Commission denies subdivision of Keeble Street flag lot, citing fire‑access and frontage concerns

The East Ridge Planning Commission denied an application to subdivide a flag lot at 1619 Keeble Street into three R‑1 single‑family lots served by a shared 25‑foot access drive.

Planning staff explained that the R‑1 district requires 75 feet of road frontage per lot, and while flag‑lot provisions allow a 25‑foot access drive in limited circumstances, the proposal would effectively allow four homes (including the adjacent 1603 Keeble Street property) to use a combined 35‑foot drive entrance. The fire marshal raised access concerns: the International Fire Code requires a 70‑foot hammerhead turnaround for the configuration described; the proposed setup provides a 50‑foot turnaround, and the furthest proposed lot location is more than 500 feet from the nearest hydrant by staff’s estimate, triggering additional hydrant requirements.

The applicant, Francesca DeBozano (recorded on the sign‑in as Francesca Diaz Bisono), described the lot layout and a T‑shaped hammerhead intended to allow emergency vehicles, sanitation and other service trucks to turn around; she said infrastructure would be designed to permit safe access. Staff and the fire marshal said the submitted layout did not satisfy required turnaround length, frontage, or safe hydrant access standards.

Commission member Witt moved to deny, citing that approval would create a new hardship and fail to meet emergency‑access standards; the motion was seconded and carried on a unanimous roll call (Howe — yes; Cornelius — yes; Williams — yes; Witt — yes; Chairperson Tuggle — yes). The commission’s denial leaves the lot configuration unchanged; any future subdivision will need to address the fire marshal’s turnaround and hydrant distance concerns and the road‑frontage requirements in the R‑1 district.