1988-12-20 Regular Meetingr
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KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
BUILDING CODE
BOARD OF APPEAL
December 20,1988
7:30 p.m. - Assembly Chambers
Heard by the Architectural Review Board
L CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Architectural Review Board was called to order at
7:30 p.m. by Chairman Robin Heinrichs on December 20, 1988, in the Borough
Assembly Chambers.
IL ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Robin Heimichs, Chairman
Bill Beaty
Cliff Ford
Jim Helfmstine
Brian Parsons
Members Absent:
Wayne Coleman
(Vacant seat)
A quorum was established
III. NEW BUSINESS
Others Present:
John Sullivan,
Building Inspector
Patricia Miley, Secretary
Community Development
Department
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS reported that the Architectural Review Board was
convened to hear an appeal to the Building Code. CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS
noted that Tide 15 had no framework for an appeal of a decision of the Building
Official and suggested that the framework outlined in the Subdivision Code,
Section 16.95.040, appeals from a Borough Engineer's decision be used.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS read this section in its entirety, and it was the
consensus of the Board to utilize Section 16.95.040 for the appeal.
BILL BEATY MOVED TO ADOPT the procedures for appeal outlined in
Section 16.95.040 for use by the Architectural Review Board sitting as the
Building Code Board of Appeal. The motion was seconded and CARRIED by
unanimous voice vote.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS recessed the Architectural Review Board and
convened the Building Code Board of Aooeal:
CLIFF FORD requested a ruling of a potential conflict of interest. Mr. Ford
noted that he works for the electrical contractor doing work on this project. It was
the consensus of the Board that Mr. Ford step down. CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS
ruled that Mr. Ford had a conflict of interest and requested Mr. Ford to seat
himself in the audience. Mr. Ford stepped down.
Architectural Review Board
Page 1 of 4 December 20, 1988 Minutes
BILL BEATY MOVED TO NOMINATE ROBIN HEINRICHS as Chairman of
the Building Code Board of Appeal. The motion was seconded and CARRIED
by unanimous voice vote.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS requested staff to present the decision and set forth
the evidence and reasons relied upon for the decision.
JOHN SULLIVAN, Building Official, read his memorandum dated November
29, 1988 to the Building Code Board of Appeals regarding the Appeal Record -
Appeal of Building Code Requirement for Handicap Access into the record. Mr.
Sullivan also noted Title 15 provided for appeals and exceptions.
A discussion ensued among the Board and Mr. Sullivan concerning the upper
floor of the structure in question as it related to the Uniform Building Code
(UBC) use classifications and construction requirements and the actual usage of
the structure.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS requested that the appellant present testimony before
the Board of Appeal.
JIM WHEELER, representing the appellant, appeared before the Board of Appeal
to answer questions. Mr. Wheeler stated that the appeal was sought to avoid the
high cost of a 165 foot ramp when the planned usage of the upper floor was for
storage of furniture retail sales inventory.
A discussion ensued among the Board and Mr. Wheeler, with input from the
Building Official, concerning the usage of the upper floor, the options considered
in order to comply with the requirement for handicap access, the number of
employees utilizing the structure, and the various construction requirements for
both the "retail sales" and the "light warehousing" UBC classifications.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS requested that any private person supporting the
appeal present testimony to the Board.
Seeing and. hearing none, CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS requested that any private
person opposing the appeal present testimony to the Board.
Seeing and hearing none, CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS requested that the appellant
present rebuttal testimony to the Board.
JIM EGGEMEYER, appellant, appeared before the Board and stated that he
desired an exemption from the handicap access requirement for the UBC retail
sales construction classification.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS closed the public comments section of the appeal and
opened the Board's discussion and deliberations on the appeal.
A lengthy discussion ensued among the members of the Board, with input from
the Building Official and the appellant, regarding UBC use classifications and
structural requirements for "retail sales" and "light warehousing", the intended use
of the structure's upper floor, handicap access, public safety, employee access,
"grandfathering", stipulations, future usage of the structure, nonconforming
structures, and the setting of a "precedent".
