HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM Letters / Memos - 9/25/2007 F9/25/2007) awn Twiddy-Grapeview Fire Hall Kitchen Project Page 1
From: "Kent/Jan Hillesland"<kentnjan@silverl ink.net>
To: "Dawn Twitty"<dawnt@co.mason.wa.us>
Date: 9/25/2007 1:43 PM
Subject: Grapeview Fire Hall Kitchen Project
Here is the letter sent to Lynda in July. The letter also refers to supporting documents so I am enclosing
those also.
Jan Hillesland, Manager of Kitchen Project, Grapeview Fire Hall, District#3
#1
TO: Lynda Ring Erickson, Mason County Commissioner
FROM: Grapeview Community Association
DATE:July 29, 2007
We request your assistance in resolving a dispute with:the Planning Department. In February, 2005,we
were granted permit COM200500023 to enlarge and remodel the Grapeview Firehall. The original drawing
as approved, specified sliding glass doors from the meeting-rooffi to the patio. On October 24, 2006,the
plans were revised to convert the meeting room to a kitchen. On 1/03/07 the project received a Certificate
of Occupancy(also known as passing final inspection). However, this approval was contingent upon Fire
Marshall approval. The Fire Marshall specified two requirements: 1) install alarm activitated service
disconnect on fixed cooking appliances, and 2)replace the sliding glass doors with hinged doors which
swing outward.
We appealed the hinged door requirement since the sliding glass doors were approved as a part of the
j original permit. The appeal was rejected by Debbera Coker, Craig Haugen and Larry Waters. What
recourse do we have when we construct the building as permitted and then are told we have to change it?
Because it will be very expensive to replace this door, add a covered porch, and modify the patio,we don't
want to do it unless there is no other option. It should be noted that the kitchen has two other exits; one to
the main meeting room and one to the Day Room.We understand that only one exit is required. To
remove the door altogether and replace it with a blank wall or a window would also be costly and would
prevent convenient access to the patio.
Is there no other option?We don't mean to sound overly critical but the department has this"my way or
the highway"attitude.They come off like they are never wrong and shouldn't be challenged.Well, they
may make a mistake now and then, and when they do it would be refreshing if they would be helpful to
their customers in finding cost effective solutions. Is there anyone out there who is an advocate for the
customer?
Attached are copies of the recent e-mail messages concerning this issue. We would appreciate your
review and comments on this problem. If necessary,we request a variance for the sliding glass doors.
If you require further details, please contact Jan Hillesland at 275-4542.
Louise Okonek
j President, GCA � L'.�' ��1$ 0 Zj 3
#2 � 4
I!, DATE:June 27, 2007
TO: Ms. Barbara Robinson
(9/25/2007)pawn T. -Grapeview Fire Hall Kitchen project Page 2
Director of Community Development
P. O. Box 186
Shelton,WA 98584
FROM:Janice L. Hillesland for the Grapeview Community Association
RE: MCFD#3 kitchen
On June 21, 2007, 1 requested via e-mail a Fire Marshall inspection of the enlarged and renovated
Grapeview Fire Hall (COM 2005-00023). 1 received no response, so on June 251 called Ext. 355 and
requested a return call-still no response. On June 26 1 sent another e-mail to the Fire Marshall and, as of
this date, he has not responded. I am concerned because we don't want our permit to expire. Our last
inspection was on 1/03/07 by Robert Shaw. On that date he signed off on the final,with the condition that
the Fire Marshall sign off as required.
To our knowledge,the Fire Marshall has never completed an inspection of the kitchen. The kitchen,which
was not a part of the original project,was approved on 10/24/06 as a revision to COM 2005-00023. It was
complete when Robert Shaw finaled the building on 1/03/07 and the Fire Marshall inspection was
requested shortly thereafter.We heard from one of the volunteer firemen that he was called away on an
emergency before completing the inspection. Before leaving he voiced concern about"an opening in a fire
wall", and stated that we needed alarm activated disconnects on one or more cooking appliances.
We are hesitant to proceed based on hearsay.We would prefer a written Correction Notice listing all
requirements for the kitchen and any other part of the project.We would also like to be present during the
inspection if possible.
Please note that even though this work is being done on a MCFD#3 building, it is being entirely managed
and mostly funded by the Grapeview Community Association.Therefore we ask that any deficiencies be
brought to our attention.
We are anxious to satisfactorily complete the project and look forward to working with the Fire Marshall.
Janice L. Hillesland
For the Grapeview Community Association
#3
Craig Haugen:
1 Thank you very much for your response.
As you stated, the kitchen was not included in the original project.This is because there was not adequate
funding for it. However,from the beginning it was always our plan to convert the room identified as the
"Meeting Room"to a kitchen. Larry Waters can attest to this. During the course of construction the
"Meeting Room"was fitted with hot and cold water,waste lines, gas piping, lighting,fire alarm and all
electrical circuits for the future kitchen.All of these systems were inspected and approved. Late last year,
when funding was obtained,we submitted plans to convert the"Meeting Room"to a kitchen. Those plans
were approved on 10/24/06 as a revision to COM 2005-00023.
On 1/03/07 Robert Shaw conducted a final inspection of the entire building including the kitchen and
signed off with the stipulation that Fire Marshall sign-off was required.
Your e-mail states that we need to address two items in order to obtain our certificate of occupancy. First
9/25/2007),Dawn T.widdy-Grapevew Fire Hall Kitchen Project Page 3
is the matter of an alarm activated service disconnect for: (1)the gas supply to the cook stove/oven and;
(2)the electrical supply to the second oven.We will proceed with this work.Any information you can
provide regarding design and specifications for these systems would be appreciated.
The second item concerns what you refer to as the"non-approved sliding glass door(s)". These doors
were shown on the original plans as approved in February 2005 and we therefore ask that your
requirement to replace them be removed.
Please note that even though this project involves modification to a MCFD#3 building, it is being entirely
managed and mostly funded by the Grapeview Community Association whom 1 represent.Therefore,we
ask that you communicate with us on these matters rather than the fire district staff.You may contact me
or Kent Hillesland at 275-4542.We would like to be present at any future inspections.
f If you deem that it is unnecessary to inspect the building at this time,we ask that you grant us a six month
extension. Otherwise, our permit expires on 7/03/07. Please advise.
i
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