Appeal 35092

Appeal Summary

Status:

Appeal ID: 35092

Submission Date: 1/29/26 3:39 PM

Hearing Date:

Case #:

Appeal Type: Building

Project Type: commercial

Building/Business Name:

Appeal Involves: Alteration of an existing structure

Proposed use: Coffee Shop

Project Address: 2953 NE Glisan Street

Appellant Name: Skyla Leavitt

LUR or Permit Application #: Preliminary

Stories: 2 Occupancy: B Construction Type: V-B

Fire Sprinklers: No

Plans Examiner/Inspector: Not yet assigned

Plan Submitted Option: pdf   [File 1]

Payment Option: electronic

Appeal Information Sheet

Appeal item 1

Code Section

2022 Oregon Structural Specialty Code, Section 705.8 Openings

Requires

The maximum area of unprotected and protected openings permitted in an exterior wall in any story of a building shall not exceed the percentages specified in Table 705.8 based on the fire separation distance of each individual story. Maximum 15% allowable area for unprotected, non-sprinklered openings with 10 to less than 15 feet of fire separation distance.

Code Modification or Alternate Requested

At the West attic-level elevation, allow the roof area to be included in the opening area calculation instead of only the wall portion of the dormer elevation.

Proposed Design

Allow the existing, singular West attic-level window opening to remain unprotected. This window is located at the attic level, which will be unoccupied and closed off inaccessible except for maintenance access. The rest of the West elevation is compliant with Table 705.8.

This window is located within a hipped dormer. Most of the attic-level elevation is roof; the only wall portion of the elevation is slightly larger than the window. The wall portion of the elevation is 23 square feet (including the window); the window portion of the elevation is 4 square feet; the roof portion of the elevation is an additional 182 square feet. The West elevation has a fire separation distance of 11’-0”. Per code, only the wall portion of the elevation counts towards the allowable opening calculation. Given the limited wall area of the West attic-level elevation, this yields the window opening as 18% of the elevation, 3% greater than the allowable 15% per Table 705.8. However, with the roof area included in this calculation, the window opening would only be 2% of the West attic-level elevation.

Refer to the attachment for drawings demonstrating the information provided.

Reason for alternative

This project involves an existing R-2 house to be converted to B business use (change of occupancy).
The window is located at a level of the house which will be unoccupied and closed off from regular access. Therefore, leaving the window as an unprotected opening does not pose an increased fire and life safety risk to occupants.

The residential construction style of the 1906 building is designed so that the attic-level is enclosed mainly by the roof rather than exterior walls. When the roof is considered as part of the elevation and included in the allowable opening calculation, the West attic-level elevation easily meets code for allowable openings.

Reference similar appeal 24959 (item 2).

The administrative staff has not yet reviewed this appeal.