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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04072005 BSC Minutes • i City of West University Place- A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission Bill Watson Conference Room, Located at 3800 University Blvd, West University Place, TX. 77005 Meeting Minutes April 7th, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, Dr. Peter Benjamin, John Ayres, J. Denis Powers, Brian Hoogendam, Muddy McDaniel and Kevin McMahon. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. COUNCIL LIASION: Mike Woods (Absent). STAFF PRESENT: Annette Arriaga, Pete Solis, Dennis Mack, Ron Wicker, and Jim Dougherty. GUESTS PRESENT: Jim Reid, Mark Williams and Robert Riquelmy. [Call to Order.] With a quorum, present Bryant Slimp called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. Bryant Slimp stated that the BSC voting alternate would be Muddy McDaniel. 2. Workshop Meeting Minutes. J. Denis Powers made a motion first to approve the workshop • meeting minutes from the February 9th, 2005 BSC meeting. Kevin McMahon seconds the motion. John Ayres made a motion first to approve the workshop meeting minutes from the February 15th, 2005 BSC meeting. Muddy McDaniel seconds the motion. J. Denis Powers made a motion first to approve the workshop meeting minutes from the March 10t" and March 1 It", 2005 BSC meeting. Muddy McDaniel seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. Meeting Minutes Approved. 3. Meetinz Minutes. John Ayres made a motion first to approve the meeting minutes from the February 3rd, 2005 BSC meeting. Muddy McDaniel seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. Meeting Minutes Approved. 4. Meeting Minutes. J. Denis Powers made a motion first to approve the meeting minutes from the March 16t , 2005 BSC Meeting. John Ayres seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. Meeting Minutes Approved. 5. Variance Request. Dennis Mack stated the JMH Supermarket is requesting a variance request to increase the size of the electrical service but is intended for residential structures. Dennis Mack stated that our city ordinance Section 6.206 requires one main electrical disconnect. The National Electrical Code allows up to six. Dennis Mack stated that this is standard practice for commercial structures. Dennis Mack stated that he had no objections to grant the variance. Bryant Slimp went over BSC required findings. Mark Williams of D & L Electric went over the required findings one by one. • (1) The imposition of the requirement imposes an exceptional hardship upon the applicant. It is the general intent of this section that financial cost, alone, would not ordinarily constitute an exceptional hardship. Mark Williams stated 3800 University Boulevard • West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 • 713066804441 0 www.westu.org Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes April 7th, 2005 Page 2of 3 yes, there would be substantial additional cost to make extensive modifications to the electrical system. (2) No reasonable and feasible method or procedure is currently available to comply with the requirement. Mark Williams stated in item number (1) that the only reasonable thing to do would be adding the additional service for what is needed. (3) The imposition of the requirement is unjustified because of good and sufficient cause demonstrated to the BSC. Mark Williams stated that he had addressed this in his letter to the BSC. (4) The variance will not introduce or increase any threat to public health or safety. Mark Williams has removed all safety issues with up grading the electrical service. (5) The variance is consistent with the purpose and intent of the ordinance in question. Mark Williams feels that it is up to the BSC to determine. He feels that what he is requesting from BSC is a reasonable rule and it is consistent with the purpose for what D & L is trying to do. (6) The variance will not cause a nuisance and will not unreasonably interfere with the use of nearby property. Mark Williams stated that this request would not cause a nuisance and will not interfere with nearby properties. (7) The variance will not cause a fraud to be worked upon the public or any individual. Mark Williams stated it would not cause a fraud. (8) The variance will not cause an increase in public expenditures or budgets. Mark Williams stated that it would not add an increase in public expenditures or budgets. (9) The variance will not create an irreconcilable conflict with any other • ordinance, law rule or regulation. Mark Williams stated that it would cause a conflict with any rule or regulations. Dennis Mack stated that he concurred with everything stated by Mark Williams of D & L Electric. J. Denis Powers stated that if there was a fire and the fire department had to cut of the power, would they be cutting off the all of breakers? Mark Williams stated that yes the fire department would be cutting all fuses, breakers and all four mains. The