Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Station Relocation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Encinitas staff review permit request to place temporary Fire Station No. 1 at Pacific View Arts Center
Summary
City planners presented a coastal development permit application to install a temporary fire station at 310 West F Street; one resident spoke in opposition citing noise and neighborhood impacts. Decision pending review of public comments.
City of Encinitas planning staff on Tuesday presented an application for a coastal development permit to place a temporary Fire Station No. 1 facility on the Pacific View Arts Center site at 310 West F Street.
The application, presented by Esteban Donna, senior planner, would install a 2,651-square-foot prefabricated unit for station operations, a 1,600-square-foot two-bay prefabricated garage and new utility connections including water, sewer, electric and fiber. The proposal includes extending a sewer lateral from West F Street and extending a water main from the alley between Third and Fourth streets; site work would add an automatic gate at the arts center’s south entrance and minor restriping of the parking lot. Access to the temporary station is proposed from West F Street.
The project is framed as a temporary relocation to maintain emergency response services and continuity of operations while the city evaluates long-term options for the original Fire Station No. 1 at 415 Second Street. "The construction of the temporary fire station will maintain emergency response services and ensure continuity of operations while the city evaluates long term options," Donna said.
One member of the public, Jerry Peters, spoke during the public-comment period and urged the city to consider alternate sites, saying the arts-center location is “not logical” because it is bordered by the ocean and residential streets. Peters said he owns property across Fourth and F streets and expressed concern about siren noise and impacts on nearby rental housing. He suggested other possible locations, including the north end of Leucadia Boulevard where it meets La Costa Avenue and a site on Santa Fe Drive.
Megan Openshaw, assistant director for the Development Services Department, said the hearing was to receive public comment; the decision would follow after review of the comments submitted. "For the record, this hearing is to receive public comment, but the decision would follow once I have a chance to review all of the comments provided, and take that into consideration," Openshaw said.
No formal vote or permit decision was made at the meeting. Staff recorded that the applicant was present in support but did not speak. The city will review public comments before issuing a decision on the coastal development permit application.
The proposal includes utility and site work that would be required before the temporary station could operate; details on the applicant, project timeline, financing and the expected duration of the temporary installation were not specified during the hearing.
