Resident urges council to require new fire-access road for Raymundo site

Sue Paletti, a Woodside resident, told the Town Council on Jan. 25 that a planned development on the Raymundo site would violate local fire-safety limits unless a separate fire apparatus access road is built. Paletti asked Mayor Domkowski, the council and Town Manager Kevin Bayer whether the fire marshal or fire chief had told them the town could develop the Raymundo property without a new access road and demanded a yes-or-no answer.

Paletti said the fire code provision she cited—referred to in the meeting as "fire code 107"—limits the number of dwellings served by a single fire-apparatus access road to 30 and that the road serving Ramundo Runnymede is already at that limit. "A new separate fire apparatus access road separate from Ramundo Runnymede is required if you are to proceed with development on the Raymundo site. This is non negotiable," Paletti said.

The question produced back-and-forth between Paletti and elected officials. Mayor Domkowski said the council has given "our word in writing that we will obey the laws and we will follow the fire code." Town Manager Kevin Bayer said the town does not intend to waive the code and that staff and council members have not had a direct conversation resolving the differing interpretations of the code. Bayer told the council he planned to meet with the fire marshal in the next 24 hours and that he would bring the matter up with her. He said there is "no plan to look at" an alternative at this time.

Paletti said she wanted to attend any meeting with the fire marshal; the town manager declined that request during the public comment period. Paletti also warned that doubling density on the existing single-access road would create a "horrific choke point in an emergency," citing lessons from recent wildfires.

No formal action was taken during the meeting on the Raymundo site. Council members said they would meet with the fire marshal to clarify whether the existing code interpretation allows development without adding an access road. The council did not provide an on-the-record written determination during the Jan. 25 session, and staff said there was not yet a plan for the site to present to the fire marshal.

The discussion occurred during the public-comment period and drew multiple council acknowledgments that interpretations of the code differ. The council and town manager repeatedly emphasized they intended to follow applicable law and fire-code standards but did not provide the binary answer Paletti requested.