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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Board - Minutes - 07/31/2003Minutes approved by the Board at the August 28, 2003 Meeting FORT COLLINS BUILDING REVIEW BOARD Regular Meeting — July 31, 2003 1:00 p.m. 1 Liaison: Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Felix Lee (221-6 arson: Charles Fielder Phone: 484-0117(W), 207-0505 A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday July 31, 2003, in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARDMEMBERS PRESENT: David Carr Leslie Jones Gene Little Bradley Massey Michael Smilie BOARDMEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Fielder John McCoy STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Felix Lee, Building and Zoning Director Stacie Soriano, Staff Support AGENDA: 1. ROLLCALL The meeting was called to order by Vice -Chairperson Massey, and roll call was taken. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board member Little made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 22, 2003, meeting. Board member Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed. Vote: Yeas: Little, Massey, Carr, Smilie and Jones. Nays: None. BRB 07/31/03 Page 2 3. Contractor License Hearing — Steve Josephs, d/b/a Craftsmen Builders, License #D2-26, Case #12-03. Massey explained the procedures for appeals. Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. Lee stated that the Appellant was requesting a continuing a current exemption to the square footage limitation under his Class D2 license. This would allow the Appellant to perform remodels and additions in excess of 1,000 square feet. The Appellant is also seeking approval to build a single-family residence should the opportunity present itself. Appellant Josephs has appeared before the Board twice before this hearing for one-time exemptions. Lee explained the previous appeals. Josephs was granted a one-time exemption to build a 1700 square foot, single-family home, which would give Josephs the D1 qualifications that he needed. Josephs addressed the Board. Josephs stated that he wanted the ability to build a single-family home to meet the class D1 qualifications. Josephs wanted to prevent coming before the Board every year to extend the approval to building a single-family home. Josephs stated that he performs most of his work in Old Town and most of the houses are small (1000 square feet). Josephs stated that sometimes the size of the home is doubled to approximately 1000 to 1200 square feet. Josephs said that anytime an addition is over 1000 square feet he has to come before the Board to have approval of the request. Massey asked if the exemption was project specific. Lee responded that the approval was for an open-ended request. Lee stated the approval expired with the Appellant's license renewal. Little asked staff if Appellant Josephs only needed one more single-family home project to qualify for a D1 license. Lee replied yes. There was a discussion held regarding the differences between a D1 and a D2 license. Smilie stated he was troubled by an open-ended approval for a future project. Little stated that once this home was built, Appellant Josephs would have all the requirements to build any size single-family dwelling unit. Appellant Josephs past experience was discussed. There was a discussion held regarding why the Appellant was requesting an open-ended approval. Little made a motion to approve an exemption of square footage up to 2500 square feet limit on Joseph's current D2 license, which would enable Josephs to perform a residential remodel in excess of 1000 square feet. Little also approved to Josephs build one more single-family residence within the city limits of Fort Collins, which would enable Josephs to obtain his Class Dl license. Jones seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Little, Massey, Carr, Smilie, and Jones. Nays: None. 4. Contractor License Hearing — Tom Langer, d/b/a Aspenwood Construction, License #D-348, Case 913-03. BRB 07/31/03 Page 3 Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. The Appellant requested an exemption to his current D 1 license in order to perform a tenant finish. The Appellant obtained his license in 1997 and he does not have any violations or complaints. Langer addressed the Board. Langer was offered a tenant finish job for Mackey's Pub and Grill. Langer felt the job was within his abilities. Lee asked Langer to go into more detail regarding the scope of the project. Langer stated that he would be handling the sub -contractors. Langer said that he would also be finishing the open space and convert it to a bar and grill. Langer stated there would be no structural work. Lee asked Langer about the size of the project. Langer stated approximately 5,000 square feet and $70,000.00. Langer explained the project in more detail. There was a discussion held regarding the scope of the project. Lee made his closing statements. Lee stated that the D1 exam does not include any commercial questions. Lee said the Appellant has completed several residential additions, patios and decks. Langer stated he built a 3300 square foot home for himself that he would like to be considered as experience. Appellant Langer has not built a single-family home in the City of Fort Collins. There was a discussion held regarding Langer's past projects. An E license is needed to perform tenant finishes. Massey asked the Appellant if he was willing to take and pass the E test. Langer stated that he would if that condition were placed on the approval. Little asked what the time frame was for the project. Langer stated that the project was ready to be started upon approval his request. Massey