FILE NO.: 050696
LOCATION OF PREMISES: 77 Havelock Street, Woonsocket, RI
APPLICANT: Mr. Douglas S. Harvey
77 Havelock Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
USE OR OCCUPANCY: Assembly
DATE OF DECISION: 2008-03-14
The above-captioned case was scheduled for hearing on October 23, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. At that time, Chairman Coutu, Vice Chairman Newbrook and Commissioners Pearson, Jackson, Preiss, Blackburn, Jasparro, Filippi and Walker were present. The fire service was represented by Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal David Beaubien of the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Newbrook and seconded by Commissioner Jasparro to grant the Applicant relief as outlined herein. The motion was unanimous.
FINDINGS OF FACT
The numbers of the Decision below correspond with those of a September 14, 2007 inspection report compiled by the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office. The above report was utilized by the Board, the Applicant and the Woonsocket Fire Marshals Office during the October 23, 2007 hearing on this matter. Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the September 14, 2007 inspection report 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.
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, shall be understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in the State Fire Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (the State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals).
CONCLUSIONS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS
1. During the October 23, 2007 hearing on this matter, the Board was advised that the Applicant had developed a floor plan with the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office and that the first floor of this facility would be limited to 299 people. It is the further understanding of the Board that the parties have agreed not to occupy the top floor of this facility until it was fully sprinklered. Finally, it is the understanding of the Board that the parties have developed a seating plan for the top floor of this facility also. In light of the above, the Board hereby grants a variance from the provisions of section 13.3.5.1.1 in order to allow the Applicant to continue to occupy this facility while the sprinkler system is being installed, provided the occupancy is limited to 299 people on the first floor and that the second floor is not occupied until the Applicant has completed installation of the sprinkler system throughout this facility and the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office has approved the installation.
2-3. It is the understanding of the Board that the Applicant has corrected deficiencies 2 and 3 at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Woonsocket Fire Marshal's office.
STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS
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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-17).
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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-18.) 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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-19).
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: Board Rules and Regulations, section 6-2-20).
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. Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [R.I.G.L. 42-35-15(c)].