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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Building Code Board Of Appeals - 12/13/2005 IOW MINUTES BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING 6,56 789 MIMI MIME NNW MIME Fire Conference Room 3rd Floor /tit #7 2406 Leopard St. Corpus Christi,Texas 78408 ") �, w City of Thursday—December 13, 2005 C' Corpus 1:36 P.M. � rn Christi 4,� Board Members Present: Johnny Cotten Cliff Atnip John Taylor Ronald Wheaton DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Board Members Absent: Don Boyd Phillip Skrobarczyk S Bill Alford 2406 Leopard Staff Members Present: Alonzo Garza, Interim Building Official First Floor Julie McCoy, Recording Secretary Corpus Christi Texas 78408 Phone 36l-826-3240 CALL TO ORDER Chairman, Johnny Cotton, declared a quorum and called the meeting to order Planning Fax 361-826-3590 at 1:36 p.m. Building Fax 361-826-3006 www.cctexas.com ROLL CALL The first item of business was roll call. Don Boyd, Philip Skrobarczyk and Bill Alford were absent. One Stop Shop Permitting EXCUSED ABSENCES Plan Review There were none. Infrastructure and Building Construction Inspections APPROVAL OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES—July 28, 2005 Working Together A unanimous vote was made by all board members to approve the minutes as written. To Build A The motion carried. Better Future SCANNED rffizi Board Minutes-Deeenm-6ea13,20a5ToT5 VARIANCE TO THE FLOOD HAZARD PREVENTION CODE On November 23, 2005, Mr. Ernest C. Butler requested that the Building Code Board of Appeals vary the application of Section 14-552 (2) Flood Hazard Prevention Code described as allowing finish floor of proposed structure to be set at 6 feet 0 inches (4' lower than 10' 0" BFE by F.I.R.M.) as required by the Flood Hazard Prevention Code in the following case: Appeal No. BCO 1105-04 Ernest C. Butler Snoopy's Pier 13313 South Padre Island Drive Kennedy Causeway Improvements Only History on Snoopy's Pier given by: Alonzo Garza, Interim Building Official • Mr. Butler submitted drawings to Development Services for permitting • The drawings submitted were reconstruction drawings outlining their plans for modifying the roof line, rebuilding the dining area and exterior deck. • The existing roof is an A frame • The floor plans for the new dining and outdoor dining area were provided and also sealed by an Engineer • The current code and FEMA regulations read that any alterations to an existing building, remodel, addition, or substantial alteration requires that the building be brought up to code and full compliance. • Substantial alteration means if you tear out 50% of a building based on square footage, you've abated it and it looses its existing. • As the City's Flood Plain Manager, it is my responsibility to ensure that the properties be brought to current standards. If not, the Flood Plain Manager or Building Official can allow the appellant to build something in violation of any of our codes • The existing restaurant is built at 6'. Although it is insurable, it does not comply with our FEMA requirements,the flood elevation for the area the structure is in is 10'. • In order for Mr. Butler to rebuild the structure to code, he would have to rebuild at 10' • Rebuilding the dining area and deck area higher than the existing structure would cause a hardship and he has been recommended to appeal to the board • The City's ordinance states that if a building is remodeled, it has to be built at or above the 10' elevation as required by FEMA Introduction by: Ernie C. Butler, Owner of Snoopy's Pier • Snoopy's was built in 1975 • Took over ownership in 1979 • At the end of every season we schedule any necessary maintenance to the building • At the end of this season we saw that there was a safety issue with the old patio when it was built • The will not be any additions to the patio • Decided to remove the patio for safety reasons. The pilings were eaten up by the salt water and the planking got uneven and it became a liability issue Board Minutes-December 13,2005 *110 • Before Snoopy's can be remodeled, they have to get an approval from Mr. Lemmons at the General Land Office since they are the landlords (letter from the General Land office was provided with an approval) • Called Lloyd Mullins at the Army Core of Engineers. Mr. Mullins is in charge of enforcement for the Corpus Christi division. Mr. Mullins stated that as long as there was not going to be an additional square footage added they would give him the approval • With the approvals from both the General Land office and the Army Core of Engineers, they proceeded to get plans drawn up from Ronnie Voss before demolition was started • Was told by the City that the permit would take 20 days to review and