HomeMy WebLinkAboutOccupancy Correspondence 2008-9-16
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1600 Valley River Drive
Suite 270
Eugene, OR 97401
PHONE: 541/342-6511
FAX: 541/485-1483
kent@awjarchitecls.com
PRINCIPALS
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Kent Affolter
Linn West
David Jones
/{/J'" t{\I{;IO~
MEMO
Date: September 15, 2008
To: Robert Castile
Company: City of Springfield, Building Department
I RE: The ARC of Lane County - Occupancy Issue
Robert,
Attached is the letter from Angela Phinney, Assistant Executive Director with The ARc--.....
of Lane County. Her letter gives you a written explanation of how they are running their
facility especially with the adult programs.
The main emphasis is to note that she indicates that 40 of the 42 individuals are able to
exit the building without any assistance from staff. That is greater than 95% of the
clients.
Based on this, I would suggest that this could easily fall under the EXCEPTION of
Section 308.5.1 which indicates where the occupants are capable of responding to an
emergency situation without physical assistance from the staff shall be classified as Group
A-3........ ..rather than the Group 1-4.
This then would allow the facility to run under the construction as they have it now.
I hope you will concur with this thought.
~-4)~
Kent Affolter
Affolter, West & Jones, AIA, PC
The
Arc
4181 E. Street Springfield, OR 97478
www.arclane.org
(541) 343-5256
(541) 343-4387 fax
of Lane County Serving People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Since 1953
September 13,2008
City of Springfield
Building Department
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter in response to Robert Castile's recent concern that we change our building usage plan for
our adult programs to classifY the space as an 14. The code states that a facility that provides care for less than
12 hours for more than 5 people who need one on one assistance. I do not feel this classification fits the criteria
for the individuals The Arc of Lane County serves. In our adult program, Stepping Out, we serve 42 individuals
that ...".......;ence a developmental disability. This program is an alternative to work program funded through Lane
County. The individuals in the program are in a vocational training program, or they do community inclusion
activities. Robert had expressed concern about our clients ability to exit the building in case of an emergency.
We regularly practice fire drills and we do not have any issues evacuating the building in a quick and safe
manner. Currently we only serve 2 individuals that are profoundly disabled to the point that they could not exit
with out assistance. The people we serve in this program are very capable and receive one on one support due to
behavioral issues (physical aggression) and to provide job related training. Our clients answer our phones,
provide janitorial services, run our concessions and so much more. I cannot stress enough that we are not a care
facility. We are a community inclusion program and our clients are dropped off here before they go to
vocational training or to access the community.
Please let me know ifI can answer any additional questions or clarifY any issues.
Angela Phinney
Assistant Executive Director