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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Board - Minutes - 01/31/2002J • Minutes to be approved by the Board at the February 28, 2002 Meeting FORT COLLINS BUILDING REVIEW BOARD Regular Meeting — January 31, 2002 1:00 P.M. Council Liaison: Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Felix Lee (221-6760) 11 Chairperson: Charles Fielder F Phone: 484-0117(W), 207-0505(H) A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday January 31, 2002, in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins. BOARDMEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Fielder Bradley Massey John McCoy Cameron Ryland BOARDMEMBERS ABSENT: Allan Hauck • Gene Little Jim Packard STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Felix Lee, Director of Building & Zoning Delynn Coldiron, Contractor Licensing Administrator Stacie Soriano, Staff Support to the Board AGENDA: 1. ROLLCALL The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Fielder, and roll call was taken. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Boardmember Massey made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 29, 2001, meeting. Boardmember Fielder seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Vote: Yeas: McCoy, Fielder, Massey and Ryland. Nays: None. • 3. Contractor Appeal - Rich Browne (#1-02) BRB 01/31/02 Page 2 Fielder explained the procedures for the contractor appeal. Lee provided an introduction to the appeal. Lee explained that Appellant Browne was requesting a waiver from the experience criteria required to obtain the Class D-1 license. Lee stated the Appellant wished to pursue opportunities for home construction and remodeling in Fort Collins. Lee indicated that Appellant Browne was involved in every aspect of home construction of two single-family homes in the 1970s. Lee noted that Appellant Browne is currently involved in the construction and design of a third home, although the third project is not complete. Lee stated the Appellant's application was unable to be approved by staff due to the following reasons: (1) the third project is incomplete and (2) the role of the Appellant is questionable on completed projects as to whether or not Appellant Browne supervised the entire project. Lee told the Board the Appellant has not taken the exam, but the Appellant has stated that he would do so. Lee noted the Appellant is also a licensed professional engineer and has worked as a mechanical engineer in the computer and medical aerospace industries. Richard Browne addressed the Board. Browne stated that he has eight to ten years of construction experience. Browne aided his father with his father's construction business. Browne said that within the past two years he has been involved in the construction industry. Browne noted that he was a registered professional engineer. Browne stated the third project was put on hold due to financial concerns with the homeowner. Lee asked Browne to clarify the concerns regarding the two other project verification forms. Lee specifically asked about the Edge Road house to see if Appellant Browne supervised the entire project. Browne responded that he supervised and participated in the various phases of the entire project. Browne stated this was also true for the North Broad Street project as well. Browne noted that he has previous experience in carpentry, masonry, concrete, plumbing and some electrical work. Massey questioned Browne regarding the third project. Massey asked if Browne was the superintendent on this project. Browne stated that he was working for the owner of the building and was acting as the supervisor for the homeowner. Massey asked if the City of Golden requires a contractor's license. Browne responded that it was in the county and a licensed contractor was not needed. Massey asked if Browne obtained the building permit. Browne stated that he did not. Lee made his closing statements and stated that Mr. Browne has some relevant experience. Massey had further questions of Appellant Browne. Massey asked Browne if his role in the building industry within the last couple of years was acting as a consultant for mechanical engineering. Browne stated this was correct and added that he was self-employed. Massey asked Brown on which types of projects he had been consulted. Browne stated that his role had been more project supervision with commercial and residential projects. The specifics of Mr. Browne's projects were discussed. • • BRB 01/31/02 Page 3 Massey asked Browne if he had any other education that he would like the Board to consider, such as classes or workshops. Browne stated he did not. Browne stated that due to his extensive construction experience and involvement, the Appellant felt he knew the industry very well. Massey questioned Appellant Browne regarding who obtained the building permits for Browne's project verification forms. Browne responded that his father obtained the building permits, although he supervised the projects. Massey asked if Browne did the scheduling and coordinating of all the subcontractors. Browne stated this was correct. Massey asked if the Appellant had specific projects that he was currently looking into. Browne stated that a coworker from Denver was considering bidding on a home and a remodeling project in Fort Collins. Browne expressed that to start off with he would work with his coworker from Denver, and eventually create his own company. Massey