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HomeMy WebLinkAboutB20-0557 CF Exception Letter (2)B20-0557 Request for Exception to the California Wildland Urban Interface Specifications Building Permit application - B20-0557 - 6226 Woodbury Drive, Magalia, CA 95954 Please reference the site plan that was submitted with the permit application. In particular, we are asking for consideration of an exception to the following section of the WUI: 1276.01. Setback for Structure Defensible Space. (a) All parcels shall provide a minimum thirty (30) foot setback for all buildings from all property lines and/or the center of a road. (b) When a thirty (30) foot setback is not possible for practical reasons, which may include but are not limited to parcel dimensions or size, topographic limitations, or other easements, the local jurisdiction shall provide for same practical effect. (i) Same practical effect requirements shall reduce the likelihood of home - to -home ignition. (ii) Same practical effect options may include, but are not limited to, noncombustible block walls or fences; five (5) feet of noncombustible material horizontally around the structure; installing hardscape landscaping or reducing exposed windows on the side of the structure with a less than thirty (30) foot setback; or additional structure hardening such as those required in the California Building Code, California Code of Regulations title 24, part 2, Chapter 7A. We believe the East side of the parcel is the only side that doesn't meet the 30' setback due to the close proximity to the property line, but we believe it will meet the "practical effect" of the regulations using rock and cement ground cover only between the garage & house and the East property line. The following dialogue should clarify our reasoning. This parcel is on the corner of Woodbury Dr. and David Ct., Magalia, Ca (Paradise Pines Country Club). The home is being designed and manufactured to California Wildland Urban Interface specifications, with WUI compliant siding, roofing, eaves, soffits, fire safe doors and tempered glass windows. Due to the size and shape of the parcel vs. the width of the home and garage, there is not enough room on both sides for a full 30' setback. We have a 10' recreational / utility easement on the East side and a 25' "court" setback on the West side, leaving barely enough room to fit the house and garage between those 2 setbacks. The home was positioned as far back as practical (55') and to the West as close as possible to the County's mandatory 25' setback requirement for a Court. Also note that the home and garage were positioned on the lot to be as "parallel" to Woodbury Drive as possible. • On the East side of the parcel, the East wall of the detached garage will be 10' from the property line. The East wall of the detached garage will have no windows. Nothing but rock will be used for ground cover between the garage and the East property line (10'). No plants of any kind. • The East wall of the house itself will be 20' farther away from the property line, so 30' from the East property line at the front corner and approximately 18' at the rear corner. We will use all rock and cement for ground cover on the East side of the house. If deemed absolutely necessary, we would consider some kind of non-combustible fencing or walls along the East part of the property where there is less than 30' between structures and property lines, but our preference B20-0557 Request for Exception to the California Wildland Urban Interface Specifications is using fire -proof landscaping, rock and cement to mitigate fire progression, which we believe meets the intent of the requirements. • The North side of the detached garage will be 28' from the North property line, with a 28' long by 20' wide cement driveway plus an asphalt encroachment from the road. The North property line is 10' South of the edge of a 30' wide, paved road (Woodbury Dr.), giving us 38' from the front of the garage to the edge of the road (which is essentially a 30' paved firebreak), and another 15' to the center of the road for a total of 53' from the front of the garage to the center of Woodbury Drive. We believe this meets the intent of the requirements. • The North (front) side of the house will sit back 55' from the front property line and we will use fire -proof landscaping for at least 30' from the house, as well as approved single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery, or similar fire-resistant plants used as ground cover. • On the West side, one corner of the house (only) will be 26' from the West property line. That West property line is 10' from the edge of a 30' wide, paved road (David Ct), giving us 36' from the Southwest corner of the house to the edge of the paved road (a 30' paved firebreak). Add another 15' to the center of the road for a total of 51' from the corner of the house to the center of the David Ct road. • The South side of the home (facing the interior of the parcel) will be landscaped to adhere to the same California Wildland Urban Interface specifications with at least 30' of defensible space. All but 2 trees have been removed from our .49 acre parcel. 17 Black Oaks, a Cypress and a Manzanita were all removed and their stumps ground down below grade after the fire, greatly reducing our fire risk. We have read and understand Section 1276.01 and the suggested options to provide the same practical effect. We thoroughly understand and have great appreciation for defensible space and will ensure that this proposed exception does not present any additional fire hazard or risk to our property or the property of others. We sincerely appreciate your consideration of this exception request. 03-24-2020 Respectfully, Steven and Virginia Watts 6226 Woodbury Dr. Magalia, CA 95954 Contractor: Redline Installations Contact: Ruth Jones (530) 891-6719, Ext 216 permit@redIineinstalI.com