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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Commission - MINUTES - 03/28/2024City of Fort Collins Page 1 March 28, 2024 Alan Cram, Chair Council Chambers Eric Richards, Vice Chair 300 Laporte Avenue Shaun Moscrip Fort Collins, CO Gabe Dunbar Mark Teplitsky Staff Liaison: Ronnie Zimmerman Marcus Coldiron Casey Roberts Chief Building Official Meeting Minutes March 28, 2024 A regular meeting of the Building Review Commission was held on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in person at 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. • CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Richards called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Dunbar, Moscrip, Zimmerman, Richards, and Roberts ABSENT: Cram and Teplitsky STAFF: Coldiron, Manno, Shehan, Yatabe, Matsunaka, Howell • PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. • DISCUSSION AGENDA 1. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 14, 2023 MEETING The purpose of this item is to consider approval of the minutes from the December 14, 2023 regular meeting of the Building Review Commission. Commissioner Dunbar moved to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2023 meeting. Commissioner Zimmerman seconded. The motion passed 5-0. Building Review Commission City of Fort Collins Page 2 March 28, 2024 2. GARY PRITCHARD, DHARMA DESIGN BUILD, LLC - REQUEST FOR VARIANCE TO PROJECT VERIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR A NEW LICENSE AND SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATE DESCRIPTION: Mr. Gary Pritchard of Dharma Design Build, LLC is requesting a variance to the project verification requirement to obtain a license and supervisor’s certificate. STAFF: Shar Manno, Manager, Customer Support, Community Development & Neighborhood Services Marcus Coldiron, Chief Building Official Vice Chair Richards reviewed the appeal process. Staff Presentation Shar Manno, Manager, Customer Support, Community Development and Neighborhood Services, outlined the City Code requirements for obtaining a license and supervisor’s certificate, which include providing documents to verify that the individual acted in the principal role of contractor and primary project supervisor on at least three projects; however, it is not possible to satisfy the letter of the requirement by relying on projects that were completed within the city of Fort Collins because the license and supervisor’s certificate itself is required to serve as a contractor or project supervisor. Manno stated Mr. Pritchard’s application included project verifications from within the city of Fort Collins on which Jordan Obermann was the principal contractor and supervisor’s certificate holder; however, the application does not satisfy the letter of the Code section and was therefore denied. Manno stated Mr. Pritchard is now requesting a variance to the project verification requirements so he can use the projects to satisfy the requirement. Manno outlined considerations for the Commission. Appellant Presentation Mr. Pritchard discussed his construction project experience and stated he believes his appeal meets the applicable standards of the Code. He requested the Commissioners look at his resume to get a sense of his experience in the construction industry. He also presented a letter of recommendation. Staff Rebuttal Ms. Manno noted Mr. Pritchard did have a framing license with the City which expired in 2008 and a number of permits were pulled under that license. She stated staff would like to see experience in other jurisdictions. Appellant Rebuttal Mr. Pritchard stated he graduated from a construction team manager to general manager in other jurisdictions but cannot technically say that he has a contractor certification in those jurisdictions. He stated he does believe that experience satisfies the intent of the Code. Commission Questions/Discussion Commissioner Moscrip requested Mr. Pritchard describe his experience on site with some of the projects. Mr. Pritchard replied he started as the general manager under Jordan Obermann then assumed the role of on-site supervisor and project manager for the recent projects listed on his project verification forms. He stated he was responsible for ensuring materials arrived, subcontractors reported and had information they needed, and costs were appropriately managed. He stated he was on the job site at least half of every working day and was doing multiple projects at a time. Vice Chair Richards asked Mr. Pritchard if he has any projects in the works. Mr. Pritchard replied he has an upcoming basement finish in Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins Page 3 March 28, 2024 Vice Chair Richards asked if the third project listed by Mr. Pritchard is completed. Mr. Pritchard replied in the affirmative and stated a letter of completion should have been a part of the package. Vice Chair Richards asked Mr. Pritchard about his role in some work in Windsor. Mr. Pritchard replied he framed around 150 homes in his 20’s in Windsor. Commissioner Dunbar stated it is clear that Mr. Pritchard’s qualifications and experience are at a high level and he noted it would be difficult to comply with the City’s request in this case. Commissioner Moscrip concurred with Commissioner Dunbar and stated the City’s requirements to provide proof of work outside the city in order to work in the city should maybe be reconsidered. Vice Chair Richards concurred and stated the regulations have proved difficult for people who want to focus and grow their career in Fort Collins. Commissioner Dunbar moved that the Building Review Commission grant the requested variance to City Code Sections 15-158(a)(2) and 15-159(a)(10) to allow the information contained in Mr. Pritchard’s January 16, 2024 application and presented at this hearing for a class D2 license and supervisor’s certificate to satisfy the Code requirement that Mr. Pritchard has constructed or acted principally in a role of supervisor for the construction of at least three completed projects. Mr. Pritchard has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Commission that he possesses other qualifications not specifically listed in the Code, Chapter 15, Article 5, which the Commission has determined to qualify him to perform in a competent manner any construction authorized under the D2 license and supervisor’s certificate sought. Furthermore, granting of this variance will not be a substantial detriment to the public good or substantially impair the intent of the purposes of Article 5. Commissioner Zimmerman seconded the motion. Commissioner Dunbar stated there was some discussion about a potential change to these requirements at a previous meeting and asked if that is still being considered. Manno replied in the affirmative and stated the updated Building Code is currently being considered, and following that, the Contractor Licensing program will be reviewed. The motion passed 5-0. • OTHER BUSINESS • ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Richards adjourned the meeting at 9:28 a.m. Minutes prepared by TriPoint Data and respectfully submitted by David Howell.