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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06052014 BSC Agenda Item 3 • • STAFF REPORT Business of the Building and Standards Commission City of West University Place, Texas AGENDA OF: June 5, 2014 DEPARTMENT OF ORIGIN: Development DATE SUBMITTED: June 3, 2014 Services PREPARED BY: Clay Chew PRESENTER: Clay Chew Chief Building Official Chief Building Official SUBJECT: Masonry Fences STAFF PRESENTER: Clay Chew Chief Building Official ATTACHMENTS: STAFF SUMMARY Background: Masonry fence permit applications have been denied in the past due to not meeting the prescriptive design criteria of our code or the damage a monolithic foundation would do to tree roots. An alternate method of supporting this type of fence would be beneficial for residents and contractors by providing flexibility in design and application. The proposed ordinance amendment contains provisions for an engineered design which meets windstorm and tree preservation/protection regulations. 1 +110 • City of West University Place Harris County, Texas Ordinance No. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS; AMENDING CHAPTER 18 OF THE WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 18-210 REGARDING MASONRY FENCE CONSTRUCTION; CONTAINING • FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE: Section 1. Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas (the "Code of Ordinances") is amended by adding subparagraph B to section 18-210 which requires the fence foundation and wall to be engineered as set out in Appendix A, attached hereto. Requirements for complying with the tree preservation and protection regulations are also included. All other portions of Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances not specifically amended hereby remain in full force and effect. Section 3. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are repealed to the extent of the conflict only. Section 4. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall ever be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, neither the remainder of this ordinance, nor the application of such word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance to any other persons or circumstances, shall be affected thereby. Section 5. The City Council officially finds, determines and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of each meeting at which this ordinance was discussed, considered or acted upon was given in the manner required by the Texas Open Meetings Act, as amended, and that each such meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during such discussion, consideration and action. The City Council ratifies, approves and confirms such notices and the contents and posting thereof. Section 5. This ordinance shall become effective on the tenth day following its publication, as provided in the City Charter. 0 CONSIDERED, PASSED, AND APPROVED on first reading on _ , 20 CONSIDERED, PASSED, AND APPROVED on second reading, AND SIGNED, on , 20 Attest: Signed: City Secretary Mayor Recommended: City Manager Approved as to legal form: City Attorney • APPENDIX A Amend Section 1.8-210 as follows: Sec. 18-210. Masonry construction. Masonry fences must be made of brick,vitrified clay tile,concrete tile, or monolithic reinforced concrete, and must be built according to one of the following specifications: A. (1)At least eight inches thick for double-wall construction,which shall be either brick,vitrified clay tile, or concrete tile; at least six inches thick for single-wall construction,which shall be only of brick or monolithic reinforced concrete construction. (2)Pilasters shall be placed on not more than 12-foot centers,or adequate steel reinforcing shall be placed in the whole fence. (3)Expansion joints shall be placed on not more than 24-foot centers. (4)The fence shall have a foundation which shall rest on drilled footings sunk to approved bearing soil. Such footings shall be not less than 12 inches in diameter, and each footing shall have not less than four one-half-inch ties on three-foot centers. Foundation beams shall be not less than 12 inches wide and not less than 18 inches deep with not less than four five-eighths-inch reinforcing rods and three- eighths-inch ties, on not less than 30-inch centers. (5)Emergency portals may be required; see above. B. The fence must be engineered by a structural engineer as required in Appendix C of the Code of Ordinances. The engineered design must be for the foundation and the fence wall and meet the windstorm requirements of the adopted building code. In addition, the fence and fence foundation must be approved by the city's Urban Forester for compliance with the tree preservation and protection regulations.