HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-2016 Item 7, Rowley (2)COUNCIL MEETING: 151261
ITEM NO.:____1 _ APR 05 2016
Madam Mayor and Members of the Council, please consider this as an addendum to the RQN letter..
It has been implied that RQN's position on this item was specifically in support of the appellant.
While we do support the appeal, our comments were meant to apply on a larger scale. Most of our
members have houses they either occupy or rent (or both) that are at least 50 years old, some over
100 years old. These houses remain despite heavy rains and flooding, periods of drought, and
periodic earthquakes, and give our city its character and sense of history.
Although they do not meet today's building standards, they have withstood the test of time. That is
not to say that repairs and maintenance did not occur over the years. Of course they did. And there
may be new materials mixed in with the old to replace wood rot or provide added support, to replace
old toilets or broken sinks, etc. The point is that we doubt that these old houses could withstand this
level of scrutiny.
In the greater downtown area alone where R-2 properties are prevalent, there are examples of
buildings (dwellings and shed -like structures) that are at or very near a property line. Lots that
appear to hold more dwellings than density limits would allow. Potential violations that actually have
been there for decades and may or may not have been permitted.
The Assessor's disclaimer says in part, "This information should be used for informational use only
and does not constitute a legal document for the description of these properties." And yet the
assessor's record is the primary document being used in this enforcement case to show lot layout,
structure/room designations and permit history. Why? Because, other than a statement from a
gentleman who lived next door, that's is all there is before 1964. Previous assessor's records were
destroyed, and the City's records are not complete.
A county assessor is not a building inspector; that's not his job. There was a comment at the Board of
Appeals hearing about the assessor's role, how he's just out there walking around and looking at
things. A comment was, also, made about knowing that some limits to the accuracy of the assessor's
records exist. This may be the reason they include a disclaimer on the Assessor's Record.
Reference the City's permit records, it is difficult to tell what records may be missing versus what
permits never existed. There has not been wide -spread public access to on-line permit records for
years, ever since the former program was removed, so it is difficult for an owner or prospective
owner to check such records. In addition, it is not known what records were destroyed in the 1950's
and there may be additional missing or misplaced records as well.
RQN does not see this as only the appellant's problem, rather as a city-wide problem that could very
well become one for their members. We ask that you err on the side of owners when clarity cannot
be established. There is a difference between mixing old and new materials and having all new ones.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chairperson, RQN