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Home My WebLink AboutPR 23224: AMENDING RES 85-067 AUTHORIZING IMPROVEMENTS TO A PORTION OF RICE FARM ROAD AND THE RELOCATION OF A BARRICADE CONSISTENT WITH THE FIRE CODE STANDARDS TO PROVIDE FIRE AND EMERGENCY ACCESS P.R.23224 June 26,2023,JCC/PDL Page 1 of 5 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 85-067 AUTHORIZING IMPROVEMENTS TO A PORTION OF RICE FARM ROAD AND THE RELOCATION OF A BARRICADE CONSISTENT WITH THE FIRE CODE STANDARDS TO PROVIDE FIRE AND EMERGENCY ACCESS WHEREAS, on April 16, 1985, pursuant to Resolution 85-067, City Council limited access to Rice Farm Road from the proposed "Willows" Apartment project until such time as Rice Farm Road is improved to full collector street standards; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance Number 18-026, City Council approved an amendment to the Appendix A: Zoning Ordinance allowing for the creation of Planned Development District No. 37 (PD-37) for the development of a Multiple-Family (MF) Townhome development located on Willowood Lane in Port Arthur, Texas; and WHEREAS, the Office of the Fire Marshall has instructed that in accordance with the Fire Code, at least two entrances to the development must be provided to enable access to the new development for fire department and other first responders in the event of an emergency event. This access is not for public use. A copy of this correspondence is attached hereto as Exhibit"A"; and, WHEREAS, Rice Farm Road is a public street within the City of Port Arthur. In accordance with the Fire Code requirements, the Developer has agreed to make improvements to a portion of Rice Farm Road, so that it can be utilized as secondary roadway access as required by the Fire Code; and WHEREAS, in accordance with state law, the City Council deems it in the best interest of the City to authorize the developer to make said improvements to the public road. namely P.R.23224 June 26,2023,JCC/PDL Page 2 of 5 Rice Farm Road consistent with the requirements of Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code; and WHEREAS, in accordance with 212.073 of the Texas Local Government Code, the City will also require the developer to execute a performance bond for the construction of the improvements to ensure completion of said public improvement; and WHEREAS, the City agrees that the street will remain closed to the general public including the residences of the new townhome development, and only allow Fire Department Equipment and/or emergency vehicles to access the subdivision, during an emergency; and WHEREAS, all improvements to Rice Farm Road will be made in accordance with City standards; now,therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: THAT,the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct; and, THAT, in order to facilitate the Fire Code, the City Council hereby amends Resolution No. 85-067 to allow for the relocation of a barricade across Rice Farm Road to accommodate the emergency access as delineated in Exhibit `B", to provide Fire and Emergency Access to the "Willow Lane Townhome" development and further authorizes an amendment to Ordinances 20- 58 and 20-63 to facilitate the improvement of a portion of Rice Farm Road as delineated in Exhibits "A" and `B". Said amendment to Ordinances 20-58 and 20-63 will be presented to the City Council for approval. THAT, upon completion,the City of Port Arthur will inspect the completed roadway and execute a Certificate of Acceptance stating that the improvements met City standards. P.R.23224 June 26,2023,JCC/PDL Page 3 of 5 READ, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED, this day of July 2023, A.D., at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers: NOES: Thurman"Bill" Bartie, Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Valecia R. Tizeno, Esq., City Attorney APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: Ron Burton, City Manager Flozelle Roberts, Public Works Director John Cannatella, City Engineer P.R.23224 June 26,2023,JCC/PDL Page 4 of 5 EXHIBIT 44 77 FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT 300 Waco Avenue, Port Arthur 77640 409-983-8737 2/10/2023 HP Townhomes/Willow Ridge Townhouse development 7800 Willowood Lane Rob Burton, City Manager As we have discussed, the HP Townhome development requires two fire department access roads. The purpose of this letter is to educate anyone involved as to the fire code requirements that pertain to access roads. The City of Port Arthur has adopted the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code and appendices as the current fire code. I will include the applicable fire code sections in this letter. The code requirements are specifically for fire department access and are not required for public use, such as to exit the development. The public entrance to the development is from Willowood Lane. Willowood Lane is not a thru street. Jimmy Johnson Boulevard is the only intersecting street with Willowood Lane. An obstruction, such as a vehicle accident, would prevent any first responders from reaching the development. This would prevent any fire, police,or ambulance response. 