Planning commission approves final plans for new Fire Station No. 3 at Plaza Boulevard

The Mentor City Planning Commission on Sept. 25 approved final site and architectural plans for a new Fire Station No. 3 at 8091 Plaza Boulevard.

Project representatives told the commission the city purchased just under three acres at the Plaza Boulevard and State Route 84/Johnnycake Ridge Road intersection to build a station of roughly 22,000 square feet with five apparatus bays and living quarters for personnel. "The station itself will have two entry points," a project representative said, and the design includes a "significant training component." Fire Department staff described a dedicated training facility: "The training facility will have a 4 story training tower where we can do confined space ... search and rescue on the mezzanine, and a classroom where we can do in‑station instruction," the Fire Chief said.

Ken (project representative) said the site plan calls for signalization at the Plaza Boulevard drive to allow emergency vehicles to exit north or south and to provide a boulevard break that will be signed and reserved for fire‑department use. Doug Williams of APP Architecture described circulation: apparatus will exit toward the north and return around the training tower so bays can be pulled through; ground‑mounted utility equipment — a generator, transformer and a condensing unit — are shown on the site plan and will be screened. "We will probably have some rooftop penetrations — just vents, small stuff — but any sizable rooftop equipment we're going to have on the ground or concealed," Williams said.

City staff noted conditions in the staff report relating to site access, utility screening and coordination with the city engineer; the applicant confirmed agreements to provide the planned signalization and to work with the city on easements and access. Commissioners asked how the emergency driveway would be kept for department use; the project team said signage and established enforcement protocols would be used, similar to practices at other local emergency facilities.

The commission approved the site plan by roll call after a motion to move the item with four conditions and then separately approved the architectural review. The votes were recorded in favor by the commissioners present.

Next steps include final engineering and continued coordination with the city engineer and fire department to implement the signalization and the screening details required by the staff conditions.