Marion wants fire lanes for new construction

Marion wants fire lanes for new construction

Fire Department access a necessity, says chief

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion may soon require new hotel and commercial buildings to have fire lane access around the entire property.

Fire Chief Woody Wheeless brought up the issue to the city council and pointed to the new Fairfield Inn by Marriott that is being built in Angelo’s Grove which doesn’t have access to all sides of the building for rescue vehicles to get to in the event of an emergency.

Wheeless urged the council to pass an ordinance making that a requirement for all future projects.

“I’d like to see you be proactive so if somebody is going to build we won’t have this issue,” Wheeless said.

Mayor Frank Fogleman agreed and said the city is already working with the developer to address the issue at the hotel.

“I think Woody has a great point,” Fogleman said.

“I’ve spoken with (Kenny) Farrell and he is working on getting us an easement on the adjoining lot at the rear of the property for a rescue lane. So this one is being resolved.”

Many cities require hotels and commercial properties to have access on all four sides of the site. Marion does not have that requirement but still must sign off on all site plans.

The city allowed the Hampton Inn to be built with no fire access at the rear of the property and signed off on two new hotels in the development which also did not have access all around the site.

The new Best Western Inn also was approved by the city without having access to all sides of the property, but rescue vehicles can get to it through the Colton’s Steak House parking lot.

The city is working on an agreement with Farrell which would grant similar access to the Fairfield Inn by Marriott through a yet to be built parking lot for a future restaurant which will abut the hotel.

Farrell has agreed to give the city a temporary 20 foot easement and build a heavy duty asphalt lane for fire and rescue access.

“We have a site behind there that will eventually be a restaurant with a parking lot all the way around,” Farrell said. “We agreed to put in part of that parking lot to solve that problem because the city already approved the site plan. It’s to give access so a fire truck can get to all sides of the building in case there is a rescue needed at the backside of the building.”

Farrell said he would support the city enacting an ordinance requiring rescue access on all sides.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Farrell said. “It’s important especially if you have a hotel where people sleep. If it’s a grocery store or a business that is not open 24 hours a day — it is still important to rescue someone — but if people are sleeping and it’s a multistory building, it is important to have access from the back of the building.”

Councilman Cliff Wood asked whether the lane will be paved.

“Are we going to require that it be hard surfaced so it will hold up to a fire truck?” Wood inquired.

Wheeless said Farrell agreed to put a 12 inch crushed gravel surface down first which exceeds standards with the understanding that it will be paved at a later time.

“There will be enough stone down there to support the weight of the truck,” Wheeless said. “He is putting down a greater than necessary base. It won’t be asphalted over. But it will be anticipated that whoever acquires the lot in the future will asphalt it and it will be used for parking for businesses only.”

By Mark Randall