11-30-04 Specail Called Meeting of the La Porte Fire Review Board Minutes

Browse Search

5. CONSIDER APPEAL # 04-05 REQUESTED FOR PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AT 9601 FAIRMONT ADJACENT TO THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. APPEAL IS IN REFERENCE TO DECISION BY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO INCREASE BUILDING OCCUPANCY LIFE SAFETY CODE 8-3.5.1, NFPA 101 AND REFERENCE TO DECISION BY FIRE MARSHAL TO REQUIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM BE INSTALLED PER ORDINANCE 603.15.9. THIS APPEAL IS BEING SOUGHT UNDER THE TERMS OF SECTION 105.3 OF THE SBCC11994ed. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Deputy Fire Marshal Philip Creamer reviewed Appeal Request # 04-005 (appeal #04-003 & appeal #04-005 are the same appeal) as outlined. The applicant has requested an Appeal to the Fire Marshal's decision to require installation of a sprinkler system for increase of occupant load in the new family life building of the First United Methodist Church located at 9601 W. Fairmont Parkway. PROPONENTS Alan Balius and Scott H., Representatives of the SLI Group, addressed the Board. They are working with the First United Methodist Church on the planned construction. They wanted clarification that the church could occupy the new family life building with more than 300 people and not have to install an automatic fire sprinkler system due to them winning the first appeal. Their presentation was outlined in a slide show. The Pastor of First United Methodist Church spoke on the appeal by SLI and on the original proposal to keep the occupant load below 300 to keep from sprinklering the building. He apologized for any misrepresentation that may have been interpreted. OPPONENTS No Opponents Deputy Fire Marshal Philip Creamer reiterated the following: · The new building will be 11,010 S.F and when combined with the old church will be 30,000 S.F. total. · All Class A assemblies have to be sprinklered per city ordinance. · Per 1997 Life Safety Code - NFPA 101, assembly occupancies with occupant loads of greater than 300 shall be protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system. · The new building and the existing building could total way more than 1000 people being in the combined church. The board reviewed amongst the previous appeal ruling. Then they discussed if they needed to make a motion or rule in the appeal based upon what was originally appealed. The board decided that they did not have to vote on the appeal and the since the original appeal had allowed the construction without a sprinkler building based upon the city ordinance. So the First United Methodist Church is able to occupy the new family life building with more than 300 people but less than a 1000.