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Council informed of Parks committee recommendation to allow fire department training site on city property pending zoning variances
Summary
St. Albans Parks and Recreation Committee recommended allowing the fire department to use city property between Morrill Avenue and the CSX Railroad as a training center; council discussion noted the site is city-owned, requires variances for Connex containers, and that the Zoning Board of Appeals handles variance public hearings.
The St. Albans City Council received information Monday that the Parks and Recreation Committee has recommended allowing the fire department to use a city-owned parcel between Morrill Avenue and the CSX Railroad as a training center, but council members said the use is contingent on zoning variances and the fire chief’s confirmation that required approvals are in place.
Councilors and staff described the site as city property currently under the control of the Parks Department. Councilor Knight (speaker identified in the meeting) said the Parks committee approved the proposed use, but the installation of Connex-style containers at the residential-area site would require a variance from the city’s zoning regulations.
A participant identified as Lance said he wanted to confirm the city’s approval before pursuing grant funding. “Before I pursued grants, I wanted to make sure that… the city property was okay for us even going down this road,” Lance said in the meeting. He also said Connex structures are banned in the city’s zoning code “everywhere in the city,” and that a variance would be required before installation.
Staff member Marshall clarified that a decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on a variance would not return to council and that the ZBA would provide the public hearing opportunity for neighbors to comment.
Why this matters: The site lies in a residential area (described in the meeting as within Councilman Eaton’s ward), and locating a fire training area with Connex containers there would change the use and visual character of the parcel. Variance approval is required before physical installation; grant funding for the project is contingent on securing regulatory clearance.
Details and next steps
- Property: City-owned parcel between Morrill Avenue and the CSX Railroad (site description from Parks and Recreation Committee report in the meeting record).
- Committee action: Parks and Recreation Committee recommended allowing the St. Albans fire department to use the parcel as a training center; Parks approval preceded the council discussion.
- Zoning/permits: Connex (container) structures are currently not permitted in the city zoning code without a variance. The Zoning Board of Appeals handles variance decisions and holds public hearings; ZBA decisions do not return to council per staff statement.
- Funding: The fire department representative indicated grant funding is being considered but said he would not pursue grants until the city’s regulatory approvals were confirmed.
- Council action: Council received the Parks committee recommendation as information; the transcript indicates no formal motion or council vote on the item at this meeting. Council members discussed tabling or pending action only insofar as waiting for the fire chief’s confirmation that needed variances and approvals are in place.
Ending: Council members said that once the fire chief confirms variances are secured, the city could proceed with any further approvals or administrative steps, and that the ZBA process would provide public notice and a hearing opportunity for neighbors to raise concerns.
