For plats, development plans, and site plans, the Franklin Fire Department reviews access into, around, and leaving the property (site, complex, development) to ensure that emergency vehicles are able to negotiate turning movements without causing damage to parked vehicles, landscaping, fixtures, buildings, etc.  By applying the travel path of a large emergency service vehicle, city planning and engineering staff, along with fire department representatives, can evaluate possible areas of conflict and help developers/designers avoid creating a layout that might result in damage to private or public property and vehicles.

This review is conducted through the use of an autoturn template matching the dimensions of the fire department's largest apparatus style, a tower/platform truck.  We refer to this template as the "Tower 2" autoturn template as it is based on the department's Tower 2; a Sutphen SP100 Aerial Platform.  The department also has a similar apparatus assigned/called Tower 6 which is a newer model of the SP100 (pictured above).

The specifications for the Apparatus Autoturn are shown below. 

Standard Planning Review Comment for Autoturn:

Please provide an autoturn plan using City of Franklin/Franklin Fire Department Tower 2 with travel around the site using all drive lanes.  Travel paths should begin outside the site illustrating the turn onto the primary entry road/drive, maneuvering around the site, and completed with an illustration demonstrating exiting the site.

If the path begins with a straight approach to the site, the review will be not accepted.

Paths must illustrate the full vehicle swept path (including wheel tracks and out-to-out vehicle overhang sweep) and must indicate a clear, unobstructed travel around the site without impact/collisions to buildings, curbs, landscaping, parking spaces, vehicles, etc

The travel path must be designed with a minimum speed of 5 mph.

On the autoturn sheet, list/provide the following details:
-apparatus specifications (chart format is acceptable or listed)
Number of Front Axles 1
Front Track Width = 8’
Wheels on Each Front Axle = 2
Number of Rear Axles = 2
Rear Track Width = 8’
Wheel Base = 21.316’ (Front Axle to Front Rear Axle)
Rear Axle Spacing = 4.417’
Body Length = 50.0417
Width = 8.333’
Rear Overhang = 22.1424’
Body Style = Fire Truck
Turning Radius Wall to Wall = 42’

-design speed (no less than 5mph); if speed varies indicate points of change by notes/labels.
-landscaping (from landscaping sheet(s))
-parking spaces
-building footprint, sidewalks etc. from the site plan
-any obstructions that would impede vehicle travel such as dumpster enclosures gates, fences, posts, etc.

For legibility, the autoturn exhibit may require several smaller detail sections and/or additional sheets.