HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 12-20 OPH Ltr to Homeowner Re Fire Protection Requirements C.I. OF
OAK PARD HEIGHTS.
14168 Oak Park Boulevard No P.O.Box 2007 Oak Pak Heights MN 55082-2007 Phone.:65.1/439-4439• fax:651/439-0574
•
December 20, 2006
•. :Mr: Chuck Dougherty
15330 N. 58th Street.'
:Oak Park Heights, MN 55082,
• • Re: Fire Protection •
Dear Mr: Dougherty, ;
As we have discussed the City of Oak Park Heights has adopted Minnesota Rules,
Chapter 1306 Special Fire Protection Systems requiring fire protection if the gross floor
area exceeds.8,500 square feet.Infurther review of 1306 I found anexception,which ,
• states that the R-3 occupancy, your'single-family portion of the dwelling, would not:have
to be sprinkled. A two-hour.accupancy separation wall would still be required between: -
your single-family residence and thebed and breakfast. I had further.questions.regarding
this exception and as to what type of fire protection system would be required, so r
- contacted a representative of the Minnesota's Building Codes and Standard for the
answers.- This representative brought these questions to other associates for review and
interpretation of the code and came up.with the following conclusion. •
The Building Code classifies aBed and Breakfast with more than 6 occupants as an R-1
occupancy: (A facility with less than.6 occupants shall be classified as a Group R=3
occupancy.) In their search they found that the State Fire Marshall's had amended the
definition of.theR-1.&R-3 Occupancy Groups in the 2000 International:Fire Code. The.
amendment states a Bed and Breakfast facility containing no more than five guest rooms
is tobe classified as an R-3 Occupancy. With your building having only'four bedroom.
facilities for guests the classification of your Bed and Breakfast would,be an R-3
occupancy, and as such would•not have to be sprinkled. This amend rent is less '
restrictive than the Building;Code and very likely to be changed in the next code adoption •
process.
You have mentioned adding more bedrooms and possibly a conference hall,which would
change the occupancy of this dwelling. With this in mind,.please be advised that should
you expand to more than 5 bedrooms or create a community.hall,the installation of a fire
• piotection system would be required. Without this amendmentfrom the Fire Code your
• Bed and Breakfast portion of the dwelling wouldhave had to be sprinkled and for this
. " reason the City of Oak Park Heights highly recommends that you de install a fire
protection system.
Page 6 of 32 Tree City U.S:A: -
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With the issue of Fire Protection resolved we await Xcel's letter of agreement for an
easement for the driveway. Upon receipt of this letter we will accept and proceed with
the processing of your building permit application. Please contact me if you should have
any further questions.
Lastly, inan effort to clean-up the balance of your file, the City will be preparing an
updated Condition Use Permit document that will incorporate all of your current approve
uses (only listed in meeting minutes) as well as the now contemplated expansion. This
CUP document will need to be signed by you prior to the issuance of any Building Permit
by the City.
-r ,,
•
L.
im Butler
/
` Building Official
i"
CC: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Mark Vierling,City Attorney
Scott Richards, City Planner
Julie Hultman, City Planning&Code Enforcement Officer
Page 7 of 32
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December 18, 2006
In regards to: Your letter of December 14, 2006
Jim Butler
City of Oak Park Heights
Building Department
Dear Jim Butler:
Over the weekend we had Steve Bodurtha, a certified appraiser who has worked for the
City of Minneapolis for over 30 years, measure our house. The total square footage on
the existing house is 3,858. He has also prepared a scale drawing of the existing house
per your request. Our finished total square footage will be under the 8500 sq ft, called
out for in Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1306 —Special Fire Protection Systems.
As for improvements and alterations to the existing dwelling, we do plan, in the future, to
renovate.the existing second kitchen. We have no firm plans for this area and this work
is not part of the present application.. We know and understand that when we do move
forward with this work we will submit the necessary building permit applications.
•
In regards to the property from Xcel,, this is in process within Xcel system; we have no
cont.' over when they will complete their work and grant us the use of their property.
This land has no bearing on our construction and if not granted would only limit access to
out garage space and should-not, in any way, delay our project.
If you have any Gaestions please give us a call at 612.414.0865
•
Sincerely,
eliCi/l.f t V/�
i ._.% ✓
Chuck &.Judy Dougherty
cc: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Mark Vierling, City Attorney
Dave Lindberg, Woodlund IHIomes
Dave Beaudet, Mayor
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