Denton Creek/Sandy Lake-CS070315
MEMORANDUM
FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING
To:
Greg Jones, Chief Building Official
Ken Griffin, P.E., Director of Engineering/Public Works 9
From:
Date:
March 15, 2007
RE:
1204 E Sandy Lake Road
Yesterday I spend approximately one hour with someone inquiring about purchasing the property at
1204 E. Sandy Lake Road and then performing extensive renovation to the property. The entire
tract of land lies within the 100-year floodplain and the back portion of the property is in the
floodway. In reviewing the elevation information available in our GIS, it appears that the land and
structures are approximately 1 foot below the 1 OO-year water surface.
To do any type of substantial improvements, which includes by Ordinance the alteration of any
walls, ceilings, floors, etc. inside or outside of the building, requires a Floodplain Development
Permit from my office. They must have that before they can obtain a permit from your office.
Because the property lies within the 100-year floodplain, by Ordinance only 50 percent of the
market value of the structure itself can be spent on any renovations to the property. Also, we would
prefer not to see any footprint changes because this only compounds the problem of being in the
floodplain.
I have looked through Laser fiche for any permitting information that Building Inspections has on
1204 E. Sandy Lake Rd. and there was not any permit information associated with any remodeling
or construction on the property. However, the person I spoke with stated that the previous owner
had done extensive work on the interior of the property i.e., moving walls, building bathrooms, etc.,
most likely without the benefit of a permit. If work was done on that property then that would go
against the 50 percent that could be used to renovate the property in the future.
Questions:
1) Do you know of any way to ascertain the value of what work has been done on this property so
that that can be subtracted from the 50 percent that they might have available to them to
renovate the property?
2) Is there any way to inspect the improvements made, or to penalize or cite the owner of the
property for improvements made without benefit of a permit?
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"
The person indicated that there were actually two structures on the property. The back structure is
referred to as the 'servants quarters'. He stated that the electrical for both structures is run through
one meter at the front structure. Is that is a violation of electrical codes?
I am really not sure what to do with this property. My main question is the concern with the work
done previously without permits and the fact that someone is wanting to buy the property and do
extensive renovation on a piece of property that lies within the floodplain and lower than the water
surface elevation of the floodplain. Per the floodplain ordinance, no permits can be issued on this
property until the owner has obtained a Floodplain Development Permit from my office. That
permit would then be provided to your office for issuance of any type of allowed permitting.
After you have reviewed this memo, I would like to discuss this further on how to proceed with this
issue. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"