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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11031994 BSC Minutes• , • ~ BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1994 6:30 P.M. MINUTES The Building and Standards Commission convened in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Blvd. in the City of West University Place on November 3rd, 1994 for a regular session with the following members present: Chairman Drew McManigle, Les Albin, James D. Todd, Roy Harper, Evelyn Dravis, James McDaniel, James Collier and Craig Hughes and Jim Collier.. Craig DuCote was absent. Present from the City were Dennis Holm, Building Official and Susan Thorn, Building Secretary. The first item on the agenda was the Hearing of Residents: Robert Kendrick, a resident of West University Place and Builder explained he had a couple of items he would like to address. His first question was in reference to the new Houston Lighting and Power (HL&P) standards which requires a meter must be located outside of a gate or fence unless the meter is placed parallel to the front street within • fifty feet so that a meter reader could read the meter with binoculars. HL&P has made this change because people have become more security conscience and meter readers are not able to go into a rear yard to read the meter any longer. HL&P is asking new construction to locate the meters where a meter reader could get to it. Mr. Kendrick is asking the Building and Standards Commission to review the City Ordinance that r~quires all wire be copper, but excludes HL&P from this requirement. He is asking the BSC to review the requirement for electrical wiring that would fall into the same basic sizes as HL&P. His electrician told him that Bellaire and West University Place are the only cities that prohibit aluminum wiring. Roy Harper stated that there are other municipalities besides West University and Bellaire that prohibit aluminum wiring. Dennis Holm stated that there are some municipalities that aluminum wiring under certain applications. He explained one of the big problems with aluminum wiring is that the connectors have to be coated and kept in a tight configuration. He stated no one in West University is going to do this, they are going to hire someone to do it. They are not going to tighten the lugs down, thus creating a fire hazard. Mr. Holm explained he knew of many municipalities that would like to go to all copper, but because of the pressure being brought by the Building Community they are unable to change their ordinances. There are size differentials and this could make a big difference, especially ~ in those cases where with HL&P you have to make a long run. Mr. Holm explained that copper has some pluses and minuses. He stated he would like to do some further research and present the data to the Building Standards Commission. • • ~ Mr. Holm explained that HL&P notified the City that they would start enforcing this on April 1st. HLP only gave the City 30 days advance notice of the change. Mr. Holm explained that HL&P gave other options such as a special sensor system, but they would only do the first one for $150.00 dollars and that did not include running the ground wire. This only affects new construction. This is not yet required for a remodel or addition even if the existing meter is located behind the fence. Roy Harper asked if the City Attorney could look into the legality of HL&P forcing this on the City. Mr. Holm stated that Texas-New Mexico Power Company had been requiring this for years and had probably had this issue come up in other Cities. Robert Kendrick explained that the second issue he wanted to discuss was the fact that the City is not required to have City projects inspected. Mr. Kendrick explained that a few days before a public walk was being constructed across the street from City Hall which did not meet code. Mr. Holm stated that it was not the intention of the City to not comply. What happened across the street was a misunderstanding. The next item on the agenda was consideration of 94-06 concerning property located at 2640 Talbot, Lot 10, Block 8, Belle Court Addition, a request for a variance to allow a • fence located around a swimming pool to be more than the allowed maximum separation of 4" between pickets. Dennis Holm gave the City's point of view. He explained that Robert Deutser had built the home at 2640 Talbot and had the fence constructed prior to the Owners having a swimming pool constructed. The residence was completed in January and the pool in October. On the wrought iron portion of the fence the pickets are 4 1/2" apart. The code allows only 4" between pickets when a fence surrounds a pool. He explained that the reasoning behind this was the fact that a small child could squeeze between the pickets if they are 4 1/2" apart. Mr. Holm explained that prior to the code change the pickets were allowed to be 6" apart. He also explained that one of the gates was not the required six feet in height and the code requires a self closing, self latching door on the back of the house or an alarm. Robert Deutser of Park Lane Builders explained that he was there on behalf of the Owners in reference to the fence. He was not taking responsibility for the back doors, his concern was only to allow the pickets to remain 4 1/2" apart. The gate will have an extension added to the top to bring the height to 6 feet. Mr. Holm explained that if the variance were to be denied by the Building and Standards Commission, the Owners could put in a secondary fence. Robert Deuster ~ stated if the variance were to be denied the Owners would not want to do that, that he would install more pickets. . • ~ Les Albin stated that some children would be able to get in befinreen 4" spaced pickets. After a brief discussion between the board members it was determined that a good faith effort had been made to enclose the pool with a fence and that 1/2" would not make that much difference. Jim Collier made a motion to grant the variance to allow the pickets to remain 4 1/2" apart. Les Albin seconded the motion. All voting aye. The next item on the agenda was 94-07 concerning property located at 6602 Westchester, 1/2 of Lot 6, Block 38, WUP 1st Addition, a request for a variance on the height of steps provided for attic access. Dennis Holm gave the City's position. He explained that during an inspection it was noted that the stairs the attic were not to code. The steps are 8" in height. The code requires a landing at the bottom and a landing at the top of the stairs. There was not landing at the top, the stairs ended at a door. The only thing in the attic is the heating units, water heaters and a limited amount of storage space which could never be finished out. • The Builder of the residence, Jorge Jimenez explained that the Owner asked to have a regular stairs instead of pull down stairs to the attic because the Owner felt this was the safest entrance to the attic. Mr. Jimenez explained that a landing would be construct at the top of the stairs. Roy Harper stated in his opinion these stairs are better than the pull down stairs. After a brief discussion Les Albin made a motion to grant the variance with the requirement that a landing be installed at the top of the stairs. Jim Collier seconded the motion. All Voting Aye. The next item on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the October 6, 1994 meeting. Roy Harper made a motion to approve the minutes. Les Albin seconded the motion. All Voting Aye. ~ . • ~ Roy Harper made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Les Albin seconded the motion. All Voting Aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. CHAI AN Attest: secretary • ~