1989-06-20 Regular MeetingC
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KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Building Code Board of Appeal
June 20, 1989
The Kodiak Island Borough Building Code Board of Appeal held a public
hearing on June 20, 1989 in the Assembly Chambers of the Kodiak Island
Borough Building, 710 Mill Bay Road. The meeting was called to order at
7:40 p.m. (A verbatim record is on file in the Clerk's office)
There were present:
William Beaty, Chairman
Clifford Ford
James Wheeler
Absent:
Brian Parsons
Ronald Chase
Robin Heinrichs
One seat vacant
comprising a quorum of the Building Code Board of Appeals; and
Shirley M. Berns, Deputy Borough Clerk
John Sullivan, Building Official
ITEM OF BUSIA6SS
Request for Exception To Building Code with regard to the addition to
a business building located on Tract L, Russian Creek Alaska Subdivision.
(Appellant - John Burt)
John Sullivan, Building Inspector, referring the Building Code Board
members to his memorandum dated June 13, 1989 stated that Mr. Burt agreed
with the way the borough arrived at the figure for the building permit -
Borough Code 15.04.070 Table No. 3-A Building Permit Fees - the valuations
for determination of permit fees will be based on contract price or, in the
absence of a contract price, the Building Valuation Data as published
bimonthly by I.C.B.O. Building Standards. However, Mr. Burt requested an
exception to have a different dollar value figure attached to his construc-
tion rather than the one derived from the Building Valuation Data Table as
mandated by ordinance. He gave his calculations for the 960 square foot
proposed building addition times the valuation $20.40/sq ft. (Warehouse -
Type II without the regional modifier for Alaska) which placed the value at
$19,584. The permit fee was based on this valuation, noted Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan answered questions from the members of the Building Code Board
of Appeals.
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Kodiak Island BorouQQ v - ) ^1 7 ' �-a
Building Code Board df Appeals
l Mr. Burt, appellant, called attention to his list of building materials and
stated he planned to use rough cut spruce lumber for construction of this
addition. By his calculations the valuation of the addition would be
approximately $4,290. He said even if he doubled this amount to add labor
cost, the valuation would be $8,000. The addition would be a post and beam
construction without a foundation, he noted. He felt $20.40/sq. ft. was
completely out of line. He thought the borough should be more cooperative
toward small business and would like to see the code changed to use a
different calculation for construction in rural areas.
A discussion followed between board members, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Burt
over the type of construction and the materials on this building.
Mr. Sullivan said that the warehouses built by fishermen for gear storage
run in the $25/27 range, and this price range coincides with the cost
contractors found it cost to build this type of building. He said the
Building Valuation Data Table was really quite accurate and reflected the
cost of current construction. He said it would be totally not feasible to
do a "cost" estimate on each building project.
Mr. Heinrichs comments that there had to be some type of tool for estab-
lishing a fee and there was always going to be exceptions. He said the
Building Valuation Data Table was a tool, and he did not feel the differ-
ence of the errors involved presented a large economic problem to the
community as a whole. He said he did not think constructing the building
for half the cost stated in the table, made the building inspector's job
_ any different. A building of a certain size was going to take a certain
amount of effort for inspection, and there was going to be a small user fee
attached to each building permit. The issue was how big the user fee
should be in each case, and he could not think of a better way to establish
a fee in the absence of a contract price to make the fee fair for everyone.
Whether there should be another category for barns or buildings which were
less material intensive, was open of discussion, he declared. He felt this
building was correctly categorized.
WHEELER,
seconded by HEINRICHS
VOTE ON MOTION
Ayes:
Noes:
MOTION CARRIED
moved to deny the exception
requested by Mr. Burt.
Chase, Ford, Heinrichs, Wheeler,
Beaty
None
Unanimous
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Kodiak Island Borou +
Building Code Board of Appeals
Findings of Fact
1. The Building Valuation Data Table is a tool used by the building
inspector.
2. In the absence of a contract price, square footage data is a
reasonable basis for evaluating construction.
3. The most equitable and fair method for determining the valuation
of building construction is by using the Building Valuation Data
Table.
4. The building inspector was very conservative in applying the
Building Valuation Data Table figure for a warehouse Type II
without using the regional modifier for building in Alaska.
There being no further business to come before the Building Board Code of
Appeals, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary
June 20, 1989
Chairman
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