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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05012008 BSC Minutes City of West University Place A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission Located in the Bill Watson Conference Room, 3800 University Blvd, West University Place, Texas 77005 Meeting Minutes May 1, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, J. Denis Powers, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale MEMBERS ABSENT: David Flame, Brian Hoogendam and Dr. Peter Benjamin STAFF PRESENT: City Planner/Interim Building Official Debbie Scarcella, Permit Technician Josie Orosco, James L. Dougherty and Urban Forester Craig Koehl GUESTS PRESENT: Steven Segal and Sarah Westphal-Wihl [Call to Order] Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. Bryant Slimp welcomed BSC members, visitors and staff members to the meeting. Bryant Slimp stated all BSC members present would be voting members except for • Frank Griffin. There were introductions of BSC members, staff and visitors. Bryant Slimp asked for an update regarding the Building Official's position and the Bellaire Blvd project. Debbie Scarcella stated there are some possible applicants, but she has not yet seen the applications. She also stated that any updated information regarding the Bellaire Blvd project is posted on the West University Place's website. Denis Powers stated that City Manager Michael Ross told him the project is about two months ahead of schedule. 2. Meeting Minutes. Muddy McDaniel made a motion to approve the April 3, 2008 minutes as amended. Dave Miller seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, J. Denis Powers, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting minutes passed. 3. Urban Forest Code Amendments. Steven Segal stated there was a matter that was brought before the Zoning Board of Adjustments last month that he brought to the attention of City Council on Monday, April 28, 2008 and requested the matter be passed on BSC. Mr. Segal thought he would come before the BSC and explain it the way he wanted the matter to be heard. Mr. Segal stated the matter was a special exception for a wider driveway than the 12' permitted for a garage that was in the back of the property, but deemed to be in the front. If granted the special exception, a large tree would be required to be removed. Mr. Segal stated the Zoning Board of Adjustments compromised with the applicant and granted the special exception for the wider driveway with the exception that the tree would remain. Mr. Segal went to Council with his theory that there are different sets of trees in West University Place to be concerned about. First being the trees in the parks and they are totally separate because there will not be anything done • to the trees that are not suppose to be done. Second are the right-of-way trees that are owned by the citizens, which Mr. Segal is focusing on. He does not think a builder should have any rights to remove trees located in the right-of-way areas because those trees are on West U's property 3800 University Boulevard • West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 0 713066894441 0 www.westu.org Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes May 1, 2008 and the City is planting more free trees from the tree trust in that area. Mr. Segal would like for BSC to consider some type of procedure whether it's the building official who makes an initial decision that can be appealed to the BSC or whatever, but something needed to be approved that does not allow a builder to just remove a right-of-way tree. Sarah Westphal Wihl stated she is speaking before the BSC because she does not think the tree ordinance is now doing what it was intended to do when it was originally written. This was brought to her attention when a large pine tree was removed at 2901 Albans in February 2008. Mrs. Wihl stated she supports the notion of heritage trees that was mentioned at the previous BSC meeting. Although, on private properties, sufficient trees are a community asset and should be regarded as a focus of interests. Also, take into consideration these trees create a microenvironment for wildlife. Mrs. Wihl would advocate some kind of procedures for heritage trees as well. Second, Mrs. Wihl wants to advocate the continued protection of the right-of-way trees between the sidewalk and the street. And third, Mrs. Wihl would like to affirm the notion of the urban forest, a continuous canopy umbrella that would extend around the homes and not just down the streets. Mr. Slimp thanked the visitors for speaking before the board. There was general discussion regarding the following items: • Percent canopy as function of tree and lot size • Conceptual canopy replacement rule • Canopy area verses trunk diameter • Tree canopy verses trunk size • Estimated cost to replace trees under the current rules • Replacement cost under the current requirement • Canopy removed as function of tree size • Simplifying the tree rating system that determines the preservation value of an existing tree • Alternative minimum planting requirements for building sites with minimal tree canopy undergoing new construction or major development • Define procedures that allow homeownersibuilders to remove certain trees in the normal course of home ownership and the replacement requirements which include a diseased, damaged, dead, hazard or suppressed trees BSC requested that staff bring something to the next meeting that outlines the differences between the existing and proposed tree ordinance. BSC decided to have a series of straw votes, issue by issue, at the next meeting to figure out what each member thinks. There was general discussion regarding the filing fees to come before the BSC and if those fees could be refunded. James Dougherty stated there is something in the current ordinance that states if a variance or special exception is granted, one could request the fees to be refunded, but it has to be part of their initial request. Debbie Scarcella stated that BSC needed to draft up something pretty soon that could be brought before City Council. Dave Miller requested for everyone to write out in the margin what each person thinks the amendment should say for items they do not agree with. Bryant Slimp asked the BSC members regarding the summer schedule. It was decided to keep proceeding with the tree ordinance amendments and not have a summer break. [Adjournment] J. Denis Powers made a motion to adjourn. Muddy McDaniel seconded the motion. AYES: . Bryant Slimp, J. Denis Powers, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Page 2 of 3 Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes May 1, 2008 PASSED THIS ` ~"AY OF":~J1~'Q- , 2008 a . Bryant Slimp, Char ATTEST. Ms. Josie M. Orosco, Permit Technician Page 3 of 3