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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10072004 BSC Minutes City of West University Place A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission In the Municipal Building, Located in the Bill Watson Conference Room 3800 University Boulevard. West University Place, TX. 77005 Meeting Minutes October 7th, 2004 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers, Darryl Friday, Brian Hoogendam, and Muddy McDaniel. MEMBERS ABSENT: David Flame and Kevin McMahon. COUNCIL LIASION: Mike Woods (Absent). STAFF PRESENT: Annette Arriaga, Dennis Mack and Jim Dougherty. GUESTS PRESENT: Suzanne & Douglas Koch, Les Albin 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. Matters relating to notices, rules, meeting procedures and identifying parties. 1.) Stan Rosen with Georgian Homes. Stan Rosen called the Development Services staff and canceled his desire to address the BSC at the Thursday, October 7th, 2004 BSC meeting regarding post tension foundations. 2. Meeting Minutes. John Ayres was first to approve the meeting minutes from the September 2nd, 2004 BSC meeting. Dr. Peter Benjamin seconds the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Brian Hoogendam. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Motion passed. Minutes approved. 3. Matters Relating to the Building Standard Commission Recommendations and Status Report.. A) Status of 2630 Tangley Street. Dennis Mack reported no change at 2630 Tangley Street. B) Status of Old Stock Housing. Brian Hoogendam updated the BSC on his study of OSH issues and stated that he would like to request one more OSH workshop before he meets with ZPC. He will be going to the next ZPC meeting to discuss zoning and setbacks, surveys and any relief and incentives for residents who want to remodel older homes that qualify as OSH. 4. Variance Request. Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglas Koch addressed the BSC in regards to two large pecan trees that they desire to be removed. Mr. Douglas Koch was the first to address the board. He stated that they live on 50 x 150 lot and they are concerned .with two large pecan trees located in their back yard. The large pecan trees drop large branches, limbs and debris. They moved to West University Place eleven.months ago and did not take into consideration the large trees in the back yard at that time. He indicated that he has a special needs son and that he is scared to go into their back yard due to the droppings of pecans and branches from these two trees. Mrs. Suzanne Koch stated that her son has Moebius Syndrome, which includes facial paralysis, loss of his right pectorals muscle, limited vision, and paralyzed eyes. She stated that because of his limited vision he is scared to go into their back yard due to the falling of large branches. She wants to have the trees removed so that he can feel safe and enjoy the back yard. The only part of the back yard that he feels safe to play on is the porch area. Suzanne Koch continued to add that the cost to have these two large pecan trees would be significant. The total cost to remove these two pecan trees includes the contractor's fees and the calculated payment into the West U tree fund. She is asking for a reduction of the payment to the Tree Fund. She stated that the price that she was given to have the two pecan trees removed is $5,000. The calculated Tree Fund assessment for removing 3800 University Boulevard 9 West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 0 713066804441 0 www.westu.org Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes October 7th, 2004 Page 2of 3 these two trees is $5,000. She is asking for the board to reconsider the $5,000 assessment to the tree fund and have the board consider lowering this assessment to $2,500. Brian Hoogendam asked if she had ever considered pruning the trees. Darryl Friday also asked if she planned on contacting the neighbors before she has these two pecan trees removed. Mrs. Suzanne Koch stated that she has considered all of these options. Dr. Peter Benjamin asked if her son was scared of the falling limbs in their back yard or any other tree limbs? Bryant Slimp informed Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglas Koch about the foundation ordinances that the BSC has been working on for several months and the risk factors involved from the removal of trees. He stated that the BSC has considered the serious` effects that removal of trees can have on the life of a foundation. He also stated that their foundation and possibly their neighbor's structures and a swimming pool could be adversely impacted. Bryant Slimp asked for Mr. and Mrs. Suzanne and Douglass Koch to take into consideration all of the factors discussed. He asked them to get with CBO Dennis Mack and have Mr. Mack look over their construction plans. Mrs. Suzanne Koch stated that she would call several Geotechnical companies and obtain more information about the removal of trees to the effect of the removal upon foundations. Bryant Slimp requested that this item be put back on next month's agenda. No motion made. Item tabled. 5. Foundations. Jim Dougherty discussed the latest draft amendment of the Standard Codes Schedule regarding' foundation with revisions through October 7 2004. He discussed the various registered professional engineering license requirements for the RLPE and the RLGE. He 'went over the engineering subsets' and the State Board's application to obtain the Structural Engineering classification. This application is referred to a Supplementary Experience record. Jim Dougherty also discussed several branches of Engineering and how a specific list of disciplines can assist in determining" the applicant's competency. Applicants can now indicate a primary branch of engineering under which experience has been gained etc. He went onto say that the city could require the engineer to have a Structural classification prior to performing foundation design work or being able` to submit certifications on foundations in West University. John Ayres stated that requiring errors and omission insurance is a good requirement. Jim Dougherty added that you have to design a good foundation according to, established design criteria, and that the BSC is'setting a design standard fora foundation in the code'and not after the fact. Jim' Dougherty continued to say that there is no test method available to set these design criteria. • John Ayres stated that a few things still need to be addressed, for example what the PVR refers to still needs to be cleared up. Dennis Mack also stated that the trees on the lot as well as the trees on a neighbor's lot still need to be addressed in the foundation design. John Ayres asked about the benchmarks and'surveyors shooting the correct elevation' etc. Dennis Mack discussed the possibilities of failures from the surveyors. Bryant Slimp reminded BSC' of the foundation public hearings that were coming -up` and that he had met with Jim Dougherty on'the order of proceedings, etc. for a public hearing. Bryant Slimp stated that foundation draft would be put back on next month's agenda, and that the findings from the public hearing would be discussed. No motion made. J. Denis Powers motioned first to adjourn. Dr. Peter Benjamin seconds the motion: AYES: Bryant Slimp, John Ayres, Dr. Peter Benjamin, J. Denis Powers and Brian Hoogendam. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Motion passed. Meeting adjourned. [Adjournment.] Meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.m. t Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes October 7th, 2004 Page 3of 3 PASSED THIS DAY OF 2004. ,it Slimp, Chairman ATTEST: Ms. Annette R. Arriaga Development Service Secretary