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Fire department asks for water-supply and road-access requirements in proposed Land Use Ordinance
Summary
At an April 28 public hearing, town staff said the Fire Chief and the volunteer fire department requested specific water-supply and road-access requirements be added to the Land Use Ordinance for multi-housing projects to ensure emergency access and firefighting capacity.
At a public hearing on April 28, Whetstone told the Board of Selectmen that the Fire Chief and the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) asked that proposed changes to the town's Land Use Ordinance include explicit water-supply and road-access requirements for multi-housing projects. The change is intended to ensure adequate firefighting access and water availability for larger residential developments.
The proposal, as explained by Whetstone, would add criteria the town should consider when reviewing multi-unit housing applications. No vote or formal action on the ordinance change was recorded at the hearing; Whetstone noted copies of the proposed changes were available at the Town Office for public review.
Supporters of the requested language, as described by Whetstone, framed the change as a safety measure to address site-specific issues such as hydrant placement, access for fire apparatus and minimum road widths. The Fire Chief, who provided the department's recommendations via staff, also reported on unrelated department activities during the Select Board meeting, including upcoming hose testing and pump and ladder maintenance.
The Board did not adopt the ordinance language at the meeting; the public hearing record will be part of the ongoing review process. The town clerk's office has the proposed ordinance text available for residents and developers.
