Commissioners record Reef Road letter raising evacuation and parking concerns amid denser projects

At the start of the agenda, commissioners recorded a letter from resident Dina Cummings asking how increased density on Reef Road — described in the letter as representing roughly 80 to 160 additional cars — would affect emergency evacuation and access to Fairfield Beach Road.

"Your commissioners are requesting information about how increased density on Reef Road affects the emergency evacuation route during a flooding, snow, or other emergency events," Speaker 2 read from the letter. The letter asked whether increased parking and vehicle counts would impede emergency vehicles trying to reach the beach area in a worst-case flooding or evacuation scenario.

Fire department representatives told the commission they do not control siting or permitting decisions. "The fire department has no control over where these buildings go. There's state legislation, the 8 30 g, which everybody's feel familiar with," Speaker 5 said, arguing that planning and zoning processes and state law limit the department's ability to prevent high-density housing. Speaker 3 added that while towns can raise safety issues under 8 30 g and require mitigation plans, the statute often means projects proceed so long as mitigation is proposed.

Commissioners discussed parking design for proposed projects and whether on-site parking would keep additional vehicles off Reef Road; Speaker 5 suggested the 812 Reef Road project includes a 50-unit building with its own rear parking, and that the likely effect on curbside parking on Reef Road may therefore be limited. Nevertheless, commissioners said they would raise the letter's concerns and keep the issue on future agendas to document the commission’s consideration.

On operational preparedness, Speaker 5 said the department is planning how to respond to multistory building fires, noting that a sixth-floor fire would require carrying equipment up multiple floors and significantly strain personnel. Commissioners agreed to add preparedness items to a future agenda so the department can present a list of steps it is taking to adjust to denser development.

No formal vote or change to policy resulted from the discussion; commissioners recorded that they discussed Cummings' letter so it would appear in meeting notes and could be referenced in future correspondence.