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09 Staff Report - Ordinance Establishing Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area 9 DATE: COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT January 26, 2009 MEETING DATE: 2/02/09 ITEM NO. TO: FROM: SUBJECT: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER 􀁾􀁁􀀭􀀭 INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA RECOMMENDATION: I) Direct Clerk Administrator to read title of the attached ordinance (no motion required) 2) Move to waive the reading of the ordinance (motion required) 3) Introduce the ordinance to effectuate the Town Code Amendment and instruct Clerk Administrator to publish a sUlmnary and notice no more that five (5) days prior to adoption. (Motion Required) BACKGROUND: On January 30, 2007, the State of Califomia adopted eleven new building codes. Local jurisdictions and municipalities were required to adopt these new codes by January 1, 2008. The Town adopted these codes on November 19, 2007. The new 2007 Califol11ia Building Code (CBC) had a new chapter, Chapter 7A, created by the Califol11ia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) for establishing construction requirements for new homes in wildland-urban interface areas. CalFire has been developing Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps using computer modeling based on vegetation data, topography and potential fire behavior. CalFire's original draft maps consisted of Very High, High and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones but these maps wcrc not available at the time of code adoption. CalFire had expected to provide the recommended Fire Hazard Area maps to local Jurisdictions for adoption early in 2008, but they were unable to meet that deadline. The Town of Los Gatos received the final draft Fire Hazard map on October 16, 2008. Only the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) was recommended for adoption by CalFire. The high and moderate fire areas were left to the local enforcement agencies to adopt if PREPARED BY: 􀁊􀀳􀁾 BUD N. LORTZ, Community Development Director/ANTHONY GHTOSSIiBuilding Official Reviewed by: S. Assistant Town Manager Town Attol11ey __ Clerk Administrator __Finance __Community Development PAGE 2 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA January 27, 2009 deemed necessary. California Government Code Sections 51178.5 and 51179 (a through g) require local jurisdictions to act on the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area maps within 120 Days. DISCUSSION: CalFire's broad objective in establishing the 2007 CBC Chapter 7A and the FHSZ map is to establish minimum standards for materials and material assemblies to provide a reasonable level of exterior wildfire exposure protection for new buildings constructed in a Wildland -Urban interface fire areas. TIle use of ignition resistant matelials and design to resist the intrusion of flame or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire will help mitigate the losses resulting fi'om a repeating cycle of interface fire disasters. Santa Clara County Fire DepaIiment (SCCFD) and the Town reviewed the final draft of the FHSZ map and compaI'ed this map with the previously adopted Hazardous Fire Area Map (HFA). The proposed proposed FHSZ map will moderately expand the Town's existing HFA in most locations; however, the FHSZ would reduce the original HFA in the East area ofTown near Hicks Road, also shown on Exhibit "A". The Town adopted a HFA map years ago as requested and recOlmnended by the Santa Clara County Fire DepaIiment. TIle original HFA map was created by SCCFD with a parcel by parcel site assessment to detennine the boundary. SCCFD and staff have reviewed the boundaries of CalFire's recommended FHSZ map and have determined that some hillside areas were not included in the State proposed map that pose a Wildland-Urban Interface threat due to vegetation, slope and proximity to the FHSZ. Sincc the local enforcement agency has Government Code authority per Section 51179(c) to adopt additional WildlaIld-Urban Interface Fire Area (WOIFA) if