2015 Ed IFC Ch. 5 Fire Service Features 503.1.2 Additional access. The fire code official is authorized to require more than one fire apparatus access road based on the potential for impairment of a single road by vehicle congestion, condition of the terrain, climatic conditions, or other factors that could limit access. There are specific requirements for fire department access roads in residential developments. It is relevant to note that this development does not have fire sprinkler systems installed. Multiple-family residential developments(apartment complexes)with more than 100 dwelling units require at least two access roads. One- or two-family residential developments (houses)of more than 30 dwelling units require at least two access roads. These roads must be remote from one another and not subject to being blocked by a single incident. A development built to the construction standards of a townhouse falls within the one- or two- family code requirements.There is an exception to the two-access road requirement in a one-or two-family development if every dwelling unit has a sprinkler system. As the Fire Marshal, it would be irresponsible to allow this development to proceed with only one access road. I base this on the fact that Willowood Lane is not a thru street and, therefore, only has access from one direction. I would apply section 503.1.2 to this project regardless of sprinkler system installation. A true townhouse development does not require a sprinkler system. I stated,"true"townhouse for a reason. Townhouses have specific construction requirements as it pertains to the separating walls between them. Townhouses do not require a fire sprinkler system due to the separating wall specifications. The developer submitted this project as townhouses and was to construct these to townhouse specifications. Townhouses differ from condominiums or apartments as the buyer purchases the actual physical structure and the property that it sits on. I do not believe that the developer was made to divide this property into individual i'% %I .: FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE A PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ri �► 300 Waco Avenue, Port Arthur 77640 �` 409-983-8737 lots. This matter is outside of my scope as Fire Marshal. To my knowledge, the buildings are constructed to townhome code requirements but may not be on individual lots. Also, to my knowledge, the developer is planning to retain ownership and rent these units. Whether this development is considered apartments or townhomes makes no difference on the requirement of two access roads.The size of the development requires two access roads no matter what the development is classified as. Also,a single-access road at Willowood Lane is unacceptable for the safety of the residents due to the limited access to Willowood Lane. 2015 Ed IFC, Ch. 2 Definitions [BGJ DWELLING UNIT. A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. 2015 Ed.IFC Appendix D SECTION D106 MULTIPLE-FAMIL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS D106.1 Projects having more than 100 dwelling units. Multiple family residential projects having more than 100 dwelling units shall be equipped throughout with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads. Exception: Projects having up to 200 dwelling units may have a single approved fire apparatus access road when all buildings, including nonresidential occupancies, are equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2. D106.2 Projects having more than 200 dwelling units. Multiple family residential projects having more than 200 dwelling units shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads regardless of whether they are equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system. D106.3 Remoteness. Where two fire apparatus access roads are required, they shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one-half of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the property or area to be served, measured in a straight line between accesses. SECTION D107 ONE- OR TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS D107.1 One- or two-family dwelling residential developments. Developments of one-or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 30 shall be FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE opt. PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT 300 Waco Avenue, Port Arthur 77640 409-983-8737 provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads. Exceptions: 1. Where there are more than 30 dwelling units on a single public or private fire apparatus access road and all dwelling units are equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the International Fire Code, access from two directions shall not be required. 