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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Board - Minutes - 06/24/2004• 1. Minutes approved by the Board at the July 29, 2004 Meeting FORT COLLINS BUILDING REVIEW BOARD Regular Meeting — June 24, 2004 1:00 u.m. Council Liaison: Karen Weitkunat--Staff Liaison: Felix Lee (221-6760) Chairperson: Charles Fielder hone: 484-0117(W), 207-0505(Hl A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday June 24, 2004, in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARDMEMBERS PRESENT: David Carr Charles Fielder Leslie Jones Gene Little John McCoy Bradley Massey Michael Smilie BOARDMEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Felix Lee, Building and Zoning Director Delynn Coldiron, Contractor Licensing Administrator Stacie Soriano, Staff Support AGENDA: ROLLCALL The meeting was called to order and roll call was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Carr made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 27, 2004, meeting. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed. Contractor Appeal, John Mason, d/b/a Brentwood Renovation, Case #13-04 BRB 06/24/2004 Pg. 2 Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. The Appellant currently has a Class D2 license, but was seeking a Class E license. Lee referred board members to information in their packets regarding the limits of a Class D2 license, which included structural modifications and additions to R-3 dwelling units, small storage buildings, and private garages. Lee noted the Appellant was before the Board once before, and requested a one-time exemption. The exemption was granted, but the project was never completed. Lee said the Appellant did not have documentation verifying the required experience for a Class E license. Lee added that the Appellant did pass the Class E licensing exam. John Mason addressed the Board. Mason noted that his clients were widening their scope to include commercial properties. Mason explained what happened with the project that received a one-time exemption. According to Mason, the project grew, and he decided that he did not want to do it. Mason said he gave Coldiron a letter of recommendation from the Jensen Investment Group (a client of Mason's). Mason said his D2 license allowed him to perform structural work on residential units, but the E license did not allow any structural work. Mason also submitted a list of jobs he performed on the East Coast when he appeared before the Board three years ago. Mason said telephone numbers were available. Lee asked Mason if he had projects that qualified him for the Class E license. Mason said he built a three-story office building with a mini plaza that included tenant finish work. Mason was a supervisor on the office building project. Mason said that he did not know where the permit was for the office building. Mason noted that he had telephone numbers. Lee commented that it was Mason's job to put the information on the appropriate form. Mason gave Coldiron some forms prior to the meeting. Lee read the letter from the Jensen Group that noted Mason performed substantial renovation work which was code compliant for both residential and commercial properties. Lee asked if the projects were in the city. Mason said no, and that he acted as a consultant, not as a contractor. Lee noted Mason also provided a list of four projects that he performed on the East Coast. Mason said it was the same list he submitted three years ago. Lee wanted the project verification forms filled out. Mason replied that he did not have enough project verification forms or permit numbers. Mason noted that his current license allowed for him to perform structural work. Carr asked Mason when he passed the E exam. Mason responded last week. Massey asked staff how many project verification forms were received. Staff answered that they had not received any. Massey asked staff when Mason obtained his D2 license, how long he has had the license, and whether he submitted project verification forms. Coldiron stated that she did not bring his D2 license file, but Mason had submitted sufficient projects for that license. According to Coldiron, there were not any project forms that would qualify for a Class E license. Little asked Mason if he had a pending project. Mason replied he did have a project waiting. Mason made his closing statement. Lee made his closing statement. Lee commented that there was not a track record established for Mason. Lee wanted the list of projects verified for a complete record. Massey asked staff how many projects Mason has completed since obtaining his Class D2 license. Coldiron replied approximately twelve and that most of the projects were for egress windows in residential basements, basement finishes, and demolitions. Massey wanted to know the dollar amount for his pending project. Mason replied approximately S4000- BRB 06/24/2004 Pg. 3 • $5000. According to Mason, the project consisted of a wall dividing off part of the building and a tattoo parlor. Jones asked Mason if he objected to obtaining project verification forms. Mason said no. Jones made a motion to grant a waiver for the pending project for an E license. Approval of the E license would be subject to Mason submitting the necessary project verification forms to staff even though they may be deficient in some areas. Little seconded the motion. Fielder clarified that Jones' motion allowed Mason a one-time exemption for the pending project and to obtain the Class E license Mason would have to fill -out the project verification forms. Jones said yes. Lee asked if the intention of the motion was to grant a one-time exemption under his current D-2 license. Jones said yes. The motion passed. Vote: Yeas: Little, Jones, McCoy, Fielder, Massey, Smilie, and Carr. Nays: None. 4. Contractor Appeal, Bruce Ver Steeg, d/b/a Omni Custom Builders, Inc., Case #14-04 Lee noted Appellant Ver Steeg withdrew his application and planned on appearing at the July 29, 2004 meeting. 