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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Board - Minutes - 07/28/2005Minutes approved by the Board at the September 29, 2005 Meeting FORT COLLINS BUILDING REVIEW BOARD Regular Meeting — July 28, 2005 1:00 P.M. ouncil Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaison: Felix Lee 221-6760) Chairperson: Charles Fielder Phone: 484-0117(W), 207-0505(H) A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday, July 28, 2005, in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARDMEMBERS PRESENT: David Carr Leslie Jones John McCoy Jim Packard Michael Smilie BOARDMEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Fielder Gene Little STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Felix Lee, Building & Zoning Director Delynn Coldiron, Contractor Licensing Administrator Marcha Hill, Staff Support AGENDA: 1. ROLLCALL The meeting was called to order and roll call was taken. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES McCoy made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 30, 2005 meeting. Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed. 3. Contractor Appeal, Krist Mathisen, d/b/a MCS Manufactured Homes, LLC, Case #17-05 Smilie explained the procedure for contractor appeals. Lee introduced the appeal. Appellant was seeking approval of a limited HVAC license that would enable him to continue to install air conditioning units on manufactured (mobile) homes, as well as a waiver of the HVAC exam. I BRB 07/28/2005 Pg. 2 Appellant addressed the Board. Mathisen described the installation of portable air conditioning units for manufactured housing as a simple process that does not require duct or furnace work and notes that the air conditioning units are pre -charged at the factory and include quick connect screw fittings for attachment which require no torch work or sweating. He described his hardship —he's a single parent of a young daughter so does not go out on late night service calls nor is he involved with heating work. He also described his financial condition and related hardships. He mentioned that he has no plans to do anything other than install these portable air conditioning units on manufactured homes. Lee stated that he appreciated the well documented information provided related to the installation of these units and believed his financial hardship was well stated. He added that the issue before the Board was: Is this situation regulated by the licensing ordinance? Lee believed that the work as described by the appellant and documented constituted HVAC work and is regulated under the City's licensing ordinance. Mathisen answered the following questions posed by the Board: Carr wondered how many units have been installed since 1999. Mathisen estimated a couple of thousand units. Smilie wondered how many mobile homes had been moved and how Mr. Mathisen handled the relocations. Packard wondered who handled damaged duct work and warranty situations. Smilie wondered what types of licenses were issued in other front -range communities such as Evans, Firestone, etc. Mathisen provided clarification. Board members discussed the information that had been presented in the case. There was a good deal of discussion around the issue of portability and its definition. Smilie asked Lee if he'd share his thoughts from a staff perspective. Lee offered some comments and added that the definition of portability was not the issue but rather the licensing that is required based on the work that is being done. He suggested that the Board might want to consider whether some type of modified license (restricting it to quick connect, no hard wiring, non -sweat fitting and pre-engineered units) might be appropriate in this case and mentioned that they needed to decide on the issue of waiving the exam requirement. Carr made a motion to grant a limited license to allow the installation of the self contained air conditioning units that are currently being installed and that are defined in the brochure that was provided --the units are a quick connect type for manufactured homes. The motion waived the exam. Jones seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Carr, Jones, McCoy, Smilie Nays: Packard 4. Contractor Appeal, R. Kint Glover, d/b/a Glover, Inc., Case 418-05 Lee introduced the appeal. Appellant was seeking authorization as the non-resident owner to re -roof the house at 1023 W. Lake Street. He requested a waiver of the requirement that he have current general liability insurance to obtain a re -roofing permit under his C2 license. Appellant addressed the Board. He gave an overview of his experience and stated that he had been building in Fort Collins since 1986. He added that he went into business for himself in 1992, and has done some development work as well as construction of multi -family units. According to the appellant, he is not actively building or pulling permits. He stated that he I BRB 07/28/2005 Pg. 3 does maintain his license, workmen's comp insurance and homeowners insurance on his rental property. However, he's explored obtaining liability insurance but it's proven not feasible to obtain after the gap he's had in coverage with his former insurance provider. Board members discussed the information provided in this case. McCoy made a motion to allow Mr. Glover to re -roof his property at 1023 W. Lake Street with an owner (non- occupied)permit. Jones seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Carr, Jones, McCoy, Smilie, Packard Nays: 5. Contractor Appeal, Alan Strope, d/b/a Savant Homes, Inc. Case #19-05 Lee introduced the appeal. The appellant holds a Class C2 license which allows the construction of multi family projects and associated non-residential buildings up to 5000 square feet that are accessory to or affiliated with the residential projects. The proposed Class B project would add three stories to an existing building and consist of 18 residential loft units, two commercial space units and parking. The appellant was seeking the approval of a one-time project exemption that would enable him to complete the proposed mixed -use building in downtown Fort Collins at 210/212 W. Magnolia Street. Mr. Strope outlined his construction experience and provided information on the proposed project. He mentioned that on the lower level, he would have participation by the structural engineering and design firm of KL&A of Loveland, Colorado. Eric Moe of KL&A addressed the Board. He stated that KL&A's role on this project would be the engineer of record as well as the structural steel contractor for this project. He offered information on projects they'd worked on in Northern Colorado including the Larimer County Event Center and the Kodak expansion in Windsor. According to Mr. Moe, KL&A is a completely insured and bonded steel fabricator. Mr. Moe added that KL&A's construction involvement for the proposed project is in project management, steel detailing, and to work with a local fabricator, Front Range Steel, to complete the steel fabrication and steel erection on the project. Mr. Stope emphasized that after the steel work has been completed by KL&A, the project will be like many he's undertaken as part of his construction experience. Board members discussed the information that was presented. Jones went on record as being opposed to this type of license upgrade without the exam and the construction experience that is required for this type of project. Packard agreed the exam should be taken prior to consideration of an exemption. Smilie said that in the past they allowed contractors to work outside of their existing license class to gain the experience needed to upgrade to the next level. Mr. Strope stated that he would be willing to take and pass the exam. Lee reviewed the Board's charge and provided explanation on finding a hardship or evidence that the appellant possesses other qualifications that warrant the variance without substantial detriment to the public good. BRB 07/28/2005 Pg. 4 91 7 Jones moved that the application for this one time project exemption be denied. McCoy seconded the motion. After some discussion, this motion was withdrawn. Carr moved that the application for this one time project exemption be approved provided that the appellant takes and passes the Class B exam. McCoy seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Carr, McCoy, Smilie, Packard Nays: Jones Contractor Appeal, Sam Rodina, d/b/a Village Homes, Case #20-05 Lee introduced the appeal. Appellant was seeking approval of a limited C2 supervisor certificate that would enable him to supervise the construction of multi -family buildings. He stated that the appellant had recently passed the C2 exam and had supervised numerous multi- family buildings but that none met the specific criteria of being three or more stories or 16 or more units. Mr. Rodina addressed the Board and stated that he has worked for Village Homes for three years since graduating from CSU with a Construction Management degree. He mentioned that at Observatory Village they are building three unit condominiums which require a C2 license. He noted that since he passed the test he is now seeking to get a restricted C2 certificate that will enable him to supervise this construction for Village Homes should his supervisor need to leave the project. Mr. Rodina provided an overview of his experience, including that he has built 40-50 single family homes and about 8-9 multi family homes. Smilie made a motion to approve the C2 supervisor certificate requested with the proviso that it not be portable to another company until applicant submit documented project experience that fully qualifies for a C2 license. Jones seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Carr, McCoy, Smilie, Packard, Jones Nays: Other Business None. Meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm. e Felix Lee, Biirljc r '& Zoning Director Michael Smilie, Acting Chairperson L