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08/13/2003BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEAL ON BUILDING/FLOOD CONTROL MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER August 13, 2003 Present: John H. Logan, Jr. Chair Edward H. Walker, Jr. Board Member Pankaj Shah Board Member Carroll Nall, Jr. Board Member Absent: Michael D. Corcoran Board Member Also Present: Bill Wright Building Construction Inspector II Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. A - Approval of Minutes: Member Nall moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 14, 2003, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B - Continued Requests: B1 – Case BAA 03-06 - 1870 Springtime Avenue, Clearwater: Thomas C. Little, Owner/ Representative. Request appeal of Building Official decision regarding an Unsafe Structure. Located in Sunset Point 1st Addition Block E, Lot 35. Parcel #03-29-15-88110-005-0350. Owner Thomas Little said he has owned the rental property at 1870 Springtime Avenue for approximately 20 years. He said in December, after the last tenants moved out, he was hospitalized, which was followed by several months of immobilization. He said once damage to the property was discovered, he began the process of correcting the problem by purchasing repair materials and storing them onsite. He said he was getting a contractor when Code Enforcement first contacted him. Mr. Little said although he identified a contractor, the City sent him a letter, claiming the structure is unsafe. He said he has hired Mr. Ramsey as the contractor and indicated Mr. Ramsey was on vacation in July and now is in North Carolina, where he was subpoenaed for a trail. Mr. Little said his goal is for Mr. Ramsey to work with the City and correct problems with the structure. In response to a question, Mr. Little said he did not dispute the need for repairs but did not know how long they would take to accomplish. He said he does not want to raze the vacant structure but intends to repair it and retain it as a rental property. Building Construction Inspector Bill Wright said the original letter citing the building as an unsafe structure was mailed on May 1, 2003, and did not state that the property would have to be razed . He reviewed Unsafe Structure Report photographs of the property, dated May 1, 2003, which show the building was not secured, the roof system had collapsed, evidence of installation of new wood, deterioration to plywood decking, beams, and ceilings, water damage to kitchen cabinets, drywall, a gable, and the roofline, dry rot/termite damage to window frames, beams eaten away, holes in the carport ceiling, gutters falling off the front of the building, and mold and mildew throughout the structure. The building currently is secured, except for a small broken window that needs to be repaired. Also, the grass is too high and needs to be cut. Mr. Wright reported a Stop Work order was issued when staff discovered repairs were being made without permits. One resident said the property is in poor condition, and neighbors want a firm plan to fix the structure, and requested the City monitor progress. He cited previous problems with previous tenants and requested improved screening efforts by the owner in the future. In response to a suggestion, Mr. Little amended his request from appealing the City’s decision that the building is unsafe to requesting an extension of time to repair it. Member Walker moved to approve the amended request and grant a 30-day extension, until September 12, 2003, to obtain necessary permits and commence repair work, and for the work to be completed within an additional 60 days, by November 11, 2003, to the structure at 1870 Springtime Avenue to meet Section 47.161 City Code of Ordinances regarding unsafe buildings. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. C - New Requests C2 – Case BAA 03-07 - 602 N. Ft. Harrison Avenue, Clearwater: Clearwater Investments Inc., Owner. Hamden H. Baskin III or Steve Young, Representative. Request extension of time to allow insurance for the contractor to inspect. Located in Bidwell’s Oak Subdivision. Parcel #09-29-15-08622-000-0170 Hamden H. Baskin, representative said during roof repairs on May 16, 2003, the structure, a rental property, had caught fire and suffered damage. He said the structure had been rehabbed in the early 1990s, using $70,000 worth of materials. He said while the damage estimate is $102,000, his insurance company offered only $68,000. To make up the difference, Mr. Baskin said he also filed a claim with the roofer’s insurance company, Lloyds of London. He said he has pursued a diligent letter campaign with that insurance company but the process has taken a long time. He said LLoyds is close to cutting the check. He said tenants remain in one first floor apartment. The repair company has covered the large hole in the roof with a blue tarp. He said the Fire Department used axes to break out windows and doors, causing significant damage. He said his goal is to repair the structure with insurance funds. If sufficient insurance funds are not provided, he said he will raze the structure and probably sell the property. Mr. Wright said the original letter citing the building as an unsafe structure was mailed on May 19, 2003. He reviewed Unsafe Structure Report photographs of the property, which show the ceiling, roof, and joists are badly charred, fire damage to wiring in the laundry room, a burned wall between the laundry and kitchen, deterioration to the wood deck on the porch, and the blue tarp covering the hole in the roof. He said the only damage to the downstairs apartment occurred when some water spilled through a ceiling light fixture. The structure is secured. Discussion ensued regarding necessary repair efforts. Member Shah moved to approve a 30-day extension until September 12, 2003, to file for a permit to bring the roof and other items into compliance on the structure at 602 North Ft. Harrison Avenue to meet Section 47.161 City Code of Ordinances regarding unsafe buildings. