HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Building Board of Appeals Minutes 02/06/2017MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS
AMES, IOWAFEBRUARY 6, 2017
Call to Order
The regular meeting of the Building Board of Appeals was called to order by Chairman Larry Cormicle at4:00p.m.,February 6, 2017, in Room 235 in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue. Present from
the Building Board of Appeals were Larry Cormicle,David Carnes,Chuck Haselhoff,Brad Heemstra, and Larry Brandt. Nathan Werstein and Dan Nutini were absent.
Staff members present were Scott Ripperger, Sara Van Meeteren, Shawn Bayouth, Judi Parks, and Ann Braland.
Moved by Heemstra, seconded byCarnes, to approve the minutes of December 6, 2016
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion passed unanimously.
Old Business
None
New Business
A. Discussion concerning the Dangerous Building Declaration and authorization of demolition or other abatement action on the garage at 1107 Grand Avenue
The appellant, Katherine Fisher, summarized the situation of the garage at 1107 Grand Avenue.
She stated that she has not been able to repair the garage due to the freezing temperature and lack of funds. She has no available resources and needs more time to make the repairs.
Sara Van Meeteren explained theactions of the City. Van Meeteren sent two notices to Fisher, and on September 30, 2016, posted the garage as dangerous. The north side of the garage
has collapsed. Most of the roof on the south side is missing which is allowing water into the structure causing damage. Van Meeteren worked with Fisher, having her sign a timeline. Fisher
was going to remove the belongings from inside the garage and work with contractors to obtain quotes for demolition. The deadline was initially December 1, 2016 and was pushed back to
January 1, 2017. By January 2, 2017 no work had been done on the garage and the building was in the same condition. Van Meeteren then sent Fisher the notice sating that Fisher had not
complied with the timeline andthe matter would be reported to the Building Board of Appeals.
Judy Parks confirmed that Katherine Fisher is the owner of the property and that she received the notice that was attached to the garage.Fisher is the owner, but does not live at the
house. The woman who lives at the house gave the notice that was attached to the garageto Fisher.
Fisher stated that she was expecting some suggestions for names of contractorsto be provided to her. She also had to replace her furnace during this timeframe.Both of her houses are
in need of repair. Brad Heemstra asked if Fisher had received any quotes. She had not.
Van Meeteren stated that she looked into the Ames Repair and Care organization and other service agencies to see if they would be able to provide assistance to Fisher, but this project
is not the type that they were willing to help with. She reminded the Board that City staff cannot recommend contractors.
David Carnes asked for confirmation that the City had already given one timeline extension. Van Meeteren confirmed that the deadline had been extended to January 1, 2017 from December
1, 2016 and parameters had been agreed upon.
Heemstra asked Fisher what kind of timeframe she would need. Fisher replied that warmer weather is necessary for her to access the belongings in the garage.
Larry Cormicle asked Fisherwhat a realistic time frame would be to demolish the structure if she was granted a time extension. Fisher did not have a concrete date.
Parks recalled past occasions similar to this one in which the Board offered time extensions of 90 days and 6 months.
Cormicle agreed that time extensions are within the authority of the Board for extenuating circumstances and that the Board is sensitive to Fisher’s situation. He pointed out that it
is not the goal of the Board to cause hardship. It is always about public safety.
Fisher asked for an explanation of the process if the City demolishes the garage. Van Meeteren stated that the issue would go before City Council and the cost of demolition would be
assessed to the property through the property taxes. Fisher pointed out that her property taxes are paid through her mortgage payment. Parks stated that the mortgage may be adjusted
to collect special assessments, but it would be spread out over the entire timeframe of the mortgage.
Parks stated that if Fisher decides to take the route of having the City demolish the building, then Fisherwould tell the Board that she does not have the funds or will not be able to
secure the funds for the demolition herself. The Board could proceed immediately or issue a time extension. If the demolition does not occur, then the matter would go before City Council.
A public bidding would occur to secure the best price for the demolition;the City would pay the contractor and then assess the price back to the property.
Discussion was held aboutany potential danger to neighboring properties, as well as the electrical service connected to the garage.
Moved by Cormicle, seconded by Heemstra,to grant a time extension of 90 calendar days.
At the end of the extension, if the building has not been demolished or repaired,the Board authorizes the City to start proceedings at the City Council level to have the building demolished
with the charges assessed against the property owner.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Moved by Brandt to adjourn the meeting at 4:22p.m.
___________________________
Eileen Carter, Recording Secretary