OCPB agenda 040313 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 e) Gates: Many people have either locked gates or electronically controlled gates at their driveways. This slows down emergency services personnel because they have to dis- assemble the gate when they arrive at the house. There is always a dilemma faced by responders as to how much force should be used. If a house is visibly on fire, then an aggressive approach is not questioned. But for medical or fire alarms, if the emergency was not sufficiently life threatening or if the property in jeopardy was not of sufficient value the gate is carefully disassembled or responders wait for someone to come and open the gate. The purpose of an ordinance here is two fold- to establish liability for gate damage when responders damage a gate, and to require that there be some means whereby responders can have access to a code, lock-box, or some other mechanism that allows them to open the gate. The benefit to the responders is no more conversations about who is going to replace that bolt on the gate. The benefit to the public is they don’t die from a heart attack while responders take the gate apart. f) Bridges on Roads and Driveways: Private bridges must have a capacity of 40,000 pounds, be 12” wide, and use steel for the main beams of the bridge. The deck of the bridge should be above the 100 year flood plain. This allows a tanker with 2200 gallons of water cross the bridge. The benefit to the fire departments is apparatus won’t fall through a bridge. The benefit to the homeowner is no access problems and their insurance company can write a policy. Most insurance companies, if they do an on site inspection, require a letter from the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal stating that the bridge is adequate for fire apparatus. Mortgages require that houses be above the 100 or 500 year flood plain, that often requires a surveyors' statement, so adding the bridge deck to that is a small incremental cost. Home Occupations Comments: The current ordinance limits the number of people who can work from a house to 2 people. The ordinance work for urban and suburban areas, but might limit small businesses or start-ups in less dense areas. The Efland small area plan group wrestled with this, and those discussions are relevant county wide. For the purpose of those discussions, the following exemplary businesses where discussed: Professional Services such as surveyor, engineering, software Professional Services such as accountant Professional Services such as medical services Service industry such as a hair stylist Service industry such as an electrician Service Industry such as landscaping The impact of a home business can be measured in the following ways: 1) Parking for people working at the home. 7