deemed at significant risk from wildfires, Staff and the SCCFD have included additional areas as indicated on the proposed WOIFA map, Exhibit "A". The Town of Los Gatos experiences low humidity, high winds aIld warm temperatures during thc summer months creating conditions which are paliicularly conducive to the ignition and spread of grass, brush and struchlre fires. Additionally, the remoteness and steepness of hillside areas in the Town significantly impacts the ability of emergency responders to extinguish or control wildland or structure fires. These factors cumulatively mandate special provisions for the creation of defensible space around homes and ignition resistant construction in the hillside aI"eas. Thcrefore, in addition to the areas determined by the State to be within the FHSZ of the Town of Los Gatos, other areas detennined by the Town to be at significant risk from wildfire are included within the WOIFA. Staff has also identified parcel pockets and fringe parcels that if incorporated by the Town would require Wildland Fire protection, and therefore, Staffhas identified these parcels as pre-zoned WUIFA's on the attached WOIFA map. PAGE 3 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA January 26, 2009 Staff is already requiring confonnance to these requirements for homes within the HFA. Code language was added adopting the 2007 CBC which required confonnance to the Chapter 7A requirements for new homes constructed within the existing HFA. Staff was concerned about a delay in receipt of the FHSZ map and a gap in construction safety of those new homes in the Wildland -Urban interface fire areas. CONCLUSION: Staff and Santa Clara County Fire Department recommend that Council adopt the attached ordinance. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This project is exempt from the provision ofthe California Enviromnental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) because it entails adoption of State mandated Building Codes with minor amendments and will not have as significant effect on the enviromnent. FISCAL IMPACT: None Attachments: I. Ordinance establishing the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area 2. Exhibit "A" WUlFA WUlFA Map Distribution: Dirk Mattern, Deputy Chief, Santa Clara County Fire Department, 14700 Winchester Boulevard, Los Gatos, CA95032 BNL:AG:rndc N:IDEV\CNCLRPTS\2009\W-UIFA09.doc ORDINANCE NO.,__ ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA WHEREAS, the State's Government Code Sections. 51175 through 51189 requires the local agency to designate and adopt fire zones within 120 day of publication; and WHEREAS, the State's Government Code Section 51189(c) allows local agencies to make amendments to the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones with finds of substantial evidence. WHEREAS, The Santa Clara County Fire Department and Town make findings suppOlied by substantial evidence to include areas in the WildLand-Urban Interface Fire Area which were not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State in order to provide effective Wildland fire protection. WHEREAS, The Town Council finds that the Town of Los Gatos experiences low humidity, high winds and warm temperatures during the summer months creating conditions which are particularly conducive to the ignition and spread of grass, brush and stmcture fires, and the remoteness and steepness of hillside areas in the Town significantly impacts the ability of emergency responders to extinguish or control wildland or structure fires, and these factors cumulatively mandatc special provisions for the creation of defensible space around homes and ignition resistant constmction in the hillside areas. THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I The Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area Map, identified as Exhibit "A" Attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is herby designated as the map delineating fire hazard zones for the Town of Los Gatos. N:IDEVICNCLRPTSI2009IW-UIFAORD09.doc 1 ATTACHMENT 1 SECTION II In the event that any part of this ordinance is held to be invalid, the invalid part or parts shall be severed from the remaining portions which shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION III This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting ofthe Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on , 20_ and adopted by the following vote as an ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on ,20_ This ordinance takes cffect 30 days after it is adopted. COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA N:\DEv\CNCLRPTSI20091W-UIFAORD09.doc 2 '. _. !