Appeal 33613

D103.2

Fire apparatus roads shall not exceed 15 percent in grade. Intersections and turnarounds shall be level (maximum 5 percent). See Portland Fire & Rescue Design Guide.

Per Design Guide (Angles of Approach and Departure): Intersections and turnarounds shall be as level as possible with the exception of crowning for water run-off which can include slopes up to 5% maximum. Grades on stop-controlled approaches to intersections shall not exceed 5% for an approach distance of not less than 50 feet.

We request allowance for the approach from the public alley to E Burnside Street to be up to 15% in grade within 50 feet of the approach.

The project will construct the alley at a maximum of 15% grade. All proposed structures on the property will be equipped with NFPA 13D sprinkler systems.

The adjacent property to the east, located at 9 NE 94th Ave, has an existing garage which currently accesses the alley. This garage is approximately 30 feet from the approach to E Burnside Street and the edge of its concrete slab is 3.5 feet from the edge of the proposed alley. The existing grade from Burnside to the garage is approximately 15-20%.

Lowering the alley grade to 5% at this approach would result in a grade difference greater than 3 feet between the garage slab and the alley. This would require construction of a retaining wall along the right of way line and leave the garage inaccessible from the alley.

The proposal closely follows the topography of the existing alley and will allow access to the neighboring properties to be maintained.