Correspondence I -Cre3S0
Albert Shields iumm p ...1.4 11M 11
Code Enforcement Officer RENAISSANCE
City of Tigard DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
13125 SW Hall Blvd.
Tigard, Oregon 97223
RE: 10832 SW Kable St.
This letter is in response to your July 9th correspondence. In it you raised the following issues.
1) Swimming Pool used without required granting of occupancy.
The home and pool were constructed at the same time and share a number of integrated
features. In a very logical move, the City of Tigard decided to group the inspections of the home
and pool together. City inspectors looked at the whole project not at individual pieces. For
example, it made little sense to inspect the plumbing of the home on one day only to return the next
to look at the pool plumbing. The only area where the home and pool inspections did not tie
together was at the rebar stage for the pool. As you have stated that individual inspection did occur
(11/8/00). Or records indicate a final approval on 2/26/01 with a Certificate of Occupancy for the
same day. On that day the pool was inspected under the Site category. Fence inspection, railings
for high patios and decks, final electrical, plumbing, site grade, and a number of other items were
inspected to a City inspector's satisfaction. It is impossible to receive a Certificate of Occupancy
without inspecting these items. It is Renaissance's belief that you have uncovered an error in you
tracking computer as these items were inspected.
2) Disputed amount of pool construction cost.
Renaissance stands behind the construction valuation given for the pool. It is not a retail
number and does not include a number of factors: general contractor (GC) overhead, GC profit,
volume pricing to GC for repeat business, fees to incorporate pool into the home loan, etc. When
recieving data from homeowners, please keep in mind that most know little about construction
value data or the City's permitting process. You cannot assume they know cost, only retail. If you
have evidence of an error in Renaissance's valuation data please forward it at your convenience.
3) Problems with work provided by Mr. Looijenga.
This is the first time Renaissance has heard of a problem with Mr. Looijenga's work.
Neither during application intake, plan review, nor site inspections did any City employee find fault
with submitted information. Erickson Heights is a Planned Urban Development. The City knows,
has inspected, and approved of the topography of this lot. The pool application was reviewed by
Bob Hoskins. At that time he was the Senior Plans Examiner. If something wasn't to his
satisfaction I'm certain he would have noted it. The rebar inspection was preformed by Jason Fields
and the final inspection by Tom Plescher; two more City officials who found nothing abnormal with
the pool or site.
1672 SW Willamette Falls Drive • West Linn, Oregon 97068 • 503.557.8000 • Fax 503.656.1601
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There appears to be an insinuation that the pool is in located on loose fill dirt. If that is your
contention, it is completely erroneous. Engineered fill was used during the subdivision
construction. The final Geotech report states that 10832 SW Kable has 1 -2' of loose fill over the
structural fill. The structural fill was approved by Mike White in the City's Engineering
Department.
Engineered fill is often better then native soil. Native soil can have varying compaction and
density which will affect soil bearing capacity. Engineered fill has been systematically placed and
tested to provide a known bearing load. While native soils often are assumed to hold 1500 lbs/sqft,
engineered soil hold two - thirds to double that. A 9/24/99 Geotech's report shows this lot as being at
99% compaction behind the boulder retaining walls; with 92% being the standard. With a year of
seasoning between the ground work and the pool construction, the ground did nothing more than
continue to harden and compact. The pool was dug into engineered fill which at that time, most
likely, had a compaction rating of 100% and excellent soil bearing capability.
4) Alleged non - conforming retaining walls built without permit.
The retaining walls for Erickson Heights 1 -10 were reviewed, inspected, and approved as
part of the grading plan for the P.U.D. Carlson's Testing provided necessary testing data and the
City's Engineering Department approved all work. A portion of the Final inspection for the home
was Site. Again a City Inspector found nothing abnormal with the grading, or retaining. As the
walls in question were permitted and approved I see no possible violation.
Much of the above information should be in the City's records. Certainly problems will and
do occur; as always, Renaissance and the City of Tigard will work together to resolve them.
However, enthusiasm is dampened when issues are poorly researched and simply say violation,
violation, violation. If you have further questions or issues, I'll continue to research and respond as
rapidly as possible.
Sincerely;
Travis H Brooks
Renaissance Homes
For Robert D Wood, VP of Construction
Cc: Ron Nelson
Dirk Looijenga
George Otten
Robert Wood