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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes Building Code Board Of Appeals - 09/17/2015 REGULAR MEETING Building Code Board of Appeals Thursday,September 17,2015 MINUTES 1. Call to Order: 1:30pni [I. Roll Call Present: Robert Knowles.Rai,Jones, Chuck A naslos,Raln Munoz,Steven McClure and Randy Farrar &iff-Building Official-Gene Delauro,Michelle McCollum, Ivene DoddFloodplain Manager and Dolores Wood-Project Manager �itizen-Ale jandro Deleon Ill. Approval of Absences:June 4,2015:Randy Farrar-out of town(excused) Robert Knim vd to atypro re dre,ahsenr e IV, Approval of Minutes:June 4,2015,Regular Agenda. (1111(U4 callcdjol lnution to ap1nove ihcinnutc�. Sicivir (11Y)MOVe the minutc� I?obei-rA'ser-o;ttithc. i)�e)fioiI „Vlotion cariied,5_0, V. Public Comments: Jeri Morey-stated she has nothing new to presentoriswhat was presented cfore VI. Citizen Appeal Regarding Fire Sprinkler System Requirements for Townhouses: 15818 Palmira Avenue,Padre Island,Block 17,Lots 3B,4B,5B. Mr.Alejandro Deleon-within the last 12-18 months there have been projects comparable to his, short-term rentals with transient renters, These buildings are sold ivith the prernise that they will have short-term renters in each of them-no project required automatic sprinklers, residential or commercial. My-, Deleon bought 3 lots on Padre Island, they are zoned commerciallresidenlial 2l 2,never had automatic sprinklers on plan, none was required July 8, 2015 during EA (earl), assistance)meeting with the City, informed of the sprinkler requirement because of transient residence. Mr.Mozoch is the builder, Annika Gunning,Sr Project Planner, was contacted the following week of 718115 to explain the sprinkler situation. The follow ing week email received from Dolores with Annika's response with attachment ofBitilding Code determination datedJuly 23. 2015, stating that any transientpraperty will need automatic residential sprinklersystems. Hisargument is with the date ofBidleling Code memo being 2 weeks after his EA meeting with the City. Gene Delauro-agrees with the events that Mr, Deleon described in his argument, Tile Ilse of transienflnon-transient housingwas neverstipulatedby the builders. We assume since they are classified as townhouses® they are nonfiransient use, Project managers are nota,questioning builders during EA meelings how the townhouses are going to be used:transient vs northransient. ffiransient use,should require sprinklers. Development Semices had no idea that the townhomes were being used for transient use, builders were not disclosing. During the EA with Mr. Deleon he did indeed divulge the use of his townhomes to be transient and notified you that sprinklers were required before application. Mr.Deleon-(Rebunral)-my builder(Mazoch)was present during the EA meeting with the City reference Ambrosia Cove in which the transient status was divulged to the City, They were granted permit to build the project without the sprinklers. There are various other townhomes on the island built and being built without the sprinklers. Up until July 8, 2015 there was nothing in writing about the sprinkler systems. Gene D.-If we didn't Ieh'the builders during an EA meeting about the sprinklers, then we honor what was said. In the EA with Mr.Deleon the sprinkler issue was mentioned and required The IRC clearly states that all townhomes should require sprinklers, ,Should you move forwand and not Ilse yotii-tott,nhoniesfo?-Irttnsient use, then sprinklers not required. Our response is realistic and provides minimal safe guards to allow transient use. Randy Farrar-question about email farm Dolores,has questions about the clarity regarding refro- filling. Dolores TV-Ifapplicantdid not disclose the building would befor transient use, they are granted the permit and then the City discovered after the fact that should rightly be retro fitted® notforpi-Djects such cis 2014 or earlier. Gene-date ofinemo was not the "required or effective"date of the sprinkler requirement,just public notice, The sprinkler requirement has been in effect since adoption of tate 2009 IRC We were not asking the questions, and should have been. The memo makes no reference to it being "effective,"it is simply a notice to the public, Footnote oj'delerminalionfrons State of Texas does not exclude townhomesfrom sprinklers. Jeri or (public)® re Deleon