Latest news from the site for our new building:

Current Events:
Septic Permit has been approved
Bexar County has not issued the requested letter for the Plat Review for SAWS
SAWS waiting on Plat Review Letter to issue Water Main Extension for bidding
Construction Contracts have been signed
Contractor’s Payment Bond has been filed with Bexar County Clerk
Sitework Permit Application has been submitted (7-10 day review)

Future Events:
Building Permit Application submitted on 4/16/18 (20-25 day review)
Attempting to obtain Bexar County Plat Review Letter
Bidding of the Water Main Extension through SAWS
Issuing Notice to Proceed for Sitework

Sitework Scope of Work:
Clearing trees to be removed at driveway entrance
Rough Grading of driveway, parking, building pad area
Installation of base fill material for driveway, parking lot, and building pad area

Because there are sooooooo many hoops to jump through.  Here is the updated “to do”  list before actual  construction can begin on our new building:

• Septic Engineer submitted the Septic Design and Application to Bexar County Environmental Services for review.  iM STUDIOS wrote a check for the Septic Design and Permitting Costs which were required prior to filing.  I’ll invoice the Church for the Septic design and Permitting invoice payment of $1,260.00.
• Mike Lara with Bexar County Environmental Services provided the Permit Number for the Youth Barn Septic System (#20180061) on Jan 31, 2018.  We still have not received the approved permit – still waiting on the approved ATC from Bexar County to provide to SAWS.
• Affidavit has been filed with Bexar County and filing proof has been submitted to Mike Lara with Bexar County Environmental Services.  I checked to see if I could get review status and the County is backed-up due to a large number of septic permit applications received since Jan 2, 2018… probably +/- one more week.
• Bexar County Environmental Services will give SAWS to Approved to Construct notice right after septic permit has been approved… probably +/- one week from now.
• SAWS will give City of San Antonio (CoSA) approval for water main extension and we can submit for Building Permit Review. … probably +/- two week from now.
• Suggestion would be to submit for two Building Permits; 1) Commercial Grading Permit (only needs two departments to review and approve – typically 7-10 days for approval), and 2) Commercial Building Permit (typically needs 30 days for approval).  Plan would be to receive Commercial Grading Permit which would allow CGC to mobilize and begin tree clearing and site grading of the driveway and parking and building pad…. this will take +/-3 weeks.  Then we should be receiving the Commercial Building Permit and CGC would move into the construction of the building and remainder of the sitework.
• Now that we are moving positively toward construction, I’ll deliver the final version of the Construction Contract and get CGC’s signatures and I’ll deliver it to Bill for the Church Rep’s signature.  We should be receiving CGC’s (General Contractor) Bonds and Insurance by February 16, 2018.
• We will need to provide CGC with a fully executed copy of the Construction Contract once Church signatures have been executed on the forms.
• iM STUDIOS is scheduled to submit for the Commercial Grading Permit and the Commercial Building Permit as soon as SAWS receives the Design Approval Letter from Bexar County Environmental Services.
• With any luck, we will start site clearing and grading in 4-5 weeks and full construction in 7-8 weeks.

This update from the architect, Tab Baker of iM Studios:

• The Septic System Design and Permit Application were received 1/11/18 and signed by Grace Church representative on 1/12.
• Signed documents have been delivered to Septic Engineer and submitted to Bexar County Environmental Services for review.
• Affidavit will be filed with Bexar County and filing proof will be submitted to Bexar County.  I checked to see if I could get review status and the County is backed-up due to a large number of septic permit applications received since Jan 2, 2018… probably +/- one more week.
• Bexar County Environmental Services will give SAWS to Approved to Construct notice right after septic permit has been approved… probably +/- one week from now.
• SAWS will give City of San Antonio (CoSA) approval for water main extension and we can submit for Building Permit Review. … probably +/- two weeks from now.
• Suggestion would be to submit for two Building Permits; 1) Commercial Grading Permit (only needs two departments to review and approve – typically 7-10 days for approval), and 2) Commercial Building Permit (typically needs 30 days for approval).  Plan would be to receive Commercial Grading Permit which would allow CGC to mobilize and begin tree clearing and site grading of the driveway and parking and building pad…. this will take +/-3 weeks.  Then we should be receiving the Commercial Building Permit and CGC would move into the construction of the building and remainder of the sitework.
• Now that we are moving toward construction, I will print the final version of the Construction Contract and get CGC’s signatures and I’ll deliver it  for the Church rep’s signature.
• Once CGC has the Construction Contract, they can get their Bonds and Insurance and we’ll get copies to the Church and/or Diocese.
• With any luck, we will start site clearing and grading in 5-6 weeks and full construction in 8-9 weeks.

