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Council approves fire-code amendments on street width and parking to protect emergency access
Summary
The council approved changes to the municipal fire code that set minimum unobstructed roadway widths for new development and increased fines for illegal parking in fire lanes. Amendments define when 20-, 28- and 34-foot widths are required and allow no-parking signage or painted red curbs.
The Gallatin City Council approved amendments to Chapter 9 of the municipal code that set minimum public-roadway widths and clarify parking restrictions for fire and emergency access on new streets.
Under the approved changes, new streets will be required to provide either a 20-foot unobstructed width with no parking, a 28-foot width with parking designated on one side, or a 34-foot width to allow parking on both sides where appropriate; 20-foot unobstructed width rules also apply to alleys. The code change also raises the fine for illegal no-parking violations in those areas from $25 to $50.
Fire Department leaders explained the rationale. Fire Chief Beaman said the wider dimensions allow ladder trucks and emergency equipment to deploy safely. "If the ladder truck needs to set up... it requires a 20-foot space for the outriggers to deploy," Chief Beaman said, adding the changes support police and EMS operations as well.
The ordinance also allows for no-parking designations to be signed or painted in a decorative format at the property owner—s expense, and the city attorney advised the council $50 is the maximum lawful increase for that penalty under state guidance.
Council voted to move the ordinance forward by unanimous voice vote; the item will follow the city's normal ordinance reading and adoption schedule if no objections arise.