􀁾􀁾i 􀁯􀁾 +:::€ nm"'Tlg01 en Z g-< -.... 􀁾􀁩􀀺􀀡 -0 [§:5 m rL-f ,-􀁉􀁾\ 1Ii I%i 􀁾!'" ,. 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LN RURAL ACCESS FERRIS AV APRICOT LN VENN AV ROBERTS RD PROSPECT AV EDELEN AV RUCKER DR AZTEC RIDGE DR WITHEY RD CHERRYSTONE DR WILDER AV ALMOND BLOSSO M LN STACIA ST COPELAND LN FISHER AV VIA LOMITA TOWNE TR MANZANITA AV VISTA AV TOP OF THE HILL DR ELM PARK WHITNEY AV TOPPING WY CONRA D AV MONTEREY AV GARDEN LN MARIPOSA AV ANNA DR DEER PARK RD BECK AV ROBIE LN DE SOTO DR BECKY LN LONE HILL RD BENEDICT LN CHIRCO DR HAPPY ACRES RD HOSTA LN LU RAY DR INDUSTRIAL WY ZINNIA LN VIA BONITA ALBERT AV MADERA CT PEPPER TREE LN BONNIE LN PLACER OAKS RD BELVUE DR IZORAH WY LAUREL DR GARDENIA WY FOSTER RD RIVIERA DR GRANDVIEW AV DEL ORO DR REGENT DR EMILINE DR NICHOLSON AV BELHAVEN DR GREGG DR KEENE DR S QUARRY RD BANCROFT AV LONGMEADOW DR BLANCHARD DR EUGENIA WY NEW YORK AV BARBARA DR ROXANNE DR KENSINGTON WY JONES RD CAMINO DEL SOL VINTNER WY REDSTONE DR LONGRIDGE RD PENN WY OVERLOOK RD JACARANDA WY OAK KNOLL RD HARLOW WY VIA CABALLERO ARROYO GRANDE WY BELRIDGE DR VIVIAN DR TRENT DR CLELAND AV BACIGALUPI DR BEGONIA DR MUIR DR DECATUR RD KINGHURST DR JARED LN FRANCIS OAKS WY LAURA DR OLIVE ST LOS CERRITOS DR CONSTITUTION AV NIMRICK LN DITTOS LN BELBLOSSOM WY BARON DR KAY DR BELWOOD GATEWAY WILMA WY PINTA CT FERN DR LENORA AV KENLAR DR LOMA ST BELCREST DR ALERCHE DR REEDHEAD LN SPRING ST FILLMER AV HIGHLAND OAKS DR SHADY VIEW LN MAYS AV HOWES LN EUCLID AV TILDEN DR BERSANO LN CORINNE DR MIREVAL RD BLOSSOM GLEN WY ROMFORD DR OKA RD ROSELEAF LN LAS ASTAS DR BELVALE DR ALMENDRA AV ALEXANDER AV WRAIGHT AV MISE AV FARLEY RD SALLY DR VENNDALE AV LA RINCONADA DR EUCALYPTUS DR MARY WY KENSON DR LINDA AV TERESITA WY WARWICK RD WOODLAND AV HILLVIEW DR BLOSSOM CREST WY PARK AV VIA PINTO CLOVER WY TWIN OAKS DR CARDEL WY MADRONE AV FARRAGUT LN LAS MIRADAS DR BELGLEN WY ALMA JO CT ALBERT DR CLARA ST ASHLER AV MORE AV VIA DEL SUR PALOS VERDES DR MARY ALICE DR CHESTER ST BLACKWELL DR KUNKEL DR THOMAS DR SELINDA WY OLDE DR EL RANCHO AV E LA CHIQUITA AV HEATHER DR MAUD WY MIRASSOU DR SHARON WY VERDE CT CALDWELL AV DANVILLE DR CORDOY LN KENTFIELD DR ADO NIS WY TWELVE OAKS RD PRIVATE CHARLES ST HILLBROOK DR BAYVIEW AV HOLDEN CT ORANGE BLOSSOM LN SUFONET DR REBEL WY IXIAS CT PETRI PL LAUREN DR LAVENDER WY OAK RIDGE WY PEONY LN BLOSSOM DALE DR ELM ST DALTON DR GUM TREE LN CHURCH ST ADELAIDE WY W LA CHIQUITA AV CLARINDA WY BEL CANTO DR GABLE LN CANTO DR WISSAHICKON AV DEER PARK CT PALM AV BIRD AV VISTA LN ROSE CT CORALEE DR GEM AV LANSBERRY CT MAGNESON LP LAUREL AV MARR LN KINGDALE DR SHELDON DR BOYER LN MEADOWBROOK DR ELLENWOOD AV WALNUT AV BELMONT AV BRENDA AV CAROLINE WY PLEASANT ST MILLIGAN DR JASMINE WY OLD BLOSSOM HILL RD CARDINAL LN ROGERS ST WOLLIN WY MITCHELL AV ANN ARBOR DR SELINDA LN MARY JANE WY ROSS AV GATTUCIO DR LOBELIA LN BENNETT WY AMANDA LN NODDIN AV ROBIN ANN LN ALBERTO WY DALTON PL KINGBROOK DR E VINELAND AV CHERRY BLOSSOM LN CAMINO DEL CERRO GROVE ST LEXINGTON DR THURSTON ST WHEELER AV IXIAS LN WADSWORTH AV AVERY LN GREENRIDGE TE OLD ORCHARD DR KINGWOOD WY 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SUMMIT WY ANDRE CT W MAIN ST MILL RD MAGGI CT SPENCER AV VIA SANTA MARIA POTOMAC DR GEORGE ST KENNEDY CT ROCHIN TR BLOSSOM ACRESS DR MAPLE AV LOS GATOS-ALMADEN RD STEPHENIE LN SPRECKLES AV MULLEN AV GREENWOOD AV DAHILIA FORREST AV PLEASANT VIEW AV WORCESTER LN ALBERT CT CT LUNDY LN FIESTA WY BURKE RD MILLRICH DR VISTA DEL CAMPO NAGPAL CT FAIRMEAD LN OLD ADOBE RD SAN BENITO WY ATWOOD CT