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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/24/2014 - Building Review Board - Agenda - Regular MeetingCommunity Development & Neighborhood Services 281 N. College Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2740 970.224.6134 - fax fcgov.com BUILDING REVIEW BOARD April 24, 2014 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Conference Room A 281 N College Avenue AGENDA 1. Approve minutes from the October 31, 2013 Meeting 2. Contractor Hearing: Chad Johnson, d/b/a Northstar Fire Protection, Case #01-14 3. Contractor Appeal: Shaun Amundsen, d/b/a Shon Amundsen Construction, Case #02-14 4. 2013 Annual Report – Formal Approval 5. Election of Officers 6. Follow-Up Reports:  None 7. Other Business  Upcoming Contractor Class Minutes to be approved by the Board at the April 24, 2014 Meeting FORT COLLINS BUILDING REVIEW BOARD Regular Meeting – October 31, 2013 1:00 p.m. Chairperson: Alan Cram Phone: 472-1752(H) Council Liaison: Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Mike Gebo (416-2618) A regular meeting of the Building Review Board was held on Thursday, October 31, 2013 in the Council Chambers of the Fort Collins Municipal Building at 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alan Cram Andrea Dunlap George Smith Justin Montgomery Mike Doddridge Rick Reider Tori Lenoch STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Delynn Coldiron, Customer & Admin. Services Manager Mike Gebo, Chief Building Official AGENDA: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Doddridge motioned to approve the September 26, 2013 minutes as written. Smith seconded the motion. Vote: Yeas: Dunlap, Reider, Smith, Cram, Lenoch, Montgomery, Doddridge Nays: None. 2. Roles and Functions of the Board - Review Building official Mike Gebo presented information to Board Members on their roles and responsibilities. Gebo had prepared documents that included excerpts from each Code section that related to Building Review Board functions that were used as the basis of the discussion. Code Sections covered included: a) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 2, Article III, Division 1 – Boards and Commissions; b) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 2, Article III, Division 7 – Building Review Board; c) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 – Building Construction Standards; d) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article II, Division 3 – Structures and Premises Condition Code; e) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article II, Division 4 – Moved Buildings; f) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article IV, Division 1 – Rental Housing Standards; BRB October 31, 2013 Pg. 2 g) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article VII – Historic Buildings; h) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 9 – Fire Prevention and Protection; i) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 15, Article II, Division 2 – Alarm Systems; j) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 15, Article V – Contractors; k) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 15, Article VI – Electrical Contractors; l) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 15, Article X – Plumbing Contractors; and m) City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Chapter 18 – Mobile Home Park; Information within each of the above sections that pertained to Building Review Board functions was discussed and related questions answered. 3. Follow-Up Reports: Gebo provided an update to the 2012 I-Code Work Session with City Council. 4. Other Business: None Meeting adjourned Mike Gebo, Chief Building Official Alan Cram, Chair Community Development & Neighborhood Services 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.416.2740 970.224.6134- fax fcgov.com Planning, Development & Transportation BUILDING REVIEW BOARD 2013 ANNUAL REPORT BACKGROUND: The Building Review Board consists of seven members. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Board may also meet as needed in order to convene special meetings. Members who served during 2013 included Alan Cram, Andrea Dunlap, Torey Lenoch, Justin Montgomery, Rick Reider, and George Smith. Jeff Schneider served from January to June and Mike Doddridge served from September to December. Alan Cram served as Chairperson for the year; Jeff Schneider served as Vice-Chairperson until June when he resigned. George Smith served as Vice- Chairperson from June through December. Council liaison to the Board was Council Member Kelly Ohlson through March. Mayor Weitkunat served as Council liaison to the Board from June through December. Staff support was provided by Mike Gebo, Paul Eckman, Delynn Coldiron, Melanie Clark and Tara Leman. 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW: As the appellate body for building codes and contractor licensing regulations, the Board hears appeals upon request. 1. APPEALS:  License Approvals: The Board heard no cases from contractors asking for exceptions to license approvals.  None  Exceptions/Upgrades: The Board heard no cases from a contractor asking for exceptions to the licensing regulations.  None. 2. LICENSE HEARINGS: The Board heard one case against contractors who had violated the City’s licensing regulations.  The Board considered alleged violations for work being done by the contractor prior to issuance of the required building permit and reviewed the applicant’s previous violation history. Based on their review, the Board made a Finding of Fact confirming the following violations of Section 15-162(d) of the City’s Municipal Code: 1. Knowing or deliberate disregard of the building code or any other code adopted by the City related to a specific construction project under the responsibility of the certificate holder or license holder; BRB Annual Report December 31, 2013 Page 2 - 2 - 2. Failure to comply with a provision of the code related to a specific construction project under the responsibility of the certificate holder or license holder; and 3. Failure to obtain required permit for work performed or to be performed. Based on the Board’s findings, as well as the respondent having no prior violations, the Board voted unanimously to reinstate all licenses and supervisor certificates held by the respondent. 3. BUILDING OR RENTAL HOUSING CODE HEARINGS: The Board heard no cases involving City Codes:  None 4. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:  Student Housing Action Plan: The Board reviewed the proposed Student Housing Action Plan (SHAP) as presented by the Neighborhood Services Manager. The purpose of SHAP was to balance the need for student housing with maintaining the compatibility and quality of existing neighborhoods. There were questions on: 1) the sources for incentives, 2) the role of historic preservation criteria in the campus area, 3) whether Front Range Community College had been considered in the plan, 4) whether this program was a means for creating a rental property list or a rental licensing program, 5) the parking program, and 6) the added requirements the program placed on property owners. The Board was encouraged to provide additional feedback throughout the process.  2012 International Building and Related Codes: The Board periodically received updates on the 2012 International Building and related Code throughout the review process and was encouraged to provide feedback.  East Side/West Side Neighborhoods Character Study: The Board reviewed the proposed East Side/West Side Neighborhoods Character Study as presented by Peter Barnes, Zoning Supervisor, and Pete Wray, Senior City Planner. The purpose of the East Side/West Side Neighborhoods Character Study was to assess neighborhood compatibility issues related to impacts of larger new construction projects. In comparison to the previous 2010/2011 study, which focused on building size impacts, this study takes a broader look at the character and context of the neighborhoods including building size and design compatibility. There were questions on: 1) the solar access study, if it took into account that east and west facing homes would be subject to different rules than north or south facing homes, 2) whether staff was happy or confident with the fact that the study takes into account that the sidewall section would only effect fifty percent of the homes in the Eastside/Westside neighborhoods, 3) whether an existing home would have to comply with the solar standard when an addition to the home was made, 4) whether there would by any consideration for increased FAR for lots that cannot have a basement, 5) whether the same standards would apply when the neighbors sidewall abutted the rear of the property line, 6) why this item was back so quickly if so many people were opposed just two years prior, 7) whether all impacted parties were in favor of this, and 8) whether the FAR is more or less restrictive when compared to other zoning districts. The Board declined to forward a recommendation to Council on this topic on the grounds of numerous unanswered questions. The Board was concerned that this item was not automatically presented to the BRB. Staff will keep the Board apprised of upcoming changes that the BRB may have an opinion on. On March 5, 2013 Council approved new LUC design standards in Article 4 for NCL and NCM zoning. BRB Annual Report December 31, 2013 Page 3 - 3 -  Capital Improvement Expansion Fee Update: The Board reviewed the proposed Capital Expansion Fee Update as presented by Jessica Ping-Small, Revenue and Project Manager. The purpose the Capital Expansion Fee update was to ensure that the methodology first implemented was still applicable and also to assess the fee structure to confirm that it was in line with the current level of service. There were questions on: 1) what statistics determine the amount of usage based on house square footage, 2) trails and what percentage in open space had been purchased with the special open space tax, 3) whether the Homebuilders Association or Fort Collins Board of Realtors had voiced opinions, 4) what the percentage increase the proposal would have over current fees, 5) how the fees fit in with general taxes and other revenue, 6) what the impact on the City coffers would be if the fees were not increased, 7) whether the study took into account only implementing fees for the housing stock that existed prior to 1996 who did not pay into these fees, 8) whether uninhabitable basement square footage would be included in the calculations, whether the fees are associated with an area of town or specific development, 9) whether the need to double the fees every twelve years really existed, and 10) how the future trails expansion would be funded if the trail fee was not included.  Exterior Property Maintenance Code: In July 2013, the Board reviewed the proposed Exterior Property Maintenance Code as presented by Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager. The purpose was to discuss possible solutions regarding some ongoing residential exterior property maintenance issues, particularly relating to health and safety, which are not addressed by current City codes. There were questions on: 1) why owner-occupied dwelling units were exempt from the substandard category, 2) whether the change would be well received by homeowners upon whom the new standards would be imposed, 3) the impact on residents who may not be able to afford the improvements, 4) how many complaints were received by staff regarding these types of issues, and 5) what would happen should contact with the property owner did not occur. The Board did not forward a recommendation to Council on this item. In September of 2013 Council approved the changes to the International Property Maintenance Code including a new definition of “deficient”, a vacant/dangerous building registry, and steps to curb excessive personal storage viewable from the public right- of-way.  First Annual Luncheon: The Board held a first annual luncheon with the incoming Council Liaison Mayor Weitkunat. Future luncheons were supported by the Mayor and Board Members.