan April 2003