DOLPHIN DR NERISSA WY MILL ST LILAC WY PANIGHETTI PL ACTON CT RAMOHS OAK RIM CT SURMONT DR DORADO LN APPLEY WY DEL CARLO CT ELTON CT SERRA CT ANNE CT HIGH SCHOOL CT MORNING GLORY LN MERRITON CT LASUEN CT YOSEMITE WY CARRIL CT OXBOW CT ADRIAN PL VALLEY OAK DR CAMBRIAN VIEW WY CLIFTON AV PIEDMONT CT DEL ORO CT LAKEBIRD PL SIMONS WY BARRY LN ELESTER CT DEL CERRO CT RIDING CT EMLINE DR GATEWAY DR COPELAND PL CALFHILL CT LOMA VISTA CT BLUEBERRY HILL DR CERRO CHICO LAS FLORES LN FRANK CT SWAIN WY PAGEANT WY VIA VAQUERO CONWAY CT MARLA CT ROMITI CT ADALINA CT AGAPE CT DEL ORO PL HUBBEL WY KIRKORIAN WY CENTRAL CT KOZO PL EQUESTRIAN WY BOND CT HEINTZ CT LEOTAR CT DANIELLE PL BELMONT CT OAK KNOLL CT FAIRWAY CI CILKER CT NOBLE CT HOWES CT COOPER CT BRICKWAY CT MONTEBELLO WY W CENTRAL AV HATFIELD WY ISHI MATSU CT TAMSON CT MILL RISE WY SYCAMORE CT DOWNING OAKS CT CHIRCO CT JANOR CT PEACH BLOSSOM LN AUZERAIS CT TROY PARK PL GREGORY PL ROSALIE CT LA CROIX CT MASSOL CT LEEWOOD CT LA CIENEGA MICHON CT BAYVIEW CT AUGUSTA CT LAKEBIRD CT DOVER CT KAREN CT FRANCESCA CT FARM HILL WY ESCOBAR CT VERDES ROBLES REGENT CT CARLTON WY RUDY CT ALTA HEIGHTS CT CAMPOS VERDES HOLLY HILL WY BRUCE CT ALMOND BLOSSOM CT UNKNOWN CHERRY BLOSSOM LN NODDIN AV UNKNOWN ALLEY ALLEY BACIGALUPI DR MILL ST ROBERTS RD GEMINI CT HICKS RD UNKNOWN RURAL ACCESS BEGONIA DR HARWOOD RD UNKNOWN FARLEY RD UNKNOWN HICKS RD DRYSDALE DR CARTER AV BELVUE DR UNKNOWN RURAL ACCESS ALLEY CLYDELLE AV ·|}þ17 ·|}þ85 ·|}þ85 /Legend Buildings Parcels Original Hazardous Fire Area (OHFA) LosGatos Very High Fire Hazard Areas State Mandated LRA (VHFHA) Town of Los Gatos Designated (WUIFA) State Mandated Pre-Zone (VHFHA) Pre-Zoned Town Designated (WUIFA) 0 500 1,000 FeetWildland -Urban Interface Fire Area Town of Los Gatos Prepared: February 2, 2009 Very High Fire Zones.mxd Exhibit "A" Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus Background • 2007 California Building Code (CBC) was effective January 1, 2008 • 2007 CBC, included Chapter 7A, – new to the code that was developed by CalFire, generally required • Construction requirements for new structures within Wildland-Urban Interface fire areas • Vegetation clearance/defensible space • Adoption of a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus CalFire Fiire Severiity Zones • CalFire developed Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps – State and local responsibility areas – Computer modeling using vegetation data, topography and fire behavior characteristics to create base maps • CalFire’s objective in developing these maps was to help mitigate structure loss resulting form Wildland fires Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus Diiscussiion • Town received CalFire’s recommended map on October 16th, 2008 • The Town is required to take action within 120 days • The Town’s existing Fire Hazard Area will be replaced with the proposed map • Some areas of concern were not included on CalFire’s Map that pose a significant risk to Wildland fire • Due to local climatical, geographical and topographical issues, Santa Clara County Fire Department and Staff are proposing inclusion of additional areas that pose a significant risk from Wildland fires Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus • Town’s Wildland Fire Area Map is proposed to be comprised of; – State Mandated Very High Fire Hazard Severity zone – Town designated Fire Hazard Area – Pre-Zoned Fire Hazard Area, for county areas • Pre-zone areas are in anticipation of future annexations and eliminating the need to modify the map for each annexation. Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus Concllusiion • Adoption of the map required by State law • Modifications to the map are allowed to be made by the local enforcement agency • Effects only New Structures proposed within the map area; – New ignition resistant construction methods will be required to help protect against Wildland fires – Vegetation clearance & defensible space requirements around new structures within the map boundaries Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus • Questions