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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: February 25, 2019 <br />TOPIC: Driveways and the Adopted International Fire Code <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Support Staff's Recommendation <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct that Public Works (PW) add language to KCC 12.04.080, Table 4.4 footnote #6 <br />and Community Development Services (CDS) add the same language to KCC 20.02.030. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Adoption of the International Fire Code creates an apparent conflict in County <br />Code at two separate locations dealing with driveways in Kinitas County <br />• Adding clarification language to KCC 12.04.080 (Table 4.4) and to KCC <br />20.02.030 to state that an additional two foot clear zone on each side of the <br />driveway is required. <br />KCC currently requires sixteen (16) foot wide driveways in excess of 150 foot in <br />length. The fire code states 20 feet of unobstructed width. Adding the clear zone <br />requirement provides consistency between all code references. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Recently, staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on apparent <br />conflicts in county code (Fire Code and Driveways). PW staff was directed to consult <br />with CDS and the Fire Marshall, returning to the BOCC with a proposed course of action. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />PW, CDS and the FM all agree the solution is relatively simple, add clarification <br />language to two parts of County Code bringing them into consistency with fire code <br />language. There is no reason to drop the twelve (12) foot driveway width for driveways <br />under 150 foot in length as these are within the allowed fire hose lay length in fire code. <br />One quick solution is to have PW add the clarification language to its access permit <br />application and follow on with a code amendment adding the clarification with KCC <br />20.02.030. Staff believes the BOCC can take action on the PW permit ahead of the code <br />amendment, because the adding the clear zone allows for.compliance with both the <br />International Fire Code and the applicable sections of Kittitas County Code. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />