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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Review Commission - Minutes - 08/26/2021City of Fort Collins Page 1 August 26, 2021 Alan Cram, Chair Tim Johnson, Vice Chair Brad Massey Katharine Penning Eric Richards Justin Robinson Staff Liaison: Mark Teplitsky Marcus Coldiron Chief Building Official Meeting Minutes August 26, 2021 A regular meeting of the Building Review Commission was held on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in the Colorado River Room of the Fort Collins Utilities Building at 222 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cram called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Cram, Johnson, Massey, Richards, Teplitsky ABSENT: Penning, Robinson STAFF: Coldiron, Manno, Guin, Neel, Katsimpalis, Brennan PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. DISCUSSION AGENDA [Timestamp: 9:03 a.m.] 1. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 29, 2021 MEETING. Member Richards requested the name “Roberts” be changed to Richards in the minutes. Vice Chair Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the April 29, 2021 meeting with the suggested amendments. Member Teplitsky seconded. The motion passed 5-0. [Timestamp: 9:06 a.m.] Building Review Commission City of Fort Collins Page 2 August 26, 2021 2. INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL LIAISON SHIRLEY PEEL DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this item is to introduce Councilmember Shirley Peel to the Commission as the Council Liaison. Introduction and Remarks The Chair introduced Councilwoman Peel and she made some brief remarks about the importance of the role of this Commission in the forthcoming growth of Fort Collins. She stated she would be willing to come to every meeting if desired and asked the members to contact her with requests about what they need from her. Chair Cram noted Councilmember Peel should not be present for appeal hearings such as the items on the agenda today; however, he stated she will be provided minutes from every meeting. Public Input None. Board Questions and Discussion None. [Timestamp: 9:09 a.m.] 3. RDALE CONSTRUCTION, LLC REQUEST FOR LICENSURE WITHOUT PROVIDING REQUIRED TESTING DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this item is to seek a determination from the Building Review Commission on whether or not a license and supervisor’s certificate should be issued to RDALE Construction, LLC and Casey Reeves without required testing. Staff Report Ms. Manno presented the staff report as provided in the packet and noted this request is for a new license and supervisor’s certificate for RDALE Construction, LLC, without completing the required ICC testing. She stated the staff recommendation is for denial as no exceptional hardship has been found. She stated the request is for an MM license, which is a residential-only license, to work on single-family detached dwellings Applicant Presentation Mr. Casey Reeves stated he has been a builder for 25 years, half of which for other companies and half on his own. He stated he has never had a reason to pursue a license because he has owned all the projects he has completed on his own. He commented on recent projects and the referral to Governor’s Park Apartments to build carports. He stated the permits for the project have been completely approved and have addressed wind and snow loads. He stated he has never been a good test-taker and commented on the exam not being about knowledge of the Code but about finding exact Code language segments quickly. He stated he took the exam last week and got a 69; however, a passing score is 70. He stated he will retake the exam again in two weeks and asked if it would be possible to move forward on this project prior to that occurring. Staff Rebuttal Ms. Manno noted staff was not aware of Mr. Reeves having taken the exam and suggested the Commission may want to consider providing a temporary 30-day license pending the completion of the exam. Applicant Rebuttal Mr. Reeves stated a provisional license would be helpful as it would allow him to move forward with the garage project. City of Fort Collins Page 3 August 26, 2021 Public Input None. Board Questions and Discussion Member Johnson inquired about outstanding items, aside from testing. Ms. Manno replied staff still needs copies of permits and certificates of occupancy or final inspection for Mr. Reeves’ completed projects. Mr. Reeves stated he could provide them. Member Teplitsky asked what would occur if Mr. Reeves does not pass the exam in two weeks. Ms. Manno replied the project could start once the 30-day temporary license is granted; however, a stop work order would be issued for the project if he does not pass the exam. Mr. Reeves stated that is acceptable to him. Member Massey appreciated Mr. Reeves initiative in taking the exam and stated it makes it easier for the Commission to approve the 30-day temporary license. Board Deliberation Vice Chair Johnson made a motion to approve a 30-day temporary license once all other aspects of the licensure have been met, except for the exam, with the requirement the exam be passed within the 30-day period. Member Massey seconded. The motion passed 5-0. [Timestamp: 9:32 a.m.] (**Secretary’s Note: The Commission took a brief recess from 9:32 a.m. until 9:34 a.m. to allow Ms. Manno to converse with Mr. Reeves regarding his future temporary license.) 