The proposed location of a

school in a new Fayetteville building has hit a snag due to fire codes.

Dr. Greg Alvarez is developing

three new buildings at 265 N. Jeff Davis Drive and has contracted with

Rising Star Montessori School to occupy the first building on a temporary

basis. But he has since discovered that school use requires a stricter

fire code than regular business use, and this building does not meet those

requirements.

Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan

Jones reported Wednesday night at the City Council's work session that

an specially rated fire sprinkler system would be required in that building,

due to its height and other considerations, for the school to occupy it.

Alvarez had said that installing such a system would be an extreme financial

hardship, and being unable to accommodate the school could subject him

to some legal liability.

But he added that this arrangement

would only be temporary, since the school plans to eventually move into

a second building not yet constructed and needs more space than the first

building will allow.

"It is not the intent

of the Fire Department to cause any undue hardships on local business

owners," said Jones. "However, we are intent on ensuring the

safety of the occupants and the patrons."

In an attempt to help find

an alternative, since the school would be in the building only temporarily,

the installation of an acceptable sprinkler system was suggested, with

a number of restrictions, for a maximum period of one year, at which time

an evaluation of the progress toward a permanent building would be made.

Council members made it clear

that their first concern was the safety of the young people who would

occupy the building, and a thorough review by the city attorney of the

issue as well as input from Alvarez's insurance carrier would be needed

for the proposal to proceed. The item was removed from the current council

agenda so that the numerous concerns can be addressed.

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