Setting record straight on building code quote

I would like to take this opportunity to state a correction to a misquote from Marc Eberlein at a candidate forum which took place last Thursday.

At the forum, Marc mentioned that “he knows an architect who wasn’t thrilled at the decision, but was taken aback when he later learned that the majority of his clients like the change.”

I’ve known Marc a long time and we have had some productive (and lively) discussions regarding the building code debate, and we discussed this briefly two weeks ago again at the Lincoln Day Dinner event. Where we agree is the idea of making the building department review and inspection more efficient and streamlined, with the possibility for homeowner/builders certain opportunities. Where we disagree is the “Opt-Out” choice for all builders, developers and homeowners for all residential structures.

Since the vote for the opt-out option that took place March 20 at the Kroc Center, we have had just over half (six of 11) of our existing residential clients choosing the “opt-out” option (not 10 percent as Mr. Eberlein envisioned). Some of these clients will be building their house themselves, but most will hire a builder.

What is interesting is that the builders are finding the option to build with an “opt-out” project problematic and disconcerting, and at the least unnecessary. Likewise, while we prepare our drawings to code and in the exact same fashion for opt-out clients as compared to permitted clients, we are requiring a series of inspections for the opt-out clients to match what the county would have performed, and if these clients opt-out of this program, we cannot be held liable if the structure is not built per the documents.

Other potential problematic factors are surfacing, such as the home assessment. Instead of using the building permit valuation as the assessed value of the home, the assessor will need to visit the home to assess the value once the house is built. This assessed value could be higher, and make the cost of the building permit a moot point.

What I shared with my friend Marc a few weeks ago is that “time will tell.” I will not be the first to state “This does not work.” What I see so far is an added layer of complexity and problematic consequences, but who knows? Maybe this will become a model for the rest of the state; maybe we will go back to what we had before. I believe the latter, but time will tell …

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Mark Latham of Post Falls is with ML Architect.