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Approved 11/19/14 <br />Jeff Charles: What is the limit of length because of the pressure issue? <br />Elizabeth Gregory: You can go as far as you want. We have learned who helps us the most with this issue is the <br />insurance company. They tell them it is important to have a driveway large enough to get a fire truck down. Also, <br />there are problems with ambulances as a safety for both the patient and the workers. The biggest complaint we hear <br />from fire departments is access. <br />Abigaile Pittman: What are some typical widths of the fire trucks and ambulances? <br />Elizabeth Gregory: The ambulances are 12 foot. Fire trucks are usually that size but a latter truck is wider. <br />Abigaile Pittman: What is the width of the ladder truck? <br />Elizabeth Gregory: I am not sure. <br />Abigaile Pittman: We have a related issue that you may be able to comment on. There are types of subdivisions that <br />are exempt from the county's subdivision regulations. The staff would like you to discuss doing away with the Class <br />B roads and only allow Class A and to develop a requirement that newly created lots have access to a compiling <br />road. <br />Jeff Charles: This is all new construction. <br />Abigaile Pittman: To allow reasonable and affordable options for small subdivisions, staff suggests consideration of a <br />revision that may allow three lots to share a driveway as long as they are designed so the emergency service <br />vehicles can turn around and it is not longer than a certain determined number of feet. There would have to be <br />discussion as to what that number is. <br />Elizabeth Gregory: A lot of it has to do with if it is a 20 -foot wide road, or if it has a hydrant and it should be 26 feet <br />wide. What we ask for is a 96 -foot radius because a fire truck does not run like a car. The money for fire trucks and <br />ambulances comes from the tax payer. <br />Jeff Charles: How do you approach the condition of the surface for turning around? <br />Elizabeth Gregory: If you hit bumps in the road in an ambulance and it costs $250,000. That makes a difference. <br />Jeff Charles: Over the coming years, there will be more of the Tobacco Trail situations where you need emergency <br />services, not a fire truck. Maybe we should add a fourth item of concern to staff's list about emergency access to trail <br />systems. I am recommending you think about that. <br />Paul Guthrie: I was comparing the Fire Code in Appendix D with the local ordinance and why is there a disconnect <br />when the Fire Code requires a much greater capability than this. <br />Abigaile Pittman: We connect with the NCDOT standards for the Class A roadways. <br />Paul Guthrie: As Ms. Gregory mentioned regarding turn around, there is no way a fire truck could make use of that <br />turn around. <br />Abigaile Pittman: I think it would tough to change the Class A since NCDOT has this adopted 18 -foot standard. <br />Ted Triebel: I think the action you are asking for tonight is for us to suggest to the Board of County Commissioners <br />that it is time for review these standards. <br />Abigaile Pittman: We are not asking you to decide what those standards are but to tell the BOCC what you think the <br />issues are they need to have staff review them and bring back more detail. <br />