asked staff what a D-1 license holder was authorized to do. Lee stated that a D-1 license holder is authorized to construct single and two family homes. Ryland asked Appellant Browne whether the experience he gained from his father's company was mainly residential, and to what extent he was involved in the projects. Browne stated it was generally residential (approximately ten to fifteen homes per year), and he remembers being is involved since he was a child. Fielder asked Appellant Browne how comfortable he was with the structural aspects of the 1997 Uniform Building Code. Browne responded that he has been doing a lot of code review and felt confident in the 1997 Uniform Building Code. Massey expressed his hesitation to approve the request to the Board. Massey stated he would be more apt to approve a one-time exemption rather than a blanket exemption. Browne responded that he would like the Board to consider his engineering degree as experience as well. McCoy asked staff if a professional license or degree would waive general contracting license requirements. Lee responded that a professional license or degree was not a substitute for experience, although under the Board's purview it could be considered as additional relevant experience. Massey stated that he would take into consideration Appellant Browne's degree, although Massey remained hesitant due to the other projects being twenty-five years old. Massey was concerned with how many building codes and techniques have changed since then. McCoy agreed with Massey. McCoy asked staff if age were a factor in considering an applicant's experience. Lee responded not necessarily. Lee felt if an applicant passed the exam, it would be presumed the applicant had competence in current building techniques and codes. Ryland questioned Appellant Browne regarding his potential involvement for the project in Golden, Colorado. Browne stated the Golden project would depend on funding issues and also his availability. Browne expressed his interest in obtaining projects in Fort Collins. 0 BRB O1/31/02 Page 4 Ryland made a motion to approve Appellant Browne's request upon his successful completion of the D-1 exam and that the Board see an upcoming project that will be tracked by the Building and Zoning Department. Fielder asked Ryland if she were asking the Building and Zoning Department to track the project verification. Ryland stated the project in Golden or another upcoming project would be considered the third project. Fielder asked Ryland if the motion were project specific, and she stated that it was. Ryland asked Browne what the time frame on the Golden project would be. Browne replied that the Golden project could take up to five years. Massey told the Board either Appellant Browne's request be denied or approved. Massey stated there were really two options once the Appellant successfully completed the D-1 exam: (1) to have Appellant Browne obtain a specific project that would require a D-1 license and come back to the Board for an exemption or (2) to consider his degree equivalent to project experience and approve the Appellant's request. Ryland modified her motion to approve Appellant Browne's request based on his demonstrated past experience, education, and successful completion of the D-1 exam. Massey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Vote: Yeas: McCoy, Fielder, Massey and Ryland. Nays: None. 4. Other Business A. International Residential Code Review Task Force Lee gave the Board an update concerning the Intemational Residential Code. Lee stated that staff felt the residential code was a good starting point, rather than taking on the entire code. Lee noted a distinction between the UBC and the Intemational Code was that the International Code breaks out one and two family dwellings in one book, and the remainder of the International Code applies to other areas. Lee said the International Code includes plumbing, electrical and mechanical. Lee stated the International Code had a lot to offer in terms of accessibility to builders because it includes illustrations with the text. Lee informed the Board that he met with a group of Northern Colorado Code officials regarding the International Code, and several surrounding communities were represented at the meeting. Lee noted that some of the communities have decided to adopt the entire code series. Lee stated he will be meeting with this group over the next two or three months. Lee said the purpose of the meetings would be to create a basis for regional consistency. Lee informed the Board that a task force would be created in the late spring. The task force would include members from the building industry as well as at least one member from the Building Review Board. Lee requested that the boardmembers consider being a BRB 01/31/02 Page 5 • part of the task force. Lee gave an overview of the meeting procedures. Massey and Ryland showed interest in being a part of the task force. B. 2001 Annual Report A discussion was held regarding the 2001 Annual Report. Fielder made a motion to approve the 2001 Annual Report. Massey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Vote: Yeas: McCoy, Fielder, Massey and Ryland. Nays: None. C. Election of Officers. The election of officers was postponed. Lee felt the remaining boardmembers should be present to vote. Meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. Felix Lee, Building & Zoning Director Charles Fielder, Chairperson E