During last week’s meeting of the Winslow City Council, local developer Steve Lesondak proposed an amendment to the fire code, which would exempt single-story four-plex structures from the requirement to have sprinkler systems installed. The rationale behind the proposal is to reduce construction costs and pass that savings on to consumers by providing more affordable housing in Winslow.
Lesondak, who owns 11 properties in Winslow, explained that building a four-plex is expensive due to materials having to be shipped from out of town. He added that the sprinkler system alone contributes $3 million to the overall cost, making it difficult for developers to build viable properties in the area, and passing the amendment would allow developers to build more affordable housing in the city.
Lesondak said, “This is why people can’t build here, is because this is what it required; it’s not about getting rich, it’s about making it viable.” However, Lesondak’s proposed amendment would only lift restrictions for single-story four-plex structures, the exact property that Lesondak plans to develop in Winslow.
Without this exemption to safety regulations, Lesondak says that there is no way for him to make money without charging more in rent than locals are willing to pay.
City Manager David Coolidge had previously spoke to Lesondak about the sprinkler code and Lesondak provided Coolidge with a list of other cities he has been able to pass similar exemptions in. After Coolidge reached out to those cities to find out how the code change has worked for them, all but one had changed the code back and the other city had no recollection of the code ever allowing that in the first place.
Fire Chief James Hernandez expressed concerns about the amendment, highlighting the importance of fire codes in saving lives. He pointed out that other towns that have made similar amendments were smaller and questioned the wisdom of moving backwards as the city continues to grow.
Lesondak countered by stating that studies he researched suggest that fire sprinklers in these types of structures do not save lives.
Following the discussion, the council unanimously decided to reject the amendment proposal. Despite still needing solutions for affordable housing the council is unwilling to have that solution come at a cost of safety to citizens.
Also, during the meeting, the council discussed the city’s general plan, which outlines the goals, plans and objectives for the next decade and was last updated over two decades ago. Jason Sanks, the city’s zoning and hearing officer, spoke to the council about making the plan more user-friendly and engaging for the public by utilizing more graphs and less dense language.
The timeline for the plan update includes content development, outlining and creation of maps and areas of the general plan in March and April, followed by meetings with various boards and commissions in the area and presentation to the council in May. Sanks said that he would like for the plan to be as thorough as possible, because when the plan is specific and understandable, the goals of that plan will be more easily achievable.
A comprehensive general plan will also enable the council to make more informed decisions, as they can reference the plan’s research when passing everyday policies. This ensures that new policies align with the city’s long-term goals and objectives, providing a solid foundation for future growth and development.
In other business the board:
* Dissolved the Winslow Agriculture Commission due to lack of participants.
* Directed staff to negotiate a commission agreement/listing contract with I-40 Homes.
* Proclaimed March as Fair Housing Month.
* Reappointed Gina Williams to the Winslow Arts Council.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, in the meeting room, located at 523 W. Second St.