2. The number of dwelling units on a single fire appa- ratus access road shall not be increased unless fire apparatus access roads will connect with future development, as determined by the fire code official. D107.2 Remoteness. Where two fire apparatus access roads are required, they shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one-half of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the property or area to be served, measured in a straight line between accesses. Plans were submitted in 2017 and 2022 for this project. Both sets of plans proposed two access roads. The plans indicated access at Willowood Lane and a second access road was provided by extending Rice Farm Road to the rear of the development. Both sets of plans were approved by City staff.A copy of these plans is currently held by the Building Code Official if needed for review. 4 Vtr. FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE ....„ ,...,4 PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT 300 Waco Avenue, Port Arthur 77640 409-983-8737 '" 1, ' ' ._ _.......,.._ II--r,"4"-- L.--- ...).X-41_r+ I , ___t_ :_tV--- - .2.. - -..- - 1). t -:,i15 ., ; :TP \ r I r _ 1 if -- ow- ---ail 1 . '' • '' a- 1 It-----3 it----' '--.---' ---;-,-,;,', !.... t ' ' il . c\i?. .: a l't'ult iv.34'4. iVitt 'I 7ri` i.... 1,'4 4W' ' - 1 [1 -Z ,....4-.''' * i' ..,. ,.,. 7,-5 _..,......„,i_ta_14 ' -1 : ' . .. I-..--y2TITYTE—-I ,r.---77----77,7—'',,, la 2,1'':.,, ' 1 •1 '• fltil_ __4i4.,..,,,,,_ >,'9* 3 v*.C.7,,4i IIII lrlY,P.) ,i1C1.9' .. , _ . , .... -- Woki VON i rOki fl i ..........„........... ; ...—... 3 ll - co104°Y41:2_& .1 g ''.::: .';'-'7:''' .•° 11 ' E2357ING SAN.SAM MAEINTXE ,..0.1.5 1 F',..:: k il gni ELEV.A 6.00 i ---- PREPOTEEZURIVP' I 7.'C'C'A'P'SIN110129.307K9-ROD V,,,TRAcro* N ,4 "-.. z' I —- - _WA 121/42 frAr.4-, 1 Iwo sitar BLDG V' I UNIT 1 'UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 I TYPE A2 TYPE AI TYPE At TYPE Al r 44I-I';;,:ifP ' I R4I-42e — PA-CO LOT UNE I Iir4Tet/T2.,. , 20.51 • -.V.,4TIII,,,T4,41, ' • 1-- is ._... I 'g gr,fr.d,', :::04T • - — -II _ .cPdf-*; 1 faajwa r :541.„;;...24„ v 11 ; .1 1 , II 1......-11- ' CSP,-"Ai ' - '• • . .... ---1 I I I 1• I *Al? , -- -.--- --.EILA ,,,,, PROPOsz EPEye!p • I I I , I . 5 WI i '. 1 :• • : is 1 ---....---- I **cpoz,,40. _.40 ir II'4,444**KIADDEA= 5 \ 20.75 1, 1 FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE �SIt � PORT ARTHUR FIRE DEPARTMENT 300 Waco Avenue, Port Arthur 77640 409-983-8737 There are several specifications for the construction of a fire department access road. I'll insert a few of them below. 2015 Ed.IFC Ch. 5 Fire Service Features 503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet(6096 mm), exclusive of shoulders, except for approved security gates in accordance with Section 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches(4115 mm). 503.2.3 Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities. 503.2.4 Turning radius. The required turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be determined by the fire code official. 503.3 Marking. Where required by the fire code official, approved signs or other approved notices or markings that include the words NO PARKING—FIRE LANE shall be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identifi,such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. The means by which fire lanes are designated shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility. 503.6 Security gates. The installation of security gates across a fire apparatus access road shall be approved by the fire chief. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed, and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F 2200. It is my understanding that the developer has the intention of installing a security gate across the access road at Rice Farm Road. This most likely could be accomplished in a code compliant manner. As of the time this letter was produced, I have not received a proposal specifying what type of gate or the exact location of installation from the developer. If there are any other questions I can assist with or you need further information please contact me. L. P. Washburn Fire Marshal Office: 409-983-8737 paul.washburn@portarthurtx.gov P.R.23224 June 26,2023,JCC/PDL Page 5 of 5 EXHIBIT G 77 OSEGUEDA JOSS E DO THIEN VAN& W THE WILLOWS LTD CORMIER LILI M >- } W C7 Q./ - Exist.Temporary RICE FARM Proposed ' Barricade Do Barricade �Z m Cry v N m T� z vti 'i rn p f � r } 1 PROCTER BAPTIST CHURCH H&P ENGINEERING&CONST INC `t O 0 O W O 2 NGO DUC N 0 O J 0_ Cn I I I I PROCTER BAPTIST CHURCH WRIGHT SHIRLEY A PSS DEVELOPMENT LTD J&J PLAZA LLC ) JIMMY JOHNSON JIMMY JOHNSON _ - H o = Y LIFE CHURCH 1 Q C J