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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/27/2015 - Regular Agenda Packet - Construction Board of Adjustments AGENDA CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS Monday, April 27, 2015, 6:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Texas Avenue 1. Call meeting to order. 2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the appointment of a Chairman to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. 3. Hear visitors. 4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion to approve meeting minutes.  August 1, 2012 5. Public hearing, presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding a variance to Section C403.3.1, Economizers, of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. 6. Discussion and possible action on future agenda items - A Construction Board member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. 7. Adjourn. Consultation with Attorney {Gov’t Code Section 551.071; possible action. The Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals may seek advice from its attorney regarding a pending and contemplated litigation subject or attorney-client privileged information. After executive session discussion, any final action or vote taken will be in public. If litigation or attorney-client privileged information issues arise as to the posted subject matter of this The Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals meeting, an executive session will be held. MINUTES CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 5:30 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas, 77840 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Charles Thomas, Rene Ramirez, Oran Mikeal, Marc Chaloupka, and Arthur Pinto MEMBERS ABSENT: Mike Lane STAFF PRESENT: Chris Haver, Karyna Soldatova, and Brittany Caldwell AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order. Charles Thomas called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the appointment of a Chairman to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Oran Mikeal motioned to appoint Charles Thomas as the Chairman of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Marc Chaloupka seconded the motion, motion passed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Hear Visitors No visitors spoke. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting Minutes. Marc Chaloupka motioned to approve the meeting minutes from November 16, 2011. Arthur Pinto seconded the motion, motion passed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO.5: Public hearing, presentation, possible action, and discussion on a recommendation to City Council regarding adoption of Appendix D Fire District of the 2012 International Building Code. Building Official Haver gave a presentation regarding the adoption of Appendix D Fire District of the 2012 International Building Official There was general discussion amongst the Board regarding the adoption of Appendix D. No one was present for the public hearing. Marc Chaloupka motioned to recommend approval of the adoption of Appendix D Fire District of the 2012 International Building Code. Oran Mikeal seconded the motion, motion was passed (5-0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Discussion and possible action on future agenda items – A Construction Board member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. There were no future agenda items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Adjourn. Oran Mikeal motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mark Chaloupka seconded the motion, motion passed (5-0). The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Chairperson Brittany Caldwell, Board Secretary Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals Staff Report Item: Consideration of variance case # CONS2015-000001. A request to modify Section C403.3.1 (Economizers), of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. Item Background: The applicant is requesting a variance to the economizer requirement as outlined in section C403.3.1, 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Table C403.3.1(1) of the 2012 IECC, specifies that any cooling system that is equal to or exceeds 33,000 Btu/h and is located in Climate Zone 2A, which includes Brazos County, shall include an economizer. This variance case involves a proposed commercial building to be located at 1001 Colgate Drive. An Air Economizer, as defined by Chapter 2 of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, is a duct and damper arrangement and automatic control system that allows a cooling system to supply outside air to reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical cooling during mild or cold weather. There is currently a related code section that allows for an increase in equipment efficiency to allow an exemption from the requirements of economizers. Table C403.3.1(2) Equipment Efficiency Performance Exception For Economizers, this table takes climate zone and the percentage of efficiency improvement into consideration. Climate Zone 2A is not included in this section and therefore not eligible. This is only one of many exemptions, along with multiple exceptions, that the code allows for with regards to economizers, none of which can be applied to this project. Staff Recommendation: Denial of variance. This recommendation is based on the following: 1. The code allows for a multitude of exceptions and exemptions for the requirement of economizers. None of those could be met in this case. 2. Economizers were shown on the initial plans submitted for review and listed on the COMcheck Report submitted. This information was provided by the applicant during the permit application process. Permits were issued based off of these documents. 3. To address the standards set forth in the Variances section of Section 3-1 Standard Administrative Code. (i) It is our belief that this project lacks the special conditions or circumstances required for a variance from the applicable code section. (ii) Again, we do not believe special conditions or circumstances exist in the case. (iii) We feel that granting this request for variance would provide special privilege to the applicant, without having fully met the necessary requirements for a variance. (iv) In this case, a variance is not needed to make possible the reasonable use of the building. (v) While granting this variance would not be detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare, we feel the code is clear on its’ intent and allows for exceptions from the use of economizers. In this case, what was presented during the permit application process not only did not meet the exemptions to the code but clearly called for the installation of economizers. Supporting Materials 1. Application 2. Applicant’s Supplemental Information