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Board continues petition to remove sprinkler requirement from Hammock Mooring South plat addendum; applicant told to consult neighbors
Summary
A homeowner requested removal of a plat addendum requirement for fire sprinklers in Hammock Mooring South; staff said recent hydrant testing showed flow below the fire department’s preferred flow, the fire marshal opposed removal and the board continued the matter to give the applicant time to solicit support from fellow lot owners.
The board continued a petition from a Hammock Mooring South lot owner seeking removal of a plat addendum requirement that all dwelling units install fire sprinkler systems.
County staff said the original plat addendum (approved around 2002) required fire protection systems for units in the small subdivision; staff provided a January 20, 2025 hydrant flow test that recorded 840 gallons per minute at a nearby hydrant. The county fire department prefers a minimum of 900 gallons per minute for its response and told staff it opposed removal of the sprinkler requirement. The applicant, contractor James Melvin representing the property owners, said the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard for one‑ and two‑family residences uses 500 gpm at 20 psi residual pressure as a baseline and argued the hydrant and local access meet NFPA standards.
Board members asked whether the change to the plat addendum requires the consent of other lot owners; staff confirmed earlier practice had treated plat addenda like plats and previously required broad consent, but recent legal guidance and precedent allow the county to consider applications by a single owner in some circumstances. Commissioners also noted two of the existing homes already have sprinklers while newer homes did not.
After discussion the board continued the item to the next available meeting (March 11) and directed the applicant to solicit written input from other lot owners and the homeowners association to clarify whether there is community support for amending the plat addendum. The board indicated it wanted stronger evidence of neighborhood consent or additional technical data from the fire marshal before recommending removal of the sprinkler requirement to the Board of County Commissioners.
