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for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than <br />the existing use. <br /> <br />Section 407.1.1 Change in the character of use. A change in occupancy with no change of <br />occupancy classification shall not be made to any structure that will subject the structure to any <br />special provisions of the applicable California Codes, without approval of the building official. <br />Compliance shall be only as necessary to meet the specific provisions and is not intended to require <br />the entire building be brought into compliance. <br /> <br />2. The aforesaid local amendment is reasonably necessary in order to lessen the threat to <br />life, safety and property represented by certain local climatic, geographical and <br />topographical conditions existing in the City of San Leandro. <br /> <br />3. The aforesaid local amendment is enacted pursuant to the authority of Section 17958.5 of <br />the California Health and Safety Code, for the purpose of addressing the aforesaid <br />conditions which are more specifically described as follows: <br /> <br />(a) The City of San Leandro lies in the near vicinity of the Hayward Fault and <br />in fact, a substantial portion of the residential area of the City lies within the <br />Alquist - Priolo Act Special Studies Zone, requiring special geologic studies <br />prior to development. The underlying soils are subject to liquefaction and <br />amplification of seismic energy. This increases the likelihood of seismic <br />disturbances of substantial magnitude occurring and causing consequent <br />damage. Such damage is often accompanied by structural fire. The City <br />contains a large percentage of existing structures constructed more than <br />forty years ago, which will sustain significant damage as a result of an event. <br />(b) The travel time to a fire or other emergency within San Leandro may be <br />impeded by the following conditions: <br />(1) Three major railway lines, the elevated BART line, three major <br />freeways and a natural creek, divide the City into numerous sections, <br />and equipment responding to emergencies face potential delays and <br />obstruction of access in crossing these barriers. <br />(2) San Leandro lies in the path of two major water reservoirs which, upon <br />failure, would inundate a large portion of the City, further delaying <br />the response to a fire or other emergency. <br />(3) A growing community of single-family and multi-family dwellings <br />presently exists on the easterly side of Highway 580, which is itself a <br />potential physical barrier impeding response to a fire or other <br />emergency. <br />(4) The two major north-south emergency response routes aside from the <br />freeways are dependent upon bridges spanning San Leandro Creek. <br />Failure of these bridges would isolate a heavily populated section of <br />the City north of the creek. <br />(5) Severe seismic events could disrupt communications, damage gas <br />mains, cause extensive electrical hazards, and place extreme demands <br />on the limited and widely dispersed resources of the Fire and Police <br />Departments responding to fire and life safety needs of the <br />community. <br />256