In 1967, the nation had the Summer of Love. In 2015, Fayetteville will be experiencing the Summer of Pinewood.
As sound stages continue to rise at the movie studio on Veterans Parkway, the Fayetteville City Council reaffirmed the plans for the residential component of the development June 4. The vote now sets the wheels moving for what could be one of the most unique work-play developments in the nation.
The conceptual plans to be developed over multiple phases include 600 single family homes, 600 multi-family units, 100 townhomes, two hotels, a mix of office and retail space, several pocket parks, and a chapel.
Two weeks ago, the City Council agreed to let Pinewood Forrest build single family homes without sprinklers, despite being only 10 feet apart. The vote was 3-2 with Councilmen Ed Johnson and Mickey Edwards voting against the measure.
But time has a way of changing things, and the vote was unanimous Thursday to dump the sprinkler requirements despite an impassioned plea by Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones.
Jones sprinkled his discussion with graphs and charts, along with a YouTube video that showed how quickly sprinklers can help suppress a fire.
Fayetteville currently requires sprinklers for close-set single family homes in the PCD zoning, but it’s one of only four communities in the state with the requirement.
“Our fire marshal spoke to a couple of local Realtors regarding their opinion of home sprinklers and home sales. They stated that they would not necessarily prefer sprinklers; however, if they were present in the home they would sell them as a safety and insurance reduction benefit,” Jones said.
In 2010, the state outlawed municipalities from requiring sprinklers in subdivisions.
“If you eliminate this requirement, there’s no going back, unless the state changes the law,” Jones said.
Councilman Paul Oddo said the requirement was a mandate the city had no business requiring.
“You have a greater chance of getting hit crossing the street than your house catching fire,” he said.
Jones’s presentation was watched by nearly a dozen firefighters in the back of the room, and Pinewood Forrest developers Bill Foley, and Jim Pace, who audibly sighed from the front row during the presentation.
When Jones concluded his presentation, Pace stepped to the podium and offered his perspective.
“In years of building houses, I’ve never had a loss from a fire, but suffered $3 million in damages from sprinklers. We just want to be treated like everyone else. The state has taken the liability off you,” he said.
The city’s staff had asked that the motion be clarified from two weeks ago. Councilman Jim Williams reiterated his earlier motion of not requiring sprinklers and allowing the single-family homes to be less than 20 feet apart.
After the motion passed unanimously, City Manager Ray Gibson said the city would go back and study removing the sprinkler requirements from the PCD zoning.
After the vote was cast, the jubilant Pinewood Forrest developers exited the council chambers, along with another interested bystander who had a vested interest in the discussion.
Roch DeGolian is currently developing The Villages, which is a PCD development and currently requires the sprinkler system. He soon may no longer be required to add the system to his remaining 80 lots.
“I’ve had customers who look up and see them, and say they don’t want them. I’ve told them there is nothing I can do, because it’s required,” he added.