BILL BEATY MOVED TO UPHOLD the Building Official's requirement for
handicap access to this facility. The motion was seconded
The Board discussed the ramifications of this motion if it were to pass.
The question was called and the MOTION FAILED by roll call vote.
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS voted "no".
A discussion ensued among the Board and staff regarding procedure.
BRIAN PARSONS MOVED TO REQUEST staff to obtain a legal opinion
regarding the establishment of stipulations regulating and/or defining the
Architectural Review Board Page 2 of 4 December 20, 1988 Minutes
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narrowest possible scope for exempting UBC structural requirements for
particular usages of structures and requiring the Building Official's review if the
use or the ownership changes AND TO TABLE THE APPEAL until the legal
opinion is received
A discussion ensued among the Board, with input from staff, regarding the intent
of the motion. Staff noted that the Board was required by Code to render its
decision within forty days after the appeal's filing. Staff also noted that this
timeframe was nearing its conclusion.
The motion died for the lack of a second.
BILL BEATY MOVED TO allow Jim Eggemeyer, the owner, to use the upper
story facility as a light warehouse facility without the use of handicap access and
if any of these conditions change, i.e., the owner or the use of the area for a
staging and warehousing area, that handicap access be reviewed by the Building
Official. The motion was seconded
JOHN SULLIVAN requested that the motion be corrected to reflect "retail space"
and not "light warehouse" as the light warehouse classification does not require
handicap access.
BILL BEATY, WITH CONCURRENCE OF THE SECOND, RESTATED the
motion: "MOVED TO allow Jim Eggemeyer, the owner, to use the upper story
facility as a retail sales facility without the use of handicap access and if any of
these conditions change, i.e., the owner or the use of the area for a staging and
warehousing area, that handicap access be reviewed by the Building Official."
BILL BEATY also suggested the following FRIENDLY AMENDMENT to the
main motion: "it is understood that the retail use of this will be for furniture sales
and warehousing." With the concurrence of the second, the friendly amendment
was added to the main motion.
The question was called and the MAIN MOTION CARRIED by unanimous roll
call vote.
The Board discussed "Findings of Fact" with input from staff. The Board
concluded that a stipulation needed to be added to the motion passed earlier.
BILL BEATY MOVED TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION. The motion was
seconded and CARRIED by unanimous voice vote. The main motion being
"The owner of the building shall file with the District Recorder's Office the
necessary papers to ensure that the restrictions placed on the property (i.e., that
the various codes that apply to the occupancy for which the building will be used
shall be reviewed by the Building Official if the ownership changes) by the
Building Code Board of Appeal on December 20, 1988, appear on any future
Title Insurance Policy issued for this property, and a conformed copy be filed
with the Building Official prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupany."
The amendment was seconded and the MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED
CARRIED by unanimous roll call vote.
BILL BEATY MOVED TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS OF
FACT:
1. Because handicap access to employees is not denied on the first floor,
which is the main employee area of the structure, and because the upper
floor activities are associated with the staging and warehousing of
furniture retail sates inventory, it would be an unnecessary hardship- to
require handicap access to the second floor of this structure.
d 2. The facility requires only a limited number of employees.
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3. If the building's use or ownership changes in any manner, the structure
will require review for handicap access by the Building Official's office.
4. The nature of the furniture retail sales business requires few employees,
reduced public access, and a large amount of floor space.
The motion was seconded and CARRIED by unanimous roll call vote.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRMAN HEINRICHS adjoured the meeting of the Architectural Review
Board and the Building Code Board of Appeal at 9:00 p.m.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD AND
BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS
By: L&, /u�// G� (iao do �•
Robin Heinrichs, Chairman
ATTEST:
By. , a—lt- � _
Patricia Mil ecretary
Community elopment Department
Date Approved: January 11, 1989
A TAPE RECORDING IS ON FILE AT THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Architectural Review Board
Page 4 of 4 December 20, 1988 Minutes