Sunday, June 17, 2001
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Sunday, June 17, 2001 |
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Fire codes impede school building
By MONROE ROARK
The proposed location of a school in a new Fayetteville building has hit a snag due to fire codes. Dr. Greg Alvarez is developing three new buildings at 265 N. Jeff Davis Drive and has contracted with Rising Star Montessori School to occupy the first building on a temporary basis. But he has since discovered that school use requires a stricter fire code than regular business use, and this building does not meet those requirements. Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones reported Wednesday night at the City Council's work session that an specially rated fire sprinkler system would be required in that building, due to its height and other considerations, for the school to occupy it. Alvarez had said that installing such a system would be an extreme financial hardship, and being unable to accommodate the school could subject him to some legal liability. But he added that this arrangement would only be temporary, since the school plans to eventually move into a second building not yet constructed and needs more space than the first building will allow. "It is not the intent of the Fire Department to cause any undue hardships on local business owners," said Jones. "However, we are intent on ensuring the safety of the occupants and the patrons." In an attempt to help find an alternative, since the school would be in the building only temporarily, the installation of an acceptable sprinkler system was suggested, with a number of restrictions, for a maximum period of one year, at which time an evaluation of the progress toward a permanent building would be made. Council members made it clear that their first concern was the safety of the young people who would occupy the building, and a thorough review by the city attorney of the issue as well as input from Alvarez's insurance carrier would be needed for the proposal to proceed. The item was removed from the current council agenda so that the numerous concerns can be addressed.
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