Snohomish County must do more to clear parked cars out of fire lanes in a controversial type of housing development being built in the county, a coalition of fire officials said Wednesday.
Wider roads or more parking spaces are needed in the projects, firefighters told the County Council. Otherwise, they can’t do their job.
“At 3 a.m. when you’re sick, injured or your home is on fire, waiting for a tow truck is not an option,” said Lake Stevens Fire Capt. Perry Putnam, president of his fire union local.
“The firefighters of Snohomish County are calling 911,” he told the council. “Will you answer our call?”
Firefighters and city officials were among more than 100 people who packed the County Council chambers to argue whether stricter rules are needed for single-family homes built on shared property.
Developers are building hundreds of the homes – which some call “air condos” – in unincorporated areas of the county. The projects bypass county rules for open space, parking and landscaping that apply to traditional housing developments.
Firefighters targeted problems they see with 20-foot-wide drive aisles within the developments.
Though the lanes meet the fire code, residents are parking in the lanes because builders aren’t including enough parking spaces, they said.
That’s a predictable problem, and therefore preventable, Lake Stevens Fire Chief Gary Faucett said.
He spoke on behalf of the county’s fire chiefs, fire commissioners and fire prevention associations, who for the first time have united behind a common issue.
“If we can’t get to these buildings and safely do our job, public safety and firefighter safety will be needlessly placed at risk,” Faucett said.
The County Council is considering dozens of proposed changes to the county’s rules and might vote Wednesday.
Several cities are united in lobbying for more open space and landscaping in the developments.
Builders said more county rules mean higher home prices.
“The condominium units are a crucial source of affordable housing in the county,” Pacific Ridge Homes land development manager Lynn Eshleman said.
To tackle parking in fire lanes, county officials have proposed requirements for “no parking” signs and striped curbing. Also, homeowners associations might be given sharper teeth for enforcing those rules.
The “no parking” signs don’t work and enforcement is a reactive afterthought, Fire District 1 deputy fire chief Steve Sherman said.
More parking spaces and wider roads are both needed, fire officials said. Or require developers to install fire sprinklers to buy firefighters the time they need to wind through a neighborhood.
County Council chairman Dave Gossett said fire sprinklers aren’t likely. He said the council plans to vote next Wednesday and he’s confident a solution will be found.
“Before we’re done, we’ll have something that will address their concerns,” Gossett said. “We’ll end up with open space, landscaping, sidewalks and fire issues addressed.”
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
