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Sprinkler Law To Be Revised

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 25, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - The city's controversial new sprinkler law is headed back to the drawing board.
City officials plan to rework the ordinance passed last year after tabling a request Monday night to exempt home builder Lennar Corp. from the law, which requires that sprinklers be installed in new construction.

Lennar, the developer behind the 250-unit Eiland Park Townhomes project, argues it should be grandfathered in under the new ordinance because the complex was approved long before the city council passed the law.
City officials had reached an agreement with Lennar's attorneys that would have allowed the Miami-based company to complete the project without installing fire safety devices.

But City Attorney Joe Poblick requested that the council table a decision on the deal until he can fix several deficiencies in the ordinance, approved in September.

The council agreed unanimously.

Initially, city officials had opposed Lennar's exemption request.

They argued that the gated community going up off Eiland Boulevard is only partially constructed and that most of the town homes there haven't been permitted yet.

Those permitted would be exempt from the new law; those yet to be built, or about two-thirds of the project, would have to include plans to install the fire safety devices in units and common areas of homes in the subdivision.

But Lennar's attorneys poked holes in the new law, arguing that it doesn't meet the statutory requirements for a local amendment to the state's fire prevention codes and that the process of appealing for an exemption was flawed.

The ordinance requires all new residential and commercial projects with more than 5,000 square feet to install fire sprinkler systems.

Existing businesses are required by the law to install the systems if they renovate, expand or convert their buildings for other uses.

Affected parties are allowed to file for an exemption.

Lennar's appeal on the sprinkler ordinance represented the first major challenge to the new rule from a developer.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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