§ 7-28. Fire lanes on private property.

(1)

For the purpose of this chapter: a "fire lane" shall mean a space, sufficient in width and length to permit the parking of fire trucks and other firefighting apparatus and located nearest to, or at the best location to permit firefighting operations to, a building or structure.

(2)

Fire lanes shall be established and maintained on private property where the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle, or where the public is permitted by invitation or by license to travel by motor vehicle, to the extent that any such lane is necessary for access to buildings by fire trucks or other firefighting apparatus, as determined by the fire chief. Any person owning, or in possession and control of, any such property, including but not necessarily limited to, any parking lot, shopping plaza, shopping center or other commercial, industrial or multifamily residential area, shall establish and maintain such fire lanes through striping, marking and posting of signs.

(3)

After notification by the fire chief or a designee of the necessity to establish 1 or more fire lanes upon a particular property, the owner, or person in possession and control of the property, shall submit 2 sets of site plans for the property to the fire chief, for review and approval of the design and location of the fire lanes. The site plans shall be drawn to scale and shall show all related buildings, driveways, streets and other information necessary to evaluate the sufficiency of the fire lanes.

(4)

Approval by the fire chief, or a designee, of the fire lanes shall constitute authorization for the required installation of official signs prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of motor vehicles within the fire lanes, and posting the lanes as tow-away zones. Such signs and necessary pavement marking and striping shall be furnished and installed by, and at the cost of, the owner or person in possession and control of the property, who shall thereafter be responsible for the maintenance of the signs, markings and striping of the required fire lanes.

(5)

All fire lane signs required by and installed pursuant to this section shall have red lettering, not less than 2 inches or more than 3 inches in height, on a white background. Each sign shall be 12 inches wide by 18 inches in height, and shall be consistent with the manual on uniform traffic control devices of the state department of transportation and Exhibit 18.5 of NFPA 1 (2009 edition).

(Ord. No. 5430, § 2, 12-12-17)