service will be in the exact same spot and all mains would be located out side. Brian Hoogendam stated that if the variance would be granted today, would there be any chance that JMH would need to later add additional 5 or 6 electrical mains? Mark Williams stated that he is requesting permission for only four. That is what would be needed at this time to increase the size of the electrical service to the supermarket to serve the added load. Mark Williams stated that four is reasonable at this time. David Flame made a motion: I move that the affirmative responses to the questions regarding this variance are acceptable, and that the variance for Mr. James K. Reid, owner of JMH Supermarket be granted up to 6 main electrical disconnects at the JMH location and to follow the National Electrical Codes. Bryant asked BSC for any additional comments? John Ayres stated that he didn't have a problem with JMH requesting 6 electrical mains but that he feels that the variance request should be granted for what the variance is asking for. Mr. James K. Reid stated that he would not be able to add one more inch to the store due to parking regulations but, that the only reason to add service would be adding additional equipment. But he would like to request the 6 for any future development John Ayres recommended 4. Muddy McDaniel stated that it is more appropriate to go with the 4. BSC agreed to grant the motion amended by David Flame to state: I move that the affirmative responses to the questions regarding this variance are acceptable, and that the variance for James K. Reid, owner of JMH Supermarket be granted up to 4 main electrical disconnects at the JMH location and to follow the National Electrical Code. Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes April 7th, 2005 Page 3of 3 John Ayres made a motion first to approve Muddy McDaniel seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. Variance granted. 6. Matters _Relating to the Building and Standards Commission Recommendations and Status Report. A) Matters relating to John Ayres. John Ayres submitted his written resignation to the BSC. John Ayres is leaving West University after about 60 year to accept a position with an engineering firm in New Orleans. Bryant Slimp recognized all of John Ayres' hard work and dedication while on the commission. Bryant Slimp then proceeded to read the letter of resignation submitted by John Ayes thanking BSC and staff for all of hard work over the past several years. B) Matters relating to the active chief building official. Ron Wicker discussed that Dennis Mack would be retiring at the end of the month and he introduced Pete Solis who would be the appointed acting Building Official until the City hires a new Building Official. C) Status on the ZPC multiple hearings. Ron Wicker went over the multiple hearing and updated the commission on ZPC's multiple hearing, proceedings and amendments going before council. Ron Wicker updated and explained all of the hearings. D) Discussion of demolishing ordinances and policies. Bryant Slimp asked David Flame to lead a workshop to discuss future changes to the current ordinances regarding demolishing and lot clearing procedures and regulations. E.) Update on the draft amendments of the Standard Code Schedules. Bryant Slimp stated that the foundation draft would be on council agenda for Monday, April 11`f' for the first reading. Bryant Slimp would update and report to the commission by the next BSC meeting. 7. Base Flood Elevations. Bryant Slimp referenced a couple of articles out of the Houston Chronicle referring to the City of Bellaire drainage problems. Bryant Slimp asked for Robert Riquelmy to update and give BSC a quick update. Robert Riquelmy stated that Bellaire now is requiring new • home construction at 1 foot above base flood elevation. This was the Claunch and Miller recommendation. Bryant Slimp requested that Robert Riguelmy update BSC on any other changes. Dennis Mack stated that the city currently has an ordinance in place and the new ordinance will recognize Poor Farm Ditch as the flood way in West University. Ron Wicker briefly discussed the current upcoming projects and future drainage improvements. Item tabled. Item to be put back on next months agenda. No motion made. 8. Structural. Bryant Slimp requested for BSC to refer to the draft amendment of the Standard Code Schedule regarding structural framing and similar elements, revised 3-16-05. He briefly discussed and went over the most recent ideas in this draft. Bryant Slimp requested for the item to be tabled and to be put on next month's agenda. No motion made. [Adjournment.] Dr. Peter Benjamin made a motion first to adjourn. J. Denis Powers seconds the motion to adjourn. AYES: Bryant Slimp, David Flame, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Muddy McDaniel. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. PASSED THIS r DAY OF , 2005. o Bryant Slimp, Chairman ATTEST: Ms. Annette R. Arriaga Development Services Secretar~- i