Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda and Packet 2009 10 15

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Building Code Board of Appeals Minutes 09/17/09 Page 2 of 7 Bob Pierce talked about the importance of visit-a-bility housing for seniors being an important part of our community. He stated visit-a-bility housing includes zero step entries, spacious hallways, first floor bedroom/full bath and laundry. He said these are the most important components of what the Senior Housing Advisory Board is interested in. His board would be looking for statutes of this kind in Louisville for 25% of all new construction, with seniors and the disabled in mind. Mike Jones questioned the problem of how this 25% percentage of new construction could be enforced. He understands the needs of the market. Then he asked everyone to refer to the Lafayette ordinance (in packet) and pointed out Lafayette’s ordinance as an example. Kim Calomino said it is difficult for contractors to enforce a 25% requirement on their customers. Arvada has 15% requirement which includes a powder room on the main floor. She pointed out that Arvada’s code preceeded Lafayette’s. She added that this topic has not come up to her knowledge in any other communities. Gary Mancuso asked how this senior housing code could be any different or similar to the ADA requirement? Kim Calomino said the hallways are narrower. She added there are many 55+ communities and housing available and being built in the metro area. Bob Pierce reminded everyone that visit-a-bility housing is getting very popular, including in Steamboat Springs. His board wants to encourage people to stay in their homes, and good visit-a-bility is necessary to be able to do this. Mike Jones asked Paul Wood if the Planning Department is doing anything on visit-a-bility. Paul Wood said it is not yet scheduled for Planning Commission. He said the first step is to look at 2009 Code Adoption and see how other jurisdictions are handling visit-a-bility. Bob Van Pelt added that awareness of visit-a-bility is important. 2. 2009 IRC Residential Sprinklers a. Presentation – Kim Calomino, Home Builders Association (HBA) Kim Calomino said HBA does not support adoption of the 2009 Residential Sprinkler Code. She recommended that Louisville Building Code Board of Appeals strike all new fire requirements and wait to amend the January 1, 2013. She said there are many technical reasons behind her statement. A joint group of Colorado Code Council (CCC) and Colorado Fire Protection met to look at all issues ahead on implementation to streamline the 2009 Fire Code. The HBA does not think the sprinkler code can be implemented before January 1, 2013 because of overreaching, unnecessary and costly requirements in the code. The ICC recognizes that there are four major items to be adjusted: 1) Lack of statistical evidence for actual fire calls in the Louisville to a fire rd sprinkler code need. Colorado has the 3 lowest fire rates in the nation, which is well below the national statistics. 2) Legislature at the state level will be necessary with the Department of Fire Safety.