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GENERAL APPEALS BOARD
REGULAR SESSION
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1989
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD
6:00 P.M.
The General Appeals Board convened in regular session in the Municipal
Building, 3800 University Boulevard, in the City of West University
Place, on Monday, December 11, 1989, with the following members
present: Philip C. Lewis, Nicholas J. Aschliman, Sharon Mathews and
Curtis R. Cooper, Director of Operations. Also present were Wayne
Perry, Chief Building Official and Cecil Boles, Assistant Building
Official.
Mr. Lewis called the meeting of the General Appeals Board to order and
in the absence of John Farrell appointed Nicholas Aschliman,
alternate, to act in his place.
COMMENTS OF CONCERNED RESIDENTS:
speak who had matters they wished
General Appeals Board.
Mr. Lewis invited residents to
to bring to the attention of the
There were none present who wished to speak.
DISCUSSION OF BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS: EXIT STAIRWAYS FROM SECOND
AND THIRD LEVELS: Rick Campo identified himself stating he would
like to address the Board in reference to this item.
Wayne Perry, Chief Building Official, explained to the Board that the
status until now is that the requirement of a second stairway or exit
as required under the Code as we had changed it had not been enforced.
Based upon inquiries from architects and builders, it was recommended
that we look at the Code and drop the exception that allows one and two
family dwellings to be built with just ~~ne stairway or exit. The Code
does require an operable window from a bedroom and does make exception
for other use rooms. An application has been received for conversion
of a third floor attic area into a bedroom area. After checking with
various cities it has been determined that our recommendation would be
to ask the city attorney to rewrite the Code to allow one or two family
residence exception to be put back in so other stairways are not
required. The City of Bellaire does not require a second exit but does
limit third floor levels to no more than 500 square feet of floor
area. City of Houston does require a second exit from any house that
gets into the third level regardless of square footage. As the
exception is in the Code and has not been enforced, a recommendation is
suggested that the Board grant a general variance to those that have
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, General Appeals Board Minutes, December 11, 1989
• already been built and those that have been permitted to be issued
their Certificate of Occupancy and be allowed to have third level use
without having to add the second exit.
Rick Campo, 3123 Lafayette, stated he had bought his house in
1985, basically a new construction. It had been represented to him by
the builder that he would be able to build out the upstairs. Mr.
Campo explained the third floor has a regular staircase going to it
with a separate door and has been built to ultimately build out with
900 square feet and three skylights. He also stated it would be a
definite hardship to add 5/8" sheetrock or a sprinkler system.
Chester Labus, Labus Limited, Inc., 1325 Winfern , expressed his
feelings that the Code seems to be in the wrong direction with the
early warning systems now available. The emphasis should be there and
not with hour rating as a lot more lives will be saved in early warning.
Mr. Perry recommended that the Board grant a blanket approval for a
variance on houses that have already been built or are under
construction and/or permitted as far as stairways.
Chairman Lewis stated he would accept a motion by a member of the Board
to grant a blanket variance to all homes currently constructed with a
third floor finished out and/or under construction and/or permitted.
• After discussion, Chairman Lewis said he would accept the motion to
amend the above stated motion to grant a blanket variance to all
previous construction and/or permitted construction and/or newly
proposed construction prior to January 2, 1990, to waive the
requirements for the second stairway exit from the third level in
residential construction in one and two family residences and waive the
firewall requirement and/or sprinkler system requirement until the
same date.
Motion was made by Mr. Cooper, seconded by Mr. Aschliman, to accept
the motion as stated.
Voting Aye: Philip Lewis, Nicholas Aschliman, Curtis Cooper
Voting No: None
Absent: John Farrell
It was noted by Chairman Lewis that the wording "proposed construction"
should be changed to "permit application."
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y. ~ General Appeals Board Minutes, December 11, 1989
• GENERAL APPEALS BOARD MEETING MINUTES: Motion was made by Mr.
schliman, seconded by Curtis Cooper, that the minutes of the
following meetings be approved.
a) Regular Session, October 9, 1989
b) Special Session and Public Hearing, October 23, 1989
Voting Aye: Philip Lewis, Nicholas ~ischliman, Curtis Cooper
Voting No: None
Absent: John Farrell
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Board, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
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