03 ATTACHMENTS - Laserfiche WebLink

DRAFT months, which should allow for enough time to process the background check. He requested six months to run his after-school program and get some business. Commissioner Fox referred to the E occupancy, stating it would require atwo-hour fire- rated wall between the existing and the adjoining tenant spaces, as well as a supplemental fire sprinkler system. Mr. Dolan stated that there are some subtle differences and noted that Mr. George Thomas, Chief Building Official, would address these. Commissioner Fox inquired what the timeframe is when plans would need to be submitted to the Building Division for tenant improvements for an E-Class occupancy. She further inquired how the skylight would affect the ability to put additional sprinklers in. Mr. Thomas stated that the building code allows a variety of options for complying with an E-Class occupancy and that an E occupancy does not trigger the need for fire sprinklers. He noted that the entire building is less than 14,500 square feet, which is the maximum area the Building Code allows for an E occupancy within anon-sprinklered building. With respect to the two-hour fire wall, Mr. Thomas noted that under the prior Building Code, the requirement was aone-hour fire separation wall; the new 2007 California Building Code is more restrictive and requires atwo-hour fire wall. He noted that the building has an existing one-hour fire wall in place. Mr. Thomas stated that there are additional options in the new Code. He indicated that one of these alternatives is anon-separated use, in which the entire building rather than just the project site is evaluated for an E occupancy and providing the most restrictive requirements of that particular occupancy throughout the building; this would not require upgrading the fire rating wall to two hours. Mr. Thomas added that there are exiting requirements and that he has reviewed these with Mr. Pfund and the building owner. With respect to how long it would take the Building and Safety Division to approve the building for E-occupancy, Mr. Thomas stated that Mr. Pfund would have to submit drawings prepared by a California licensed architect or engineer. The City has the ability to expedite a review within athree-to-four-week period, if requested by an applicant, for an additional fee. Commissioner Fox inquired if the Units A, B, C, and D would need to be upgraded or just Unit A. Mr. Thomas replied that the methodology is that if the wall is not going to be changed to a two-hour wall by adding another 5/8-inch sheetrock on both sides, then the entire building would need to be evaluated for occupancy. He noted that the real ramifications would only be to provide a manual and an automatic pulsations throughout the entire building, which requires running wiring. Commissioner Fox inquired whether the guns referred to in the Dublin memo were loaded or unloaded and if they were the mock guns used in training. Mr. Pfund replied the guns were unloaded, locked, and totally out of view. He stated that he had to bring DRAFT EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 11/12/2008 Page 9 of 25