The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutZBOA Minutes 1992-12-15 Regular 51 • Regular Meeting Zoning Board of Adjustment December 15, 1992 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Zoning Board of. Adjustment of the City of Friendswood which was held at City Hall on December 15, 1992 with the following members present constituting a quorum: Chairman William H. Taylor Regular Member Dr. Tom Sullivan Regular Member David O'Brien Regular Member Ann Talbot Alternate Member Evelyn Brennan Sign Code. Rnforcement Officer Linda Taylor Assistant City Secretary Lincla Thornton Chairman. Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. *Chairman Taylor and Board. Members voted. -Evelyn Brennan as a Regular member for this meeting. Chairman Taylor called the Public Hearing to order to receive public input regarding request on seeking variance at the corner of Shadwell & Friendswood Dr. , for proposed off ice build i g to exceed 35' maximum height requirement to 80 ' . Zoning Ordinance #84-15, Section 7Q, 3 .b. . Discussion followed, with Mr. Mitch Mitchell of Altair. Development, explaining his request for proposed office building to exceed 35' maximum height requirement to 80' . Fire Chief, Rick McFee, of the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department submitted a letter and. spoke to the Board, supporting the variance pending compliance with the recommendations stated in his letter attached hereto and made a part of. Discussion followed. No one opposed the request. At this time the public hearing was closed. 5 2 * Chairman Hal Taylor made the motion to grant the variance at the corner of Shadwell & Friendswood Drive for proposed office building to exceed 35' maximum height requirement to 80 ' . Seconded by David O'Brien Motion was approved unanimously. * David O'Brien made a motion to approve the minutes of October 27, 1992. Seconded by Ann Talbot. Motion was approved unanimously. * Evelyn Brennan. made a motion to adjourn at 7:30. p.m. Seconded by David O'Brien. Motion was approved unanimously. William H. Taylo Chairm /9 9.f Date gned ATTEST: Linda Thornton Assistant City Secretary /boamin.Doc. 52 - A „.. „...I�. _gym, FRIENDSWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER 1000 SOUTH FRIENDSWOOD DR., P.O.BOX 958 FRIENDSWOOD,TEXAS 77546 FIRE D E P T, BUSINESS PHONE:482-0317 EMERGENCY PHONE 482 7211 MEMORANDUM To: City of Friendswood Zoning Board of Adjustment From: Richard e vw,,. a_______ Fire Chief Date: December 14, 1992 Subject: Request for Variance to Exceed Maximum Height of 35 Feet to 80 Feet - Corner of Shadwell and Friendswood Drive On behalf of the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department and in the interest of fire safety I would like to offer several comments regarding the request for a variance in the maximum height allowable for a building in the City of Friendswood. 41) First let me state that the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department strongly supports the continued growth and economic development in the City of Friendswood. As supporters of this growth we welcome the type of occupancy planned for the corner of Shadwell and Friendswood Drive. While we welcome this type of occupancy we do have several fire protection and safety concerns regarding this specific request for a height variance. The requested 80' height of this planned structure is 50 feet taller than the tallest ladder carried on a Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department pumper. The tallest ladder on our pumpers, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1901), is 35 feet tall. This means that we will be unable to access the roof of this structure or effect rescues from above the second floor, except by the interior, which during a fire situation may not be possible. The City, previous to this planned construction, has not had a building tall enough to warrant the immediate availability of an aerial ladder. This type of apparatus is equipped with an integral ladder with heights available up to approximately 135' in height. The Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department's Five Year Capital Acquisition Plan addresses the need for an aerial ladder of this type, but not until fiscal year 94/95. The estimated cost of the presently planned 75' aerial truck is $385,000. The height of this building would necessitate a taller aerial truck in the 100' foot range at an increased cost of approximately $450,000. At the present time this vehicle is only a recommendation and request and funding by City Council has not been approved. Presently the closest fire vehicle of this type is in the City of Webster and therefore has a 4 response time of approximately 15-20 minutes to an emergency in Friendswood. While the impact of the building's height on the City's present fire protection capabilities is off great concern, I would like to offer some suggestions regarding construction • requirements which would minimize the fire protection and fire safety risks associated with a high life-hazard structure of this magnitude. We would recommend that: 1. The developer/ builder install an approved sprinkler and fire standpipe system in the building on all floors. 2. That the building have installed an approved fire alarm and occupant alerting system with smoke and heat detectors on all levels. 3. Lastly we recommend that all exit stairwells be constructed to provide positive pressure ventilation to allow a safe and smoke free means of egress for the building occupants. Given the builders agreement to include these recommendations in the construction plans for this building we could support the application for a height variance, without such fire protection systems incorporated we would recommend against granting such a variance. Additionally in the future any requests for a height variance which exceeds 40 feet should also include provisions for the listed fire protection systems. We would be happy to discuss our concerns with the Board or the developer in more detail and I am available at your convenience. Thank you for the opportunity to speak 111 this evening.