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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01171989 - 2.12 i 2. 12 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on _January 17 , 1989 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers , Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Construction at 291 Arlington Avenue, Kensington The Board on December 13 , 1988 continued to this day its consideration of the request of S. Rastegar, Kensington, for investigation of a construction project that adds square footage to a commercial building at 291 Arlington Street, Kensington. The Board received a status report, dated January 13 , 1989 , from Fred Fung, Senior Structural Engineer of the Building Inspection Department, noting that the Building Inspection Department is continuing a stop work order on the construction site because on safety concerns . Harvey Bragdon, Director of Community Development, advised that his Department has received additional information on the project which needs to be evaluated. He requested continuing this matter to January 31, 1989 . The Chair noted that he had several requests to speak on this matter. It was agreed that the Director of Community Development would try to get in contact with the speakers as to the findings of his investigation. Board membersbeing in agreement, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that this matter is CONTINUED to January 31, 1989 . Hereby cortifys tP,at this is a true and corrTc'^cpy of an action teen and entered on dile minutes of lbe Board of Supervisors on the date showin. ATTEST i,: J7 - 1— PhiiL B CHEL0R, Jerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator cc: Mr. Rastegar 272 Amherst Avenue By �� � �� , Deputy Kensington 61 ell Director, CDD Director, BI County Counsel -w CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT Inter - Office Memo TO: Board of Supervisors Date : 1/13/89 FROM: Fred Fung, Senior Structural Engineer SUBJECT : Status report on proposed construction at 291 Arlington Avenue, Kensington Building permit #146859 was issued on August 24, 1988 for the proposed construction. The foundation is partially done . There is currently a stop work order placed on the remainder of the construction by the Community Development Department and the Building Inspection Department. We have informed Dr. Thal, owner of the proposed construction, that the Building Inspection Department's portion of the stop work order will remain in• effect until a proper engineering investigation and possible repair on a retaining wall are done . The retaining wall in question is located between Dr. Thal 's lot (291 ' Arlington Avenue) on the downhill side and Mr . & Mrs . Rastegar' s lot (272 Amherst Avenue) on the uphill side . The retaining wall is approximately 20 feet high and is approximately 2 feet away from the proposed construction on Dr. Thal's lot . On December 5 , 1988 , Mr. William Nelson, Supervisor Inspection Services , and I visited the construction site. The retaining wall appeared to consist of 3 distinct portions . The bottom portion, roughly 14 feet in height, appeared to be the original concrete retaining wall . The middle portion, roughly 4 feet in height, appeared to be an extension constructed at a later date. The top portion, roughly 2 feet in height, appeared to be an even later extension . There was a moderate crack on the right side of the retaining wall (looking uphill) . The crack appeared to be a fairly old crack . We could not find any evidence to indicate that the constructions of the 2 extensions were preceded by any strengthening of the retaining wall then in place. Consequently, the retaining wall may be grossly overstressed because of the 2 extensions . According to Dr. Thal , his surveyor has determined that the retaining wall is entirely located in Mr. Rastegar's lot at the ground level , but the wall is only partially in Mr. Rastegar's lot at the top of the wall . This indicates a leaning and possibly overstressed retaining wall . The stop work order by this Department is based on consideration that if the retaining wall should fail , lives and properties in its vicinity will be in jeopardy.