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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes August 16, 2005 Page 10 1 2 7.4 Variance to Allow Gas-Fired Grills on Balconies— Silver Lake Townhomes 3 4 Chair Stromgren opened the public hearing at 8:01 p.m. 5 6 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated that the applicant is requesting a variance to the City's ordinance 7 1325.12 that does not allow open flames on balconies of multi-family structures. She stated that 8 the Silver Lake Home development is asking to be allowed this variance so that they may install 9 gas grills on the balconies of the multi-family units of the Silver Lake Homes project. She 10 explained that the gas would be plumbed to the balcony area for the gas grills and that they plan 11 to install fire suppression systems over the balcony grills. She reviewed the current City code 12 with the Commission noting that the State Fire Code does make some allowances for electric or 13 gas-fired grills provided that they are wired or plumbed to the building's electric or gas supply. 14 She stated that Commissioner Hoska had requested that she verify information about balcony 15 grills are being allowed on the new Mainstreet development in the City of New Brighton adding 16 that she has received an email from their City Planner indicating that he has not been able to 17 discuss this with their Fire Chief. She stated that he did receive a message from Mr. Lamont 18 about special powers to approve gas grills on balconies and Mr. Lamont's response stated that 19 Cities could be more restrictive than the State's requirements. She stated that he also searched 20 their Chapter 7 on buildings and their Chapter 9 of fire prevention and code and did not find 21 anything but he did promise to provide more information if necessary. 22 23 Ben Shardlow, Pratt Development, stated that he was present at last months meeting and at that 24 time several members of the Planning Commission had questions about the design, noting that he 25 reviewed several design examples with the Commission.' He stated that he reviewed the natural 26 gas line locations, the balcony layout where gas line comes in and the sprinkler head locations in 27 proximity to the gas line head with the Commission. He stated that as far as the mechanics, the 28 information provided from the sprinkler subcontractor indicates that the temperature setting 29 would be at the lowest possible level, 165-degrees. He explained that the sprinkler head has a 30 fusible link and is a dry sprinkler system, which helps to prevent the pipes from freezing. He 31 noted that the fusible link melts at 165 degrees and that if in the event of a fire the sprinkler is set 32 off, it could only be turned off by a member of the Fire Department with the use of an access key 33 or the water would have to be turned off outside the site. He stated that there is no way for the 34 property manager to be able to control the sprinkler or have access to it. He assured the 35 Commission that this design would be in line with State code noting that each balcony would 36 have a dedicated sprinkler head over the grill. He stated that there is a shared level of 37 enforcement between the property owner, the Fire Department and the City noting that the 38 property management would enforce all requirements at the condos and this specific design on 39 the balconies to ensure that the mechanism fits the State code requirements. 40 41 Chair Stromgren clarified that the sprinkler system is triggered by the fusible link with the main 42 valve inside the wall. 43 44 Commissioner Jensen clarified that the sprinkler system uses a dried medium to prevent the pipes 45 from freezing.