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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09032009 BSC Minutes rL.1) City of West University Place A Neighborhood City ® Recycled Paper Building & Standards Commission Located in the Council Chambers 3800 University Blvd, West University Place, Texas 77005 Meeting Minutes September 3, 2009 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin, and Gerry Spedale MEMBERS ABSENT: David Flame, Brian Hoogendam, Dr. Peter Benjamin and J. Denis Powers STAFF PRESENT: Building Official John R. Brown and Permit Technician Josie M. Orosco GUESTS PRESENT: Steve Mark, Roger Cunningham, David Eastwood, Lynn Ratcliff and Robert Riquelmy [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 Gerry Spedale, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel and Frank Griffin would be the alternate voting members for the meeting. John R. Brown asked if the October meeting date could be changed since he is going to be on vacation. Bryant Slimp stated he would also not be able to attend the meeting because he has another obligation. Frank Griffin made a motion to reschedule the meeting to October 8, 2009. Dave Miller seconded the motion. YES: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. 2. Meeting Minutes. Frank Griffin made a motion to approve the minutes as amended for the August 6, 2009 meeting. Gerry Spedale seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting minutes approved. Muddy McDaniel made a motion to approve the minutes as amended for the August 20, 2009 meeting. Frank Griffin seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting minutes approved. 3. Docket Number 2009-03 re2ardint! property at 5410 Kirby, West University Place, Texas (Variance). Dave Miller made a motion to table this item because the applicant was not present. Muddy McDaniel seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. 4. Basements. David Eastwood stated Geotech Engineering and Testing does a lot of work in the City of West University Place and is very familiar with the soil. Mr. Eastwood stated basements can be designed, constructed and technically are capable of being built within the City limits, but from a practical standpoint, he does not recommend them being built in the West University 3800 University Boulevard 0 West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 0 713066804441 0 www.westu.org Building and Standards Commission Meeting Minutes September 3, 2009 area. There was discussion regarding the general construction and waterproofing of basements. Bryant Slimp asked what the requirements would be for basements regarding the angle of repose. David Eastwood stated that the angle of repose should be at least 45° ( 1 unit away to 1 unit down) but recommended that a 1.5 to 1 would be better and for any digging eight feet or below, he would recommend sheathing and/or a retention system to try to stabilize the ground. Mr. Eastwood also stated OSHA requires for some kind of trench safety requirements for any digging more than five feet below ground during construction. Lynn Ratcliff, Consulting Structural Engineer stated he would recommend the plans to be done by a registered engineer for any excavation adjacent to a piece of property that is closer than five feet. There was general discussion about using soldier piles for basement construction, but it is expensive. Roger Cunningham stated that items of value should not be stored in basements. Mr. Cunningham discourages basements being built in the City of West University Place because of all the things that could go wrong later down the line. Lynn Ratcliff stated the City should make the regulations to build basements so onerous that no one wants to build basements in the City. Frank Griffin asked if the house were to flood, if the basement would flood. David Eastwood stated it would not if the basement was waterproofed correctly, but would flood if the water level exceeded the lowest opening. If the basement were to flood, the water would have to be pumped out then dehumidify it and all the sheetrock would have to be replaced. There was discussion regarding if the City should require plans to be only submitted for basements by engineers who show experience in building basements. There was also general discussion regarding the size of basements, if they should be counted toward the framed area, if they should be considered habitable space and if they should only be allowed under the footprint of the home. There was discussion whether a workshop meeting with ZPC should be held. The commission and staff agreed to wait to have the joint workshop meeting with ZPC until the new board members have been appointed. [Adjournment] Gerry Spedale made a motion to adjourn. Muddy McDaniel seconded the motion. AYES: Bryant Slimp, Dave Miller, Muddy McDaniel, Frank Griffin and Gerry Spedale. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2009 Bryant Slimp, ' hairmafi ATTEST: J~~.~ Ms. Josie M. Orosco, Pen-nit Technician Page 2 of 2