Building  activity still centers around infrastructure, and this week is concentrating on the septic system.

We expect to have the septic system permit by mid-January which then must be sent to SAWS (septic system can’t start until we have permanent water on the site.)

After we have SAWS approval of the water main extension, we can submit the Overall Plans and application to City of San Antonio for Building Permit submission and review.

Architect thinks that realistically we are 5 to 6 weeks from construction.

January 6 from the architect:

Project Building Permit Approval for construction has been delayed due to the off-site water main extension not being “officially” approved by SAWS.  Water Main Extension approval delayed due to Septic System not being approved by Bexar County.  Septic System Engineering has not been completed due to delays from Septic Engineer.  Paul Swoyer Septics (contracted separately by the Church) has out-sourced the Septic Engineering required for the Septic Permit Approval.

Septic Engineer is behind schedule, but has committed to completing the Septic Design ASAP.  Architect (Tab Baker) is scheduled to meet Septic Engineer at the project site this coming week for review of the final location of the septic tank and septic drain field.  Septic Design will then be completed and the application to Bexar County will need to be signed by Bill Cruse.  +/- 2 weeks to be submitted to Bexar County.

Bexar County will review for permitting approval and provide a letter of compliance as required by SAWS.

Once SAWS receives the letter of compliance, they will release the SAWS Water Main Extension project for bidding and installation.

Once SAWS gives approval of the water main extension, the City of San Antonio will “officially” intake the signed and sealed Overall Drawings for Building Permit review and approval.

WHAT COMES NEXT

There are some options  the Building Team needs to consider at this point that have to do with further permitting.  Rather than applying for different permits one after the other, the permits could be separated and applied for simultaneously.

Permitting for each may take 4-5 weeks, with an option to speed the process at additional cost.

The Building Team will consider the options and move forward ASAP.

On October 8, 2017, Grace Church San Antonio broke ground for their new fellowship building on the church’s property on Camp Bullis Road in northwest San Antonio. The building will allow Grace Church to continue its mission of sharing God’s love with those in its neighborhood.

The church hopes to use this building and future spaces to offer resources for the surrounding community such as Mothers’ Day Out, mentoring programs, sports leagues, and spiritual formation programs.

Plans are for construction to begin this fall with a completion date in the spring of 2018.

We have now demolished the barn and small house that were originally on the property and are accepting construction bids. Long-term, this facility would be our youth building, so while it would have some temporary uses initially, it would eventually be entirely for our youth.

It is to be a multi-purpose building that we will use for fellowship, youth group, children’s ministry, Story groups, and meeting space. The size of the building will be 3600 sq ft: 1200 ft of covered outdoor fellowship space, and 2,400 sq ft of indoor air-conditioned space with bathrooms and a small kitchen.

We  hope to have it completed by Easter 2018. The plans have been drawn, water and sewage plans have been approved by San Antonio Water System, and ground core samples have been taken to determine the type of foundation needed.

The fellowship building with driveway, parking, and all the other necessities is a $700,000 project. But this is doable. With the money we have on hand now, plus additional incoming pledges and a short-term construction loan, this project can be funded. We are working with Tab Baker of iM Studios as our architect.

We have completed
Barn demolition
Water line plans with SAWS
Fire hydrant plan
Parking plan
Geological survey
Tree survey
Construction plan
Seeking contractor bids

We are currently planning
Ground-breaking ceremony end of  September
Construction beginning end of  September
Building dedication Easter 2018