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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 19, 2005 Page 11 1 2 Commissioner Jensen asked if this is an interpretation or do they specifically prohibit the egress. 3 4 Ms. Moore-Sykes referenced Section 1615, the regulation portion of Chapter 16 stating that an 5 egress is not listed as an allowable item within the ordinance and therefore is prohibited. 6 7 Ramona Steadman, 2909 30th Avenue Northeast stated that they just recently purchased a home 8 that has a den in the basement and they would like to install an egress window that would meet 9 safety regulations. She stated that the property sketch she has shows the house at five feet, plus 10 or minus. She stated that she and her husband tried to measure it was real close to five feet 11 adding that they are not sure without the certificate of survey, which would cost approximately 12 $700.00 to $1000.00,which is prohibitive for them to do. She explained that they have 62 feet 13 across and one side is just the five feet, which is the side where they want to install the egress 14 window. She stated that she was under the impression that the Commission would be discussing 15 items like this tonight noting that as far as the smaller lots with garages sometimes there is not 16 enough room to make these improvements to make the house better. She explained that the front 17 of their house has a stone front in addition to the gas line adding that they would have to move 18 the gas line and build the egress window up into the stone face of the house, which aesthetically 19 would not look as nice. She stated that this is why she is here and is hoping that this is 20 something that the Commission would address. She stated that she was not sure if she had to 21 have a certificate of survey and asked if this is a requirement. She asked if she is responsible for 22 talking to the neighbors and get their comments and would that be enough for them to get 23 approval. 24 25 Ms. Moore-Sykes explained that the problem with finding pins is that sometimes, over the years, 26 the pins end up moved or removed due to erosion and changes in the landscaping and 27 measurements taken may not show the true location of the property line. She further explained 28 that the certificate of survey would verify and document the true property line. 29 30 Ms Steadman asked if this is what is required for a fence adding that she does not understand 31 why locating the pin is ok for a fence and not a window well. 32 33 Chair Stromgren further explained that when a surveyor comes out to survey the property they 34 don't just locate the pin and they go back to know benchmarks such as fire hydrants and other 35 utilities located in the street that they know have not moved. He stated that a certificate of survey 36 is the only way that staff knows where the actual property lines are located. 37 38 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated that the certificate of survey is also a for the protection of the 39 homeowners. She explained that situations have occurred where improvements have encroached 40 onto a neighbors' property based on the pin that they thought was where it was supposed to be. 41 She stated that it could be a very expensive process adding that she would not want to see them 42 be in a situation where they would have to remove the improvements due to an encroachment. 43 44 Ms. Steadman asked if there is an allowance for a variance. She clarified for a stoop it would be 45 allowed but as far as a fence or egress it would require a variance.