would like the Appellant to take the E test. Langer stated that taking the test may break the contract for him due to time constraints. Little stated that he did not have any issues with approving the appeal due to past experience. Little was also in favor of the Appellant taking the Class E exam. There was a discussion held regarding the Appellant obtaining his Class E license. Little made a motion to approve the project exemption to Mr. Langer's current D1 license that would enable him to complete the tenant finish for Mackey's Bar and Grill. Little placed the requirement that Langer takes and passes the E licensing exam, but not as a requirement prior to performing the tenant finish. Jones seconded the motion. Massey asked Little for clarification. Little stated that Langer would have to pass the E exam prior to coming to the Board for an additional project. Vote: Yeas: Little, Carr, Smilie, and Jones. Nays: Massey. 5. Contractor License Hearing — Ron Tomasini, d/b/a Tomasini, Inc., License #D2-33 and E-180, Case #14-03. BRB 07/31/03 Page 4 Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. The Appellant was seeking an exemption to his current D2 and E license that enable the Appellant to construct a back porch/deck for a restaurant. The deck is structural and requires an exemption to both of the Appellant's licenses. The structural deck is outside the scope of the Class D2 and E licenses. Lee noted that Mr. Tomasini had two violations in his file —a stop work order and an occupancy use violation notice. Ron Tomasini addressed the Board. Tomasini explained the violations in his file. He was only the framer on the job that the occupancy violation notice was issued —not the general contractor. The City has fixed the mistake. The other violation was that he had taken ceiling tile and carpet out of the building prior to obtaining a building permit and was issued a stop work order. Tomasini explained the current project. The restaurant currently has an existing deck on the rear portion of the restaurant. Tomasini has been asked to enclose the porch, which would require five caissons. The plans are engineered plans. Tomasini reviewed his past experience and felt he was capable of performing the work. There was a discussion held regarding the occupancy use violation notice. Smilie asked what was the nature of the enclosure —seasonal, full enclosure, year around type space, etc. Tomasini stated that currently the deck is open. The deck will be enclosed and heated. Tomasini will add fire sprinklers and a wood floor would be placed over the deck. The space will be used as an inside space that is able to be used year around. Lee stated the project was more than a deck. It was actually an addition. Tomasini stated that the project is about 540 square feet. Tomasini was unaware that his E license would not be sufficient for him to perform the work. The permit was ready to be picked -up at the Building Department. Tomasini passed both his exams under the 1997 UBC. Tomasini also has a degree in construction management. Smilie made a motion to approve Tomasini's request and restricted the addition to 800 square feet. Smilie encouraged the Applicant to take the C licensing exam. Little seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Little, Massey, Carr, Smilie, and Jones. Nays: None. 6. Contractor License Hearing — Tim Keohane, #1503 Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. Appellant Keohane was requesting an exam waiver. Keohane has reading and spelling difficulties and taking an exam is extremely difficult. Keohane was requesting a framing license. He has 23 years of experience. Keohane addressed the Board. Keohane reviewed his past experience in upstate New York. Keohane explained his learning disability. Lee asked Keohane how he interpreted plans. Keohane responded that he did not have a problem with interpreting plans and explained his technique. Carr asked Keohane if he had BRB 07/31/03 Page 5 trouble in school. Keohane replied yes. Little wanted to know how Keohane's company was structured. Keohane responded that he usually used subcontractors. Jones stated that he understood Keohane's disability due to his foster son having a similar problem. Jones also noted that the standard in upstate New York was exceptional. Carr also spoke of personal experiences. Smilie asked staff if the Building Department had the ability to test Keohane verbally. Lee stated he did not have the staff to perform such a task. Lee suggested a translator may be used as long as the person is not a "ringer". Jones asked that if a translator was used if Keohane would be allowed more time to take the test. Lee said yes and asked Keohane if he could read span tables. Keohane stated that he would have a hard time studying for the exam. Jones felt that the use of a translator might make the test more complicated. Jones was impressed with Keohane's experience level. There was a discussion held regarding granting a provisional license. Lee read a section from the licensing ordinance stating that the Board had the ability to grant Keohane's request based on a hardship. There was a discussion held regarding hardship. Jones made a motion to approve Keohane's request. Little seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Little, Massey, Carr, Smilie, and Jones. Nays: None. Other Business Lee gave the Board an update on the IRC. Lee said the [RC adoption will hopefully occur in December. The radon portion will be heard by City Council on September 16, 2003. Lee noted that several council members are recommending a fully active system as a requirement. Meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Felix Lee, Build ng 8 oning Director