Jul. 30--ZEPHYRHILLS -- The city council on Monday repealed a fire sprinkler ordinance that members said drove business away from Zephyrhills.

The ordinance, adopted in 2007, required all new residential and commercial projects with more than 5,000 square feet to install fire sprinkler systems. Florida statutes require sprinklers for buildings of more than 12,000 square feet.

Existing businesses were required to install the systems when renovating, expanding or converting buildings for other uses. The fire marshal stopped enforcing the law after it was challenged by homebuilder Lennar.

The city was supposed to come up with financial incentives to offset the cost of the sprinkler installation but never did.

"The more I research this, the more I see what a terrible mistake it was," said council President Jodi Wilkeson, who was not on the board when the law was adopted.

Fire Chief Keith Williams argued to keep the code on the books, saying cities such as Plant City and Tampa have lost entire city blocks because buildings did not have automatic sprinklers.

The chief said Zephyrhills Fire Rescue doesn't have the manpower to suppress a fire in a building larger than 5,000 square feet.

"Do me a favor, if we have a large loss of property, don't blame us," he said.

Wilkeson told him not to take the vote so personally.

"The truth is, if we really had a structure fire, the county would come back you up," she said.

Councilman Kent Compton was the only member who voted to keep the ordinance. He asked the chief to come back to council with a revised ordinance -- one that includes the incentives.

"It will never come back before you," Williams said. "I will not bring it back. That's my position."

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 259-8109.

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