Chapter 4 — WILDLAND-URBAN — Corte Madera Municipal Code

Section 402.1.1 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.1.1 Access. New subdivisions, as determined by Central Marin Fire Authority, shall be provided with fire apparatus access roads in accordance with the California Fire Code as amended.

Section 402.2.1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.2.1 Access. Individual structures hereafter constructed or substantially remodeled or relocated into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with fire apparatus access in accordance with the California Fire Code and driveways in accordance with Section 403.

Section 402.2.2 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.2.2 Water supply. Individual structures hereafter constructed, substantially remodeled, or relocated into or within wildland urban interface areas shall be provided with a conforming water supply in accordance with Section 404.

Exception: Buildings containing only private garages, carports, and sheds with a floor area of not more than 120 square feet.

Section 403.1.2 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.2 Width.

All Roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of two ten-foot traffic lanes, not including shoulder and striping and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 15 feet. These traffic lanes shall provide for two-way traffic flow to support emergency vehicle and civilian egress, unless other standards are provided in this article or additional requirements are mandated by local jurisdictions or local subdivision requirements.

All one-way roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of one sixteen-foot traffic lane, not including Shoulders. The Local Jurisdiction may approve One-way Roads.

(1)

All one-way roads shall, at both ends, connect to a road with two traffic lanes providing for travel in different directions, and shall provide access to an area currently zoned for not more than ten (10) Residential Units.

(2)

In no case shall a One-way Road exceed 2,640 feet in length. A turnout shall be placed and constructed at approximately the midpoint of each One-way Road.

All driveways shall be constructed to provide a minimum unobstructed horizontal clearance of 16 feet and a minimum unobstructed vertical clearance of 15 feet. A driveway shall not serve in excess of 2 dwelling units.

EXCEPTION: When such driveways meet the requirements for an access road in accordance with the California Fire Code.

Section 403.1.3 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.3 Road Surfaces.

Road and driveway surfaces shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds and provide an aggregate base.

Project proponents shall provide engineering specifications to support design, if requested by the local jurisdiction.

Surface materials shall be all weather surface that is either A/C paving, concrete, or other materials as approved by the AHJ.

Section 403.1.4 of Chapter 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

403.1.4 (c) Any grade approved to exceed 16% is required to be concrete with transverse cuts or kerf-cuts so as to allow for water run-off and traction. Turf block and similar products are not permitted. The length of that portion of the road or driveway cannot exceed 100 feet, and the section immediately preceding and proceeding that portion of the road or driveway for a distance of 200 feet on both sides shall have grades not greater than 15%.

Section 403.1.6 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

Section 403.1.6 Turnarounds.

Turnarounds are required on driveways and dead-end roads.

Driveway turnarounds shall have a minimum inside radius of 27 feet and outside turning radius of not less than 47 feet. If a hammerhead/T is used instead, the top of the "T" shall be a minimum of sixty (60) feet in length.

Driveways exceeding 150 feet in length, but less than 800 feet in length, shall provide a turnout near the midpoint of the driveway in addition to a turnaround at the end of the driveway. Where the driveway exceeds 800 feet, turnouts shall be provided not more than 300 feet apart.

A turnaround shall be provided on driveways over 150 feet in length and shall be within fifty (50) feet of the building.

Each dead-end road shall have a turnaround constructed at its terminus. Where parcels are zoned five (5) acres or larger, turnarounds shall be provided at a maximum of 800-foot intervals.

Section 403.1.10 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.10 Gate entrances.

All gates shall open fully to provide an unobstructed passage width of not less than 16 feet or a minimum of two feet wider than the approved net clear opening of the required all weather roadway or driveway and a minimum net vertical clearance of 15 feet.

All gates providing access from a road to a driveway shall be located at least thirty (30) feet from the roadway and shall open to allow a vehicle to stop without obstructing traffic on that Road.

Where a one-way road with a single traffic lane provides access to a gated entrance, a forty-foot turning radius shall be used.

Security gates shall not be installed without approval. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. Approval shall be by the Fire Code Official. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times.

Section 403.1.11 is hereby added as follows:

403.1.11 Restricted access. Where emergency vehicle access is restricted because of secured access roads or driveways or where immediate access is necessary for life saving or firefighting purposes, the code official is authorized to require a key access to be installed in an accessible location. The key access shall be of a type approved by the code official and shall contain keys or an approved key switch to gain necessary access as required by the code official.