AgdaPkt 2013-12-09 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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4.4.B. - Page 26 5. Topographical: The topographical element, as would be expected, is closely associated with the geographical element. With elevation changes in the City, development is of a geographical concern. With these changes development is, of course, following the path of least resistance; thereby creating a meandering pattern. This does not lend itself to a good systematic street and road layout, which would promote easy traffic flow. It has, in fact, resulted in few major cross-town thoroughfares, which tend to be heavily congested, primarily during commute hours and seasonal periods of the year. "Pass-through" vehicular traffic in the cities, such as the areas of the Alameda de Las Pulgas, Woodside Road, Edgewood Road, and EI Camino Real. This increased commute time increases traffic for eastbound and westbound vehicular movement to US 101 and Interstate 280. This creates barriers, which increases the response time of fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles. The topography of the city is also being burdened by major structures. Employment areas are throughout the city, and the people who work in these complexes have added to the traffic congestion throughout the cities, thereby increasing fire apparatus response times. Inherent delays caused by the traffic patterns to many of these types of projects make it necessary to mitigate this problem by requiring additional built-in automatic fire protection and detection systems that provide early detection and initial control of fires until the arrival of the fire department. As a result of above identified climatic, geographical and topographical elements, additional requirements as specified in the amendments to the adopting ordinance for the 2013 California Fire Code by the City are considered reasonable and necessary modifications. The experiences of several disastrous urban-wildland interface fires within Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Monterey and Contra Costa Counties have demonstrated the need for other fire protection features/regulations. While it is clearly understood that the adoption of such regulations may not prevent the incidence of fire, but the implementation reduces the severity and potential loss of life and property of these fires which do occur. 6. Conclusion: Local climactic, geographical and topographical conditions impact fire prevention efforts relating to the spread, acceleration, intensity, and size of fire involving buildings and vegetative areas in this City. Further, they impact potential damage to all structures, from earthquake and subsequent fire. The City Council finds it is needed and necessary to modify the building standards set forth in the state codes in order to mitigate the effects of the above conditions. ATTY/RES0.2932/BUILDING&FIRE CODE FINDINGS REV: 12-04-13 JS Page 3 of 4