needs to know, that even though staffmay have made at mistake by not asking the question beforehand, he can still be successfully sited if taken to court regarding the lack of sprinklers. I serine on the board qj(directors for A iisfinlSan Antonio Chapter ofSociety of Fire Protection Engineers. Code Enforcement should be involved to enforce other island properties that do not currently have sprinklers be compliant. Chuck A, called for a motion to disapprove the citizen appeal Mr. Farrar moved to deny the appeal, Raj)Jones second the motion, 4-1;,Steven MeClureopposed. V11. Discussion and possible action regarding Proposed Chapter 14 Higher Standards for Flood Hazard Prevention Code(Presentation). Gene-In addition to building appeals, this board is also responsible to hear appeals regarcling food issues. Yvette Dodd-2 part amendment fear Chapter 14 IRC and IBC and also Chapter 14 Flood Hazard Prevention code. Intent is to mirror the language,currently the language is conflicting. Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRM Panels)tentative release date:Oct 19, 2015, The City has not decided to adopt the preliminaries. If we don't, we are looking at a regulatory date of about 6 months afterwards, if we do, then they become effective date of release, 5 higher standards tentatively proposing to City Council, Help to give additional credit in the community rating system to receive a 15�i)discount ifyou are in a designatedflood hicard area and 50o ifyou are not. At as Class 6, will give a 20?6 discount to homeourners. Higher Standard I f-ee board, Ex.lfbase flood elevation is 10, we want you to be at I I. In a Zone A-lop/bottomfloor must now be]fbot above base flood elevation,you can meetrequirement byfilling lot. Garage is not a habitable space-not included. Freeboard would allow homeowner to have an insurance saving. Limit of moderate wave action-Anticipated wave height ofabove 3jeet. 3foot to 1 t12 foot wDedd be the limit ofmoderate wave action, would be called a Coastal A Zone, will have to meet FEAM requirements. Higher Standard 2-B Zone DesignIConstruction Certificate-all location to be located on I document. 77ds eliminates having loproduce several documents, Simplified standards,single fancily residence will not have to have engineer drawingsfor breakaitay walls as long as it's tinder 20 psi. Discussion but no action taken by the board. V111, Discussion and possible action regarding Proposed Amendment to Chapter 14,Article 5,Flood Hazard Prevention Code Yvene-No amendment yet, city council date pending for October. There will be an ordinance, small changes, to adopt preliminary maps. We are changingflood Zones currently in Chapter 14 to mirror flood zOnes adopted in preliminary maps. FEAM no longer including numbered zones(1-30) in A and Vzones but insteadjust naming Zones A and Velocity VZone because they already have base flood elevations;simplifying and streamlining zones, Zone B changes(requiring no elevation certificate)to a shaded Zone X, still requiring no elevation certificate. Some older zones will move over with preliminary maps, temporarily, until map process is complete. 3 amendments will gofontlard in the ordinance. IX. Discussion regarding Chapter 14 Proposed Revisions,Building Codes. Genre-hoard nienibei-sit,ereeniailetict]"circiftoflocal amendnienti-ei,isions. OverlOOpages ins revisions;requesting board to mark-up with suggestions to revisions and return. Ttying to finalize within 30 drijis, then send to legal, then to Council, tentatively in November 2015. Some proposed revisions: Conimercialprojects are not able to moveforivard elite to the 50'o rule,proposing eliminating it. Proposing to register contractors and roofers. X. Building Official's Report A. Department Updates: Job offers have been made to new employees joining the department. Tile department will be adding new project planners, Senior City Planner has been made an offer, enwiting their arrival, XFOR softivare is on target for Januar),2016, numerous software delays have postponed target date. [Venietcatty-biiclgetfor ott)-FYI S. X1. Identify items to be placed on next agenda: -Present andfieftere requirements for sprinkler systems related to transient use in singlejandly divellings. -Proposals forfinished floor elevations(at plan submilial)for residential plans regarding new construction and additions. X11. Adjourn: 3:20prn A. Prr.mi Officei. rO