HomeMy WebLinkAbout10032024 BSC Minutes City of
West University Public Works Department
Place u p
Building & Standards Commission
Located in the Council Chambers,
3 800 University Blvd,
West University Place, Texas 77005
Meeting Minutes
October 3,2024
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jonathon Hance, Bruce Beneke, Andy Fiedler, Spyros Maragos and
Krishna Shah
MEMBERS ABSENT: James Craig, Matthew Brejot, Eddie Matthews and Gerry Spedale
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant Director of Public Works Brett Cast, Permit Technician
Angela Ce'Zar, Asst. Chief, Fire Marshal, James Novak, Urban
Forester Craig Koehl and Legal Counsel Loren Smith
GUESTS PRESENT: David King
[Call to Order] Jonathon Hance called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
1. Notices,Rules,Etc. Jonathon Hance welcomed BSC members and staff to the meeting. All members
and staff introduced themselves.
2. Public Comments.David King stated although building new homes provides some benefit to the city,
the process of demolition and house building can at best be said to cause temporary harm to the nearby
residents for periods of months. He asked that the BSC place responsibility for observance of quiet
hours on building contractors and provide the Police Department with clear guidelines for issuing
citations to builders for violations of quiet hours at construction sites.
3. Discussion Items from City Council.
• Fire Codes: The discussion focused on how other cities are regulating battery walls and
charging stations as they relate to garages and fire codes. The Fire Chief provided an overview
of the risks associated with electric vehicle fires and the need for proper permitting and
installation of charging stations. Jonathon Hance suggested placing an educational piece
regarding electrical vehicles in the City Currents newsletter or the water bill.
3826 Amherst St. zvzvzv.zvestutx.gov
West University Place, TX 77005
713-662-5830
City of
West University Place Public Works Department
ACTION: BSC asked staff to gather more information from other jurisdictions on their
approaches to this issue. The board will review this information at the next meeting before
making any recommendations.
• Major Remodels: There was general discussion regarding the definition of major remodel
and substantial improvement as well as how these definitions are currently applied. These
definitions require some clarification. The BSC acknowledged that the current definitions
based on cost may need to be updated to better align with legal requirements.
ACTION: The BSC asked staff to get examples from neighboring jurisdictions and bring
them back to the next meeting for review.
4. Discussion Items from Staff.
• Building-Shared Fence Agreement Form: There was general discussion of the possibility of
retiring the form. Currently the form requires applicants to acquire a signature from their
neighbor in order to permit and install an 8' fence. This type of height related approval from
your neighbor is not explicitly discussed in the code anywhere. The code states that applicants
are restricted to six-foot-tall fences when certain conditions are determined to be present. The
city does not want to force residents to install fences on the property line,but given the potential
maintenance issues it is not something that should be discouraged. Brett Cast recommended
the word"agreement"be struck from the form.
ACTION: BSC asked that this item be brought to the next meeting with some proposed
amendments to the code and a revised form.
• Construction Notification: There was general discussion regarding the current practice of
requiring contractors to provide notifications to adjacent property owners for projects over
$10,000 or in cases where there is substantial activity.The discussion focused on the challenges
associated with post office notifications. The board discussed the timing of the notifications
and the merits of using signage, mailed, or door hanger notifications to announce impending
developments. Additional notification requirements would require contractors to further
postpone the beginning of their projects after having received their approved permit.Brett Cast
stated he could direct community development staff to mail the currently required notification
letters as soon as the new build or remodel permit has been approved. Staff would deliver
letters directly to the local post office to speed up the mailing process. Jonathon Hance made a
motion to recommend no change. Krishna Shah seconded. AYES: Jonathon Hance, Andy
Fiedler, Spyros Maragos and Krisna Shah. NOES: Bruce Beneke. ABSTAIN: None. Motion
approved 4-1.
3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov
West University Place, TX 77005
713-662-5830
West University
Place Public Works Department
• Tree Ordinance: Craig Koehl discussed some of the recent amendments by the Texas State
Legislature concerning the city's regulation of trees. BSC reviewed the city's tree ordinance
and discussed various changes that need to be made to the city's code in order to comply with
state law. The key issues identified during the Boards discussion are as follows:
o The city's inability to regulate trees 10 inches or smaller in diameter on private
property.
o The city's Ordinance insinuation that the city could deny a permit for tree removal on
private property. This outright denial is now precluded by state law.
ACTION: The BSC asked staff to provide additional information regarding state law verses
public law with a proposed ordinance amendment at the next meeting.
5. Meeting Minutes. December 7, 2023. August 22, 2024, September 5, 2024. Jonathon Hance made a
motion to approve the December 7, 2023, and August 22, 2024, minutes. Bruce Beneke seconded.
AYES: Jonathon Hance, Bruce Beneke, Andy Fiedler, Spyros Maragos and Krishna Shah. NOES:
None.ABSTAIN:None.Motion approved.Jonathon Hance made a motion to approve the September
5, 2024, as amended.Bruce Beneke seconded. AYES: Jonathon Hance,Bruce Beneke,Andy Fiedler,
Spyros Maragos and Krishna Shah. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion approved.
Krishna Shah made a motion to adjourn. Bruce Beneke seconded. AYES: Jonathon Hance, Bruce
Beneke, Andy Fiedler, Spyros Maragos and Krishna Shah. NOES: None. ABSTAIN:None. Motion
approved.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
111
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PASS DAY OF ovP/►'1 e r , 2024.
Jonathan`:ance, Chairman
ATT .T:
Josie M. Hayes,Administrative Coordinator
3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov
West University Place, TX 77005
713-662-5830