CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Planning & Development Services		Commission Meeting Date:  January 16, 2018
Staff Contact:	Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Adopt Resolution No. 7236, setting a public hearing date of March 6, 2018, pursuant to K.S.A 12-1750 et. seq., to consider ordering the principal building (house) and the accessory structure (shed) at 1512 Oak Hill Avenue to be repaired or demolished.
Executive Summary:		The one-story house is approximately 900 square feet in area and is located on the southwest corner of Oak Hill Avenue and Elmwood Street.  The shed is located within the rear yard of the property and is approximately 130 square feet in area.  Staff believes the house has been vacant for many years.  Staff completed a utility records check with Black Hills Energy, Westar Energy and the City Finance Department (water service) and determined that all utilities appear to be have been inactive since the mid 1990’s. The owner of record is Ronald E. Stalkfleet according to the Douglas County Clerk Office. Staff discussed the property conditions with Mr. Stalkfleet on several occasions in 2017 and asked that he provide a plan of action to rehabilitate or demolish the house. Mr. Stalkfleet failed to provide a plan of action and has not initiated further correspondence with staff.  On December 15, 2017, staff executed an administrative search warrant to determine the full scope of deterioration of the house.  The interior inspection confirmed staff’s suspicions regarding the severity of deterioration which is clearly recognizable in the attached pictures.  It was immediately apparent the house had not been maintained in a safe, habitable, and code-complaint condition for a significant period of time.  Based on staff’s observations, it would be a monumental and an exceedingly expensive undertaking to rehabilitate the house to a code-compliant condition that would allow occupancy.  Areas of severe deterioration that render the house as an unsafe structure include but are not limited to the following: · There are many areas of the foundation that have failed with special concern for the north and west walls, which have large sections that have collapsed. · Roof structural members are most likely compromised and/or rotted due to noticeable deflection as well as visible rotting of the soffit on all sides of the house.  · The ceiling coverings of several rooms have completely failed or have partially collapsed. · The floor system of the room located at the southeast corner of the house has completely failed and has collapsed into a shallow crawl space. · There is evidence (feces) that animals are entering and inhabiting the house. · The mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems were either completely absent or severely compromised. · There were only remnants of a kitchen (cabinets) and a bathroom is absent. In addition to the house, staff inspected the exterior of the shed. The shed’s siding and sill plates/foundation are rotting in several locations.  The shed’s siding is Oriented Strand Board (OSB) which is typically not used as a permanent exterior wall sheathing for any type of structure due to its tendency to flake which leads to moisture infiltration and subsequent rot. The entire west wall is not painted which expedites deterioration as OSB should be sealed and/or painted. It was readily noticeable the shed has not been maintained for quite some time.  It is important to note that the City of Lawrence’s Land Development Code does not permit an accessory structure to be located on a residential lot that is absent of a principal building. In addition, staff verified with the Douglas County Treasurer Office that there are $2,844.99 in delinquent property taxes dating back to 2014.  It is anticipated that a tax sale would occur in 2019, at the earliest, if the delinquent taxes remained unpaid. Due to the conditions described above which have reduced the house and shed to unsafe structures, Resolution No. 7236 is presented for adoption to set a public hearing date of March 6, 2018, at which time any person having any interest in the property may appear and show cause why the house and shed should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished as unsafe structures.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Safe, Healthy and Welcoming Neighborhoods
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		The demolition costs incurred by the City to demolish the structures.   If the City demolishes the structures, a lien for costs incurred would subsequently be assessed against the property in accordance with K.S.A. 40-3901 et. seq.
Attachments:		Resolution No. 7236 Pictures taken on December 15, 2017

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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