Urbandale approves $1.1 million purchase of 1.455 acres for relocated Fire Station 41

The Urbandale City Council voted on May 20 to purchase 1.455 acres at 4780 Sixth Street for $1,100,000 as the planned relocation site for Fire Station 41, a move city staff said will close a north-side response gap identified in prior facility and response-time studies.

Aaron De Jong, economic development director, presented the purchase terms and explained the parcel is a portion of a larger commercial tract owned by R and R Realty; the city negotiated the purchase price at approximately $15 per square foot and excluded the private roadway from the city parcel while accounting for the city’s share of roadway costs in the negotiated price. De Jong said final agreements in the due diligence period will cover shared maintenance of regional detention and the private road; the plan anticipates the first developer to construct the private roadway and subsequent developments to reimburse half the cost.

Chief Cardwell explained the operational rationale. A facility study about three years ago identified Station 41 as aging and undersized; he said relocating to the area near Sixth and Meredith improves travel-time coverage for areas north of current service and, combined with mutual-aid partners, covers most of the city’s response area except the mall area. “Relocating the station here based on travel times, based on where the calls are located, our ability to provide duplicate services … was the best location,” Cardwell said.

De Jong said the parcel benefits from planned regional stormwater detention to the south and west, meaning the fire station will not need on-site detention. He showed an example image of the city’s Station 43 as a model for building quality and said the city will include covenants to reflect design intent.

The council passed the resolution to purchase the parcel. Representatives of the seller, R and R Realty (Adam and Kara), were present to answer title and development questions.