5. Contractor Appeal, David M. Price, d/b/a 2 Men & a Hammer, Case #15-04 • Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. Lee stated that the Appellant was seeking a Class D2 license but that the project forms submitted did not meet the criteria for a Class D2 license. According to Lee, the Appellant passed the D1 exam last month. According to the Appellant's information, he has a degree in mechanical engineering which he would like to substitute for the experience requirement. Lee clarified that the Appellant was seeking approval for a Class D2 license with an experience documentation waiver. David Price addressed the Board. Price stated that he has been in business for less than one year along the Front Range. He started the business with a partner, although the partner has since left. According to Price, he was recently licensed in the City of Denver with a Class C2 license and in Loveland with a Class C license. Price explained that the licenses in other jurisdictions were equivalent to the City of Fort Collins' D2 category. Price's projects consisted mainly of decks, basement finishes, and minor remodels. He stated that he has performed some structural work. Price noted that he has not met the criteria for a Class D2 license. He also noted that he had a bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical engineering as well as 20-plus years of engineering experience. Price felt his experience made him knowledgeable enough to run a construction business. Price stated that after high school, he went into architecture, although he dropped out of architecture to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. While in architecture, he designed homes and commercial renovations. Price has not built an entire home or garage. Price sought an experience waiver. • Lee asked Price about his three months experience as a framing laborer. Price responded he was a framer one summer while he was in college, and worked on an apartment complex. Lee asked BRB 06/24/2004 Pg. 4 about Price's experience in designing solar equipment. Price replied that he went into the solar energy field, and helped design several solar heating systems. Lee questioned Price about his lengthy career in mechanical engineering particularly in software development. Price stated that he designed laser print heads, and also developed software for telecommunications. Price noted that it was unrelated to construction, but felt the skills he learned in the various fields were applicable to the construction industry such as program management and coordination of activities. Lee noted that Price also passed the ICC Residential Contractors Exam. Price said the exam was required for Loveland and Denver. Lee asked Price if he had any pending projects. Price said yes, although it was in the County for a deck which included structural work. Price felt the key issue was understanding the structural aspects, which he felt his previous experience provided. Price stated that he would be willing to apply for waivers as jobs came along. Carr asked staff if Price submitted copies of the Denver and Loveland licenses. Lee replied he has not received actual copies, but the Appellant provided license numbers. Price said he would be willing to provide copies of the licenses. Lee noted that the Board could consider Price's education, and asked if Price had verification of his status as an engineer. Price said yes, and that he could provide his diploma. Massey asked Price if he has ever worked for a consulting company design HVAC systems, etc. Price said no. Price made his closing statements. Lee made his closing statements. Lee read out of the City Code, Section 15-156: "that the Board was authorized upon appeal in specific cases to grant variances from the terms of this article where the strict application of any provision of this article would result in peculiar or exceptional practical difficulties, or exceptional or undue hardship upon the person or the applicant or when such applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that the Applicant posses other qualifications not specifically listed in the article such as specialized training, education, or additional experience which the Board has determined qualifies the Applicant to perform in a competent manner any construction authorized under the license or certificate sought and provided that such relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of this article." Massey made a motion to approve the Appellant's request for a D2 license. Massey noted Price's education was equivalent to the experience requirement for a Class D2 license. Massey liked that Price had structural experience and that he has performed finish work on larger projects that those required to meet the D2 criteria. Fielder amended Massey's motion to include that Price is licensed in several other jurisdictions. Massey agreed to add Fielder's amendment. Carr seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Little, Jones, McCoy, Fielder, Massey, Smilie, and Carr. Nays: None. BRB 06/24/2004 Pg. 5 A • Other Business Lee provided Board Members with a handout that he prepared based on the information that was obtained from E-Star of Colorado. It was an update on the energy analysis demonstrating the impacts of the shift from the current code to the proposed IRC. The Board previously voted on the adoption of the IRC and endorsed it without the radon component. Lee noted that it has been difficult to get the analysis data from E-star of Colorado due to busy schedules. He explained that E-star used the DOE engine to perform their ratings on homes and then a computer analysis with multiple variables using a standard base model home (two-story, 1000 square feet) to come up with their figures. Lee referenced a bar chart that was a graphic representation of the matrix. Lee reiterated that the Board has previously voted on this, but wanted to provide the Board with updated information. Lee reviewed the information on the chart (Attachment A). Lee noted that the graph was based on a standard prescriptive approach. Lee emphasized that half of the current plan reviews were prescriptive and the other half were energy rated. Lee felt that the amount of energy rated homes would grow. Little asked why Alternative A was more productive than Alternative B. Fielder stated that there were two different things because one had no basement insulation and one reduced the wall insulation on the house. Alternative A has R18 insulation. Lee stated that under the current proposal one could choose Alternative A, B, or have the home energy rated. Lee reviewed the Bar Chart (Attachment B). Lee stated that he was looking for discussion regarding the updated numbers. McCoy asked staff if the homebuilders had come back with questions or concerns. Lee said the Board was the first public body to view the new data, but he planned on meeting with HBA and the Code Committee. Smilie asked if the chart included radon. Lee said the chart did include radon, but the current base model did not include radon. The Board was satisfied with their previous decision to support the IRC package with amendments, excluding mandatory radon. Lee noted that there was an effort on part of the HBA to have the contractor license regulations reviewed, specifically basement finish and interior remodel contractors. A task group will be formed in September. Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Felix Lee, BuilZoning Director Charles Fielder, Chan erson