Facility Standards Manual Public Review Committee Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Facility Standards Manual Public Review Committee met on April 15, 2026, to discuss a proposed code modification regarding the width of fire apparatus access roads (inclusive vs. exclusive of shoulders) and to review updated archaeology survey requirements. No members were present remotely, and all disclosed their membership in affected groups.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the March 19, 2026, meeting were approved.
• Administrative items: Staff requested comments by the end of the following day on draft forms (tech memo, proper condition status update, and performance guarantee release certification) to be discussed at the May 7 meeting.

Discussion Items

Fire Marshal's Office Shoulder Code Modification

• Chief Micah Kiger, Dan Irley, and Lee Stormer from the Fire Marshal's Office presented a concern about the current blanket modification in the FSM that interprets the 20-foot minimum roadway width as inclusive of shoulders, which is less restrictive than the state fire code (which requires 20 feet exclusive of shoulders).
• Staff showed photographs of gravel shoulders that were poorly maintained: grass overgrowth, erosion, rutting, and loss of compaction, effectively reducing the drivable width below 20 feet. Fire apparatus (e.g., 80,000-pound ladder trucks) require a full 20 feet of stable surface for emergency operations and passing, especially in rural areas with tanker shuttle operations.
• The Fire Marshal proposed removing the blanket modification and instead evaluating individual modification requests on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as sprinkler systems, upgraded construction, or greater building setbacks.
• Committee members discussed alternatives: paving the shoulders (which the Fire Marshal indicated would provide the needed 20 feet of pavement), and clarifying in the FSM that if shoulders are paved, they can count toward the 20-foot width. The Fire Marshal expressed willingness to accept that as long as the surface is paved and maintainable.
• The committee noted that the issue primarily affects new construction, not existing roads, and that VDOT is responsible for maintaining most affected public streets. The discussion also touched on private driveways, gravel roads for rural businesses, and the challenge of enforcing maintenance after road acceptance.
• A committee member asked about codifying that paved shoulders count as part of the 20 feet; the Fire Marshal agreed that 20 feet of pavement is the key requirement. The committee will work on new language for the FSM.

Archaeology Survey Requirements

• Steve and Heidi presented a revised proposal for Phase One archaeological surveys, responding to previous feedback. The new approach focuses on:
  • Testing proposed areas of ground disturbance (as done currently).
  • Testing the entirety of cluster lots (due to their small size) and recording standing structures on the entire property.
  • Conducting archaeological testing around standing structures (both existing and historically mapped) to capture information before potential demolition.
• Discussion included clarifying definitions: "historic" for maps (e.g., USGS from the 1800s) and structures (greater than 50 years old), and replacing "recordation" with "documentation" to avoid confusion with land records.
• The committee considered whether to limit the testing to cluster lots under a certain size (e.g., two acres) rather than all cluster lots. They debated whether "historic" should be defined in the FSM or by reference to the zoning ordinance.
• The methods section for reconnaissance surveys was reorganized to include maps, photographs, and checking the cemetery/burial grounds database, with special cases for telecom, utilities, and previously developed properties.
• The committee also reviewed changes to Chapter 8, including updates to terminology ("cultural resources survey") and requiring known cemeteries and cemetery buffers to be shown on certain plats and easement plats. There was discussion about whether to include vacation plats and the burden of requiring off-site surveys for minor easements.
• A member opposed adding cemetery information to easement plats, arguing plats should only convey rights, not physical features. A compromise was suggested to place such information on an exhibit instead.

Key Outcomes

• The committee will develop revised FSM language for the shoulder width modification, likely requiring 20 feet of pavement (including paved shoulders) for new fire apparatus access roads, and removing the current blanket inclusive-of-shoulders provision. Individual modifications will be considered case-by-case.
• For archaeology, the committee will continue refining the language: define "historic" for maps and structures, limit cluster lot testing to lots under a certain acreage, and decide whether cemetery information is required on easement plats or only on exhibits. A note was made to define "historic" in the FSM.
• Next meetings are scheduled for April 16, 2026 (Dulles Room) and May 7, 2026 (Dulles Room).

Note: The meeting date is listed as April 15, 2026, per the user-provided date, although the transcript and agenda indicate April 9, 2026. This discrepancy is noted for accuracy.