4. M-SQUARED HOME IMPROVEMENT REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF LICENSURE WITHOUT PROVIDING REQUIRED TESTING DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this item is to seek a determination from the Building Reivew Commission on whether or not a reinstatment should be issued to M-Squared Home Imporvements and Marty McVicker without required testing. Staff Report Ms. Manno presented the staff report as provided in the packet and noted this request is for a reinstated license and supervisor’s certificate for M-Squared Home Improvement, without completing the required ICC testing. She stated the license expired on November 14, 2019, and its renewal could have been completed up to 60 days after that date without additional testing. She stated staff is recommending denial of this request as there is no evidence of undue hardship. Applicant Presentation Mr. Marty McVicker stated he was unsure he was going to continue in the building industry when his license expired and stated he only pulls a few permits a year. Staff Rebuttal Ms. Manno reiterated the City’s position that Mr. McVicker should be denied license reinstatement without testing. Applicant Rebuttal Mr. McVicker stated he needed to leave the meeting for a prior appointment and will take the test. Chair Cram verified he was withdrawing his application, and Mr. McVicker replied in the affirmative. [Timestamp: 9:40 a.m.] City of Fort Collins Page 4 August 26, 2021 5. BOARD FOLLOW-UP: PROPOSED CHANGES TO WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENT CALCULATIONS DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this item is to provide follow-up information to the March 25 presentation and receive additional feedback on the proposed changes to Water Supply Requirements Calculations, Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of Fort Colins, and the potential impacts they will have on the Building Review Process. Goals of this update include increasing accuracy and equity of the calculations and encouraging water efficient designs in development. Staff will provide an overview of the project, how the proposed calculations compare to the current system, impacts, and opportunities for future improvements. Staff Report Ms. Neel presented the staff report as provided in the packet and noted she will be seeking a motion for Council which will consider the item on September 21st. She discussed the three components relating to how new developments pay for water: the water supply requirement which covers the impact a development has on the City’s water supply, the plant investment fees which cover the impact of a development on the City’s water treatment and distribution system, and water meter fees which pay for the installation of the meter itself. She noted these proposed changes deal with the first component, and she provided additional details on the water supply requirement calculations. She stated the proposed updates to the calculations will help increase accuracy, improve equity, and promote water efficiency and innovation. Ms. Neel provided additional details on the proposed changes to the residential category, which most directly affects the building review process. The changes include an examination of the outdoor area on a lot, which is the parcel area less the impervious surfaces. She discussed the feedback received from builders and developers and stated it has generally been positive with some requests for alternative compliance options. She also discussed related future efforts including the update to cash- in-lieu costs and new residential alternative compliance options. Public Input None. Board Questions and Discussion Member Massey asked if this applies only to new construction moving forward. Ms. Neel replied in the affirmative and clarified the outdoor space calculations are derived from the provided site plans. Member Teplitsky asked about offsets for xeriscaping. Ms. Neel replied a separate irrigation tap will be required for commercial, multi-family, and business landscapes, and a water budget table is required on all landscape plans for commercial properties. She stated there are currently no landscape standards for single-family lots and provided additional details on the proposed requirements for commercial properties. Member Massey asked how speculative commercial developments will be treated. Ms. Neel replied developers will need to make a best guess on what is going into a space then adjustments will be made after it is completed. She also discussed the alternative compliance option. Chair Cram asked about the requirement for a separate water supply for sprinkler systems. Ms. Neel replied separate irrigation taps will only be required in commercial and multi-family developments. Member Teplitsky asked if Utilities revenue being lower will be offset by it paying less for water. Ms. Neel replied less future supply will result in less resources being needed to fund it. Board Deliberation Member Teplitsky made a motion that the Building Review Commission supports these changes and recommending that Chair Cram draft a letter in support for Council consideration, based on the staff report presented. Member Massey seconded. The motion passed 5-0. [Timestamp: 10:24 a.m.]