City council authorizes pursuit of land acquisition, up to condemnation, for new Fire Station 20

Charleston City Council on an unspecified date voted to authorize staff to begin acquisition of a preferred parcel for a replacement Fire Station 20, including use of eminent-domain procedures if negotiations fail.

The mayor presented a report recommending a site at 2637 Clements Ferry Road — described in the presentation as part of a roughly 22-acre tract whose front portion is about 3 acres — as the preferred location. The council motion approved by voice vote instructed staff to pursue acquisition “up to including condemnation,” and the motion carried with the ayes prevailing.

The council and staff said the existing leased station at 1006 Pinefield (on Clements Ferry Road) has long been inadequate. The mayor said the city began negotiating in February 2018 on another parcel but that site and others were not suitable because of financing, stormwater and size constraints. “This station needs to be built,” the mayor said during discussion, adding the station is a “critical piece of life safety infrastructure.”

City staff and the fire department summarized the site criteria that led them to the preferred parcel: proximity to a major arterial, a target service radius of about 2.5 miles from another station, good access, and a minimum desirable site size of roughly 3 acres to accommodate a three-bay station and parking. The capital projects team reported a test fit indicating the front 3-acre portion could support a three-bay station and at least 25 parking spaces.

Julia Copeland, a city staff member who confirmed the address, and another staff member identified as Molina said the property is currently used as a truck laydown area and is leased to a local trucking operator by an out-of-area owner. Staff reported broker opinions of value in the range of about $900,000 to $1,100,000 per acre for the parcel’s front portion.

Council members raised questions about traffic signal timing and curb cuts needed for station access. Council Member Seekings asked about the timing and location of a planned traffic signal at the nearby intersection; staff said plans call for a light at Beresford Run and that cross-access easements could allow use of either nearby parcel depending on final signal placement. Councilman Tanker asked whether displaced trucking operations could relocate; staff said the aerial view suggested parts of the site are underused and that current operations might shift to the rear of the property, but staff did not identify an alternate city-owned trucking laydown site.

Officials said previous offers to buy portions of the property had been rejected; the mayor and staff said they prefer a negotiated sale but asked for authority to proceed to condemnation if needed. Councilman Mitchell asked what happens if an owner resists; the mayor responded, “It’s condemnation. So we’re hoping it’ll be a friendly thing.”

The council voted by voice; the clerk announced “the ayes have it.” The motion’s text as stated in the record authorized staff to “process all methods up to condemnation” to acquire the identified parcel for Fire Station 20.

Members and staff emphasized the project’s public-safety purpose and the need to expedite a replacement station for coverage as growth increases on the Canehoy Peninsula. The presentation and discussion framed the vote as a necessary step to secure a site that meets the department’s operational needs.

Votes at a glance: Motion to authorize staff to begin acquisition of 2637 Clements Ferry Road for Fire Station 20, including eminent-domain procedures if necessary — approved by voice vote (ayes announced; individual roll-call votes not specified).

Clarifying details and limits: staff said the preferred parcel is part of a larger 22-acre property; the front portion considered for acquisition is approximately 3 acres. Broker opinion of value for the front acreage was reported at about $900,000–$1,100,000 per acre. Staff stated the 3-acre fit was tested by capital projects to accommodate a three-bay station and about 25 parking spaces. The current facility has been leased since February 2010. Earlier negotiations in February 2018 had targeted a 1.35-acre site that staff concluded was insufficient.