Appeal 34975

2902.1 Minimum Number of Fixtures

2902.1 Minimum Number of Fixtures

Plumbing fixtures shall be provided in the minimum number as shown in Table 2902.1 based on the actual use of the building or space. Uses not specifically listed in Table 2902.1 shall be considered individually by the building official and shall reflect the use of the space being served by the fixtures. The number of occupants shall be determined by this code.

NOTE - Table 2902.1 does not specifically address the proposed use of the building in question, which is the storage of fire-fighting equipment and the storage and occasional maintenance of fire apparatuses (fire trucks). The building will not be occupied on a regular basis. The owner does intend to construct on ADA restroom in the building in the long term.

We request permission to postpone the installation of the bathroom for a period of 18 months. Specifically, we will commit to obtaining a separate permit for the installation of the bathroom (and the required permits for the septic system required to support the bathroom) within 18 months of the approval of this appeal.

As noted above, the proposed satellite fire station will not be a regularly occupied space. It will store equipment and fire apparatuses. There is an existing fire station on the island, located 18342 NE Sauvie Island Road, which is a 9-minute drive from the proposed satellite facility. During the proposed period of postponement, the occasional users of the satellite building would rely on the bathroom facilities at the primary fire station at the above address. An ADA bathroom will be installed in the proposed satellite facility no later than the timeline described above.

The reason this alternative is being requested is because the federal grant money being used to develop the project will disappear if it not spent on the development of the project within a certain timeframe. Due to the complexities of the site, the current backlog of work in the County Sanitarian's queue, the likely necessity of a non-standard septic system, and the expected lengthy timeline of the County's land-use review, there is serious concern that working through the septic permitting process prior to applying for a building permit will adversely affect the timeline such that the federal funding would be in jeopardy. This would represent a serious loss to the community.

Due to the fact that the building will not have any regular occupants, and due to the relative proximity of bathrooms maintained by the same fire department, we propose that the temporary lack of a bathroom will not significantly impact the health or safety of its users.

The project team has been in contact with the County Sanitarian (Nicole Blais) about the project. In a phone call on 9/17/25, Nicole assured the appellant that, in the event that a standard septic-field system is not allowable for geological reasons, a septic holding tank would be a permissable alternative, provided that the amount of effluent generated in the building is less than 200 gallons per day. The building will generate far less effluent than than the allowable limit.

Thank you for your consideration.