Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island

Decisions - Details

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
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FIRE SAFETY CODE - BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
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DECISION
FILE NO.: 160039
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 401 Victory Hwy (Sycamore Lodge), West Greenwich, RI
APPLICANT: Paul DePace 50 Tootell Road Kingston, RI 02881
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Mixed
DATE OF DECISION: 2016-04-20
As indicated in the file, a hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on March 29, 2016 before a subcommittee of the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, pursuant to RI General Laws Section 23-28.3-5.
	In attendance at the hearing were the following:
COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Richard, Walker and Jackson.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: Deputy State Fire Marshal Wade Palazini of the State Fire Marshals Office.
APPLICANT: Paul DePace and Timothy LaRose.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq.

TRAVEL OF THE CASE

1.	This is an Application for Variance filed under R.I.G.L. Chapter 23-28.3, entitled Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.	The Application was filed by Paul DePace (authorized representative) of 50 Tootell Road, Kingston, RI dated February 11, 2016.
3.	The Application was received by the Board and File  160039 opened on February 26, 2016.
4.	The matter was previously before the Board wherein Decision  110160 was issued dated November 29, 2011.
5.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on March 29, 2016 at 1:00 PM before a subcommittee of the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review.
6.	After all evidence was presented at the subcommittee hearing, a motion was made by Commissioner Richard and seconded by Commissioner Jackson to grant the Applicant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote.
7.	The subcommittee recommendations were subsequently presented to the Board for acceptance on April 12, 2016 at which time Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Jackson, Sylvester and Booth were in attendance.  At that time a motion was made by Commissioner Sylvester and seconded by Commissioner Jackson to accept the subcommittee recommendation and grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 5 to 0 vote.

RECORD OF THE CASE

The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  160039 and are pertinent to the decision rendered:

1.	Variance Application  160039 dated February 11, 2016 and filed on February 26, 2016.
2.	State Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated March 4, 2016.
3.	Jensen Hughes plan of action dated February 11, 2016.
4.	Decision  110160 dated November 29, 2011.

EXHIBITS

The following documents were presented at the March 29, 2016 hearing as exhibits:

1.	None.


FINDINGS OF FACT

	Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Finding of Fact:

1.	The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of the February 11, 2016 plan of action compiled by Jensen Hughes.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the State Fire Marshals Office during the March 29, 2016 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the February 11, 2016 plan of action as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Boards findings, such as correction of a deficiency by the Applicant, shall be noted herein.
2.	The building is an existing multiple/mixed (lodging & rooming house and assembly) occupancy.
3.	There is no objection by the State Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS

1.	The Board hereby grants the Applicant a time variance until July 31, 2016 to comply with the work outlined in the February 11, 2016 plan of action.

Any deficiency understood by the Board to have been corrected, which is not so corrected, shall be immediately corrected by the Applicant.  The term approved, as used herein, is understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).

STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS

1.	This Decision represents a comprehensive, integrated plan of fire safety for the above-captioned facility under the above-cited use or occupancy.  Accordingly, every variance granted is conditioned upon the Applicants timely and continued compliance with all of the directives of the Board. Every variance granted is further conditioned upon the continued use or occupancy of this facility under the above-cited classification reviewed by the Board.  (See: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-22).
2.	Failure of the Applicant to initially comply with the full Decision of the Board, within the stated time frame, shall void all variances granted herein.  (See: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-23.)  In the event of complete, timely and continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above cited variances shall be deemed to have vested in the above-captioned facility.  As long as this facility is in continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above-cited variances shall remain with this facility in the absence of any change in use or occupancy mandating review under a separate classification of the Fire Code or a revision of the above-cited classification.  (See: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-24).
3.	Such changes in use or occupancy of this facility, or failure to continually comply with the Boards Decision shall void all variances granted under the above-cited use or occupancy.  If such change creates a new use or occupancy as outlined in R.I.G.L. 23-28.1-6, all variances granted under the original use or occupancy are void and this facility shall be reviewed under the newly created use or occupancy.  (See:  Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-25).
4.	The Applicant may appeal the Boards Decision, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of this Decision, by commencing an action against the State Fire Marshal in the Sixth Division of the District Court.  (See: Fire Safety Code, section 6-2-18).  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].
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