Fire lanes are established for the purpose of promoting public health, safety and welfare by recognizing that there exist and will in the future exist buildings and other areas in the city within which and to which the public will be invited, served or housed. These buildings or other areas must be provided prompt, adequate emergency services, including access by fire fighters and fire-fighting equipment and other emergency personnel and equipment to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and effect the saving of life and property in emergency situations.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE LANE
A designated, unobstructed passageway, at least 20 feet in width, with an inside turning radius of at least 20 feet and constructed and maintained in a manner to permit free passage of fire apparatus and other emergency equipment and personnel from a public way to all necessary areas, regardless of the season of year or weather conditions, around buildings, in areas or in developments or subdivisions as may be required elsewhere in this article. Fire department access road shall be synonymous with fire lane.
PARKING AREA
Lots, areas, or other accommodations for the parking of motor vehicles off the street, alley, or other way, which said lots, areas or other accommodations are available for use by the public either with or without charge.
SUPERVISORY OFFICIAL
The Fire Chief, their duly authorized representative, or the Code Enforcement Official.
The provisions of this article shall be applicable to all proposed and existing developments, subdivisions, buildings and other premises which are included with the following:
A. 
Subdivisions, both residential and nonresidential.
B. 
Any nonresidential development not requiring subdivision approval or site plan review.
C. 
Any proposed construction requiring site plan review.
D. 
All schools, whether public or private.
E. 
Hospitals.
F. 
Convalescent homes, rest homes and/or nursing homes.
G. 
In addition to the foregoing, all other places of public assembly used for the gathering of 50 or more persons.
A. 
Each application for residential or nonresidential subdivision approval and each application for site plan review submitted to the Planning Board shall be reviewed by the Supervisory Official to determine the locations of such fire lanes as are necessary under this section and report their findings, recommendations, and suggested designations of fire lanes to the Planning Board, in writing. All findings, recommendations and suggested designations of fire lanes shall be made a part of the record of proceedings before the Planning Board on each subdivision or site plan review application. The decision of the Planning Board shall govern the requirements and designation of all fire lanes.
B. 
In any application for a building permit, an occupancy permit, or change of use permit not requiring subdivision or site plan review and approval but otherwise included within § 102-16 above, the Code Enforcement Official shall notify the Fire Chief or their duly authorized representative of the application for the permit, who shall designate directly to the owner, owners or agent of the premises for which permit application is made the location of required fire lanes.
C. 
Within existing developments and premises to which this article is applicable, the Supervisory Official shall designate fire lanes by written order and shall notify, in writing, both the Saco Planning Board and the owner, owners or agents of such development or premises, by certified mail of such designation and of any specific requirements for compliance with this article and shall publish notice of such establishment of such fire lanes once in a newspaper having general circulation within the City of Saco. The Supervisory Official shall file one copy of any order of designation of any such fire lanes with the City Clerk. Any person aggrieved by such order may file with the City Clerk, within 15 days after the date of the receipt of such order, written notice of appeal, setting forth therein reasons for aggrievement. A public hearing shall be held by the Saco Planning Board, after which the Board must affirm, modify, or rescind the order within 30 days of the public hearing. The Board shall notify the Supervisory Official, as may be applicable, by written communication of any action taken relative to the establishment of a tire lane.
Fire lanes established under this article shall be kept free of ice and snow and rubbish containers or other obstructions. The owner, owners, agent or occupant of any premises to which this article is applicable shall cause to be erected, installed and maintained, at their own expense, permanent, adequate signs, bearing the words "Fire Lane – No Parking – Vehicles Will Be Towed At Owner's Expense," in or adjacent to the fire lane. Such owner, owners, agent, or occupant shall cause such other and further notices or signage as are reasonably required by the Supervisory Official to warn persons to keep the fire lanes unobstructed. Failure to maintain a fire lane in accordance with this section shall render the owner, owners, agent or occupant of the development liable to a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision of this code, with each continuing day of such violation constituting a separate offense.
The notice of establishment of fire lanes shall prescribe a reasonable time for compliance. If compliance is not obtained within the stated time, then the owner, owners or agent shall be subject to a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision of this code. Each day following such specified time for compliance shall constitute a new and separate violation.
A. 
No person shall park or permit to stand a motor vehicle in any fire lane established in accordance with this article, except when picking up or discharging passengers or actively engaged in loading or unloading a motor vehicle.
B. 
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked in violation of the regulations established above, any police officer may attach to the vehicle a notice, to the owner or operator thereof, that the vehicle has been parked in violation of the regulations. The registered owner or operator shall pay to the City a fine to be established after a public hearing. The registered owner of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the operator of the vehicle. Any motor vehicle found parked or standing in a fire lane that has been established in accordance with this article, in addition to the foregoing, may be towed, upon the direction of a police officer, to any public or private parking facility, and all expense of towing and any subsequent storage shall be borne by the registered owner or operator of the vehicle.