approve • Building should be grandfathered in and the reconstruction would only be '/o of the square footage of the building • They way he interprets the law written by FEMA is Snoopy's is not insurable anyway • He looks at building codes for safety that is why you obtain permits and to reward yourself for doing it right to obtain insurance for what you build so that it will be replaced in the event of a hurricane • Skip Noe made a comment to him concerning FEMA not knowing all the City's building codes • Does things correctly and does his homework before starting a project Introduction by: Brian Burke, Insurance Agent • Called FEMA and discussed Mr. Butler's plan for remodeling • Flood policy does not provide coverage for anything over the water • Remodeling that Mr. Butler intends to do is not over 50% of the existing structure • If the deck was built to the flood standard, there would definitely be ADA problems • Flood wise, he has no problems with the information that he has submitted and we will continue to insure him John Taylor made a motion to approve. Motion was tabled for further discussion. Comments by Alonzo Garza: • Unfortunately we do not have a structural engineer on site. We have to assume that Engineer who seals the drawings has done his calculations and figures to ensure that it complies with the code requirements for that area • We do have a letter from Ronnie Voss along with a WPI-1 application with his intent to perform the windstorm inspection to comply with TDI QUESTIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS What other restaurants are beside you? Response: There is one restaurant. What about Red Dot Marker 37? Response: The Red Dot Marker's BFE is 10' Board Minutes-December 13,2005 111W 410 Staff recommendation: by Alonzo Garza, Interim Building Official • Staff will recommend that any electrical lines be run overhead above BFE and also be attached in a way that meets FEMA requirements A unanimous vote was taken. All board members were in favor. The variance was GRANTED with the condition that any electrical lines be run overhead above BFE and also be attached in a way that meets FEMA requirements. BOARD DISCUSSION • One of the things we did not have the liberty to discuss is when we do these type of things is we set a precedence BUILDING OFFICIAL'S REPORT by: Alonzo Garza • Just got certified as the Certified Flood Plain Manager for the City of Corpus Christi • FEMA is not an approval body, they will tell you what their requirements are and it is up to each community to establish their Flood Hazard Prevention code and how they administer that • Through ISO, we have a community rating system which allows insurance companies to sell FEMA insurance • We as a community have a responsibility to comply with FEMA requirements if not our CSR ratings go down or if we continue to grant variances and do a sloppy job, we can get put on probation or suspended • If we are suspended from FEMA, any federally backed loan is going to be built in the 100 year flood plain and it will make it difficult to get a loan. We will have to pay cash for new construction • In the event of high tides the majority of the Island area is not accessible • We do not want to get in the habit of granting variances but with the increase of construction we are doing good • The Building Official has been an acting position • Interviews for the Building Official will be ending at the end of the week • Is currently the Building Official, Plans Examiner Coordinator, Certified Flood Plain Manager and Chief Building Official • Trying to iron out all technology enhancement for the department • The community will see changes over time • The department will start moving on the adoption of the 2005 NEC (National Electric Code)to stay current with the State's requirements Board went off record at 2:30 pm Board Minutes-December 13,2005 110 DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS TO BE PUT ON FUTURE AGENDAS There were none Julie McCoy, Recording Secretary asked all members if they were interested in serving another term in 2006. The following board members agreed to serve: Ron Wheaton, John Taylor, Cliff Atnip, and Johnny Cotten. PETITIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE There were none. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made to adjourn by Cliff Zarsky and seconded by Ron Wheaton. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m. DEP RTMEN ^OF DEVELOPMENT SERVIC rcot daly : lonzo Garza, nterim Building Official/Plans Examiner Coordinator ANS:jm H:building.12.1305.minutes Posted:City Hall Bulletin Board Disuibution:Original rNnutes'nelabook City Manager Asst.City Manager.Legal Dept.:City Secretary. Building Official.Director of Development Services Board Minutes-December 13.2005