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. C3 – Case BAA 03-08 - 1469 Jacaranda Circle South, Clearwater: Eleanor H. Smith, Owner, Jim Smith, Representative. Request extension of time to get a contractor. Located in Hillcrest Subdivision Block J Lots 4&5. Parcel #11-29-15-39870-010-0040 Representative Jim Smith said his mother has not lived in the house since his father passed away in 1974, although vagrants did live there for a while and destroyed many of its contents. Presently, his mother is actively cleaning out the house. He said 90% of the items have been removed. He estimated it will take 30 days for an engineer to make a formal inspection of the roof and floor to determine if the house is structurally sound and can be repaired. Mr. Wright said the original letter citing the building as an unsafe structure was mailed on May 27, 2003. He reviewed Unsafe Structure Report photographs of the property, which show great quantities of trash and debris, cracks in the walls and ceilings, severe deterioration of the drywall, plaster, and plywood on the back wall so that only lathe and stucco remain, large holes in the roof, water intrusion, and a collapsed ceiling. The structure now is secured. Discussion ensued regarding necessary repair efforts. Mr. Wright said if repairs are planned, engineering reports will have to be submitted to obtain permits. Member Shah moved to approve a 30-day extension until September 12, 2003, for the owner to determine if the structure will be repaired or razed, and another 45 days, until October 27, 2003, to obtain permits and begin construction to bring into compliance the structure at 1469 Jacaranda Circle South to meet Section 47.161 City Code of Ordinances regarding unsafe buildings. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. C4 – Case BAA 03-09 - 217 Coronado Drive, Clearwater: Mirko Rudman/Anka Rudman, Owner, John Rudman/Anka Rudman, Representatives. Request extension of time to get a contractor. Located in Columbia Subdivision, Lot B, W 105 feet of Lot 2 and N 50 feet of Lot 4. Parcel #08-29-15-17550-002-0021. Representative John Rudman said his parents own the subject property, the Riviera Motel, which provides his family its livelihood. He said the fire escape, which is deteriorated and unsafe, has been closed. He said the main staircase is repairable. He said his family may sell the property to investors, who have expressed interest in razing the structure and developing the property. He requested 6 months for his family to determine if they will sell the property before installing a new primary staircase on the front of the building and repairing the remainder of the metal work. Mr. Wright said the original letter citing the building as an unsafe structure was mailed on July 9, 2003. He reviewed Unsafe Structure Report photographs of the property, which show severe deterioration to all steel support posts on the stairway, and on the south side of the structure along the second and third-floor walkways, attempted repairs to the steel posts where they should attach to the concrete, emergency escape stairs broken loose, cracked concrete, swelling under paint on the posts, indicating the steel has rotted, a damaged railing system, a breaking top rail on the second floor, a weakened beam holding up the roof, missing treads on stairs, and a downspout tied to a third floor post . Mr. Wright expressed concern guests on upper floors could become trapped if the one remaining stairway is blocked by fire. The Fire Department had taped off the fire escape and contacted staff with concerns regarding health and safety issues. He said the walkways on the second and third floor could collapse. An engineering report is necessary to determine what repairs and replacements are necessary. In many places, nothing is supporting the posts. Mr. Wright said he was surprised the Fire Department had not shut down the motel for life and safety problems. Mr. Rudman said he would not rent out the four rooms closest to the fire escape on the second and third floors for safety reasons. Discussion ensued regarding Code requirements that the building have two stairways, potential danger to guests in all second and third floor rooms, the necessity to fix the walkways and stairs if the structure remains occupied, the need to obtain estimates immediately, the seriousness of the situation, the need to obtain a structural engineering report to obtain required permits, and time requirements related to necessary repairs. Concern was expressed people are being put at risk. Mr. Wright said he will shut down the motel if guests are permitted to stay in rooms on the second and third floor before repairs are made to the two stairways and that the Building Department has the right to close the motel if the upper two floors are occupied before repairs are complete. Mr. Rudman reported the Fire Marshal had given him until September 20, 2003 to obtain necessary permits. Member Walker moved to approve a 14-day extension, until August 27, 2003, for the owner to obtain permits based on a survey by an engineer or architect and to complete repairs within another 30 days, by September 26, 2003, to bring into compliance the structure at 217 Coronado Drive to meet Section 47.161 City Code of Ordinances regarding unsafe buildings and that the Building Department has the right to close the motel if the upper two floors are occupied before repairs are completed. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #D -Pending Matters - None. ITEM #E - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m.