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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 231 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS, PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRE LANES; PROVIDING SPECIFICATIONS AND LOCATION OF FIRE LANES; PROVIDING FOR THE MARKING OF FIRE LANES; REQUIRING OWNER OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN FIRE LANE MARKINGS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS: SECTION 1 All multi-family residential structures, other than duplexes; ail shopping centers; al~ public assembly buildings, as defined by any ordinance of the City of The Colony; and, all structures of more than two and one-half stories, shall provide areas to be designated as a fire lane. Such fire lane area shall be laid out along the curb line in front of said structure or, if there is no curb line, then along the front of said structure as the term front is herein defined not more than thirty-five feet from said structure and lying along the entire width or length, as the case may be, of the front of said structure; said fire lane being not less than twenty (20) feet wide at all points and having not less than a forty (40) foot arc radius at any corner. SECTION 2 The Fire Chief shall have the authority to designate fire lanes in the rear of any building required to have a fire lane under the provisions of this ordinance. The Fire Chief shall also have the authority to require fire lanes for any commercial buildings not otherwise required to have fire lanes under this ordinance if, in his professional opinion, there is a need for such a fire lane. SECTION 3 Any fire lane required by this ordinance shall be on a paved surface and be clearly marked on the pavement with an exterior red paint forming a perimeter line of at least four (4) inches in width with the printed legends: "NO PARKING" & "FIRE LANE" in letters not less than one (1) inch in width, white in color and of the same type exterior paint; providing, however, that where the fire lane is adjacent to a curb of four (4) inch height, in lieu of the foregoing legend, said curb may be painted red with said exterior paint and the legends painted on the curb in white and clearly legible. Such legends shall be no more than fifty (50) feet apart. In addition, metal signs bearing the aforementioned legends shall be erected on posts near such fire lane; provided, however, that lack of metal signs where such fire lane is otherwise clearly marked, shall not be a defense to a charge of illegal parking. All signs provided for herein shall conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices as adopted by the State of Texas. If such signs shall be in conflict with such manual, the manual shall be controlling. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to contact the Fire Chief for approval prior to marking of fire lanes. If approval is not received and any discrepancies are found, it is the responsibility of the property owner to have them corrected. SECTION 4 In addition to the above requirements, all multi-family dwellings, including townhouses, but excluding duplexes, shall have a fire lane of the same description located to provide access to the rear not less than seventy-five (75) feet from the furthermost point of any unit. SECTION 5 All fire lanes shall connect at both ends to a dedicated street or be constructed with turn-around areas at the dead-end with a minimum radius of forty (40) feet. The owner or person in charge of such structures shall keep the fire lane clearly marked and signed at all times; provided, however, that where said fire lane is to be upon a public street, the owner or person in charge shall not mark or designate such area, but shall make application to the City of The Colony for such designation and marking. The City shall then designate and mark such area as required herein. Such fire lanes shall not be co-extensive with a loading zone, but loading zones, where required, shall be established in addition to the area designated as a fire lane. No person shall close, abandon, obstruct or deface the markings or indications of a fire lane required by this ordinance without the written permission of the Fire Chief or his authorized representative. No person shall park any motor vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, truck-tractors, or trailers, camp trailers or utility trailers, motorcycles, motorscooters, minibikes, bicycles, boats or boat trailers, recreational vehicles or other impediment of any kind upon or in any designated fire lane in the City. SECTION 6. Fire hydrants located on private property shall be accessible for Fire Department use at all times with such access marked as a fire lane as follows: (a) Fifteen (15) feet on either side of a fire hydrant measured along the curb line or edge of paving nearest the fire hydrant. (b) Three (3) feet additional access for each one foot of distance the fire hydrant is set back from the curb or paved access way where parallel parking is allowed. (c) Four (4) feet additional access for each one (1) foot of distance the fire hydrant is set back from the curb or paved access way where head-in parking is allowed. SECTION 7. The term front as used herein is defined as that portion of the building containing the primary entrance way or ways. In the event a structure contains multiple units such as a shopping center or apartment complex where the separate units thereof front on more than one side of the structure, so much of any side or area of the structure containing a front of a separate unit shall be deemed the front of such structure. In the event a structure has units fronting on an sides, then all sides of such structure shall be deemed a front side. Entrance ways into a mall or area closed to vehicle traffic shall not be considered in determining a front if more than one hundred (100) feet from an area designed for vehicle traffic. The term curb line is defined as a raised portion of a street, drive or parking area separating such a street, drive or parking area from another area such as a parkway, yard or open space not designed for vehicular use. Such curb line may be the curb of a dedicated street and the lane adjacent thereto provided herein may be within such dedicated street provided that the City so designates and marks such area. The term fire lane is defined as a passage way for fire and emergency vehicles and equipment and in addition to the location and width provided herein, is further defined as an area of pavement suitable for vehicular traffic and shall be of a quality not less than the drive area for the structure or remaining portion of a dedicated street, and shall extend to a dedicated street. SECTION 8 The provisions of this ordinance are severable, and should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance be held to be invalid for any reason, such determination shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance. SECTION 9 Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of The Colony, Texas, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for each offense. SECTION 10 This ordinance shah take effect immediately from and after its passage and the publication of the caption as the law and charter in such eases provide; provided, however, that no such fire lanes shall be effective unless and until appropriate markings and signs as required herein are in place. THIS ORDINANCE WA~ DULY PA~ED by the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas on the /-~-~ day of /~tJ~(.X%~1982. APPROVED: / MAYOR ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY' /---A. PPROVED AS T(~. FORM: f-, CITY ATTORNEY