Architectural board approves certificate of appropriateness for proposed New Albany fire station

The New Albany Architectural Review Board voted unanimously on Feb. 9 to grant a certificate of appropriateness for a proposed fire station (application ZC802026) on a 6.35-acre portion of a 12.72-acre site west of Route 605, with ten conditions the applicant must meet before final permits are issued.

Staff opened the presentation saying the project had been informally reviewed by the ARB in January 2025 and that the earlier concept included both a fire station and a bus depot; residents opposed the bus depot and the current application is for a fire station only. Staff noted prior ARB feedback — including continuing the stone water table and spacing transom windows — had been incorporated into the plans and recommended approval with conditions.

"The certificate of appropriateness supports development of a critical public safety use," staff said during the report, and outlined site details including a gas-line easement, one curb cut on New Albany Condit Road, a leisure path, and 20 parking spaces. Staff also noted the project meets most zoning and setback requirements and recommended conditions addressing signage, lighting and engineering.

Nathan Gamela, project executive for Shore Architects, spoke for the applicant and described architectural and programmatic decisions. Gamela said the team would reduce the front‑facing window count from four to three "to meet the city architect's comments" and would coordinate the design with deed restrictions from the New Albany company. He described the interior plan — bunk rooms, restrooms, laundry and a mezzanine training platform — and said designers sought to "make this building really feel like a home for the fire station personnel and staff." "We try to focus on making this as accessible to them as possible," Gamela said.

Several board members raised concerns about the north elevation, calling it a "blank" face with insufficient fenestration. The applicant and staff replied that the north elevation faces a stream corridor protection zone with substantial tree screening and that additional plantings and relocated landscaping in the northwest corner would be used to screen the building from nearby residences.

The approval motion enumerated ten conditions the applicant must satisfy, including: (1) the lot split must occur prior to the rezoning effective date; (2) the applicant must meet revisions from the city architect; (3) relocated plantings in the northwest corner must be shown and are subject to staff approval; (4) all light poles must be metal, not exceed 30 feet in height and have a black or New Albany green finish; (5) the proposed horse fence must be shown on the site plan; (6) the applicant must show a required easement along New Albany Condit Road once dimensions are determined in engineering review; (7) traffic access study requirements must be met; (8) signage will be evaluated later and is subject to staff approval; (9) the project must meet engineering requirements in code section 1159.07(b)(3); and (10) the west elevation roll‑up door head must be brought to the same level as the adjacent windows.

The board voted to approve the certificate with the conditions as moved; staff reported the motion passed with all votes in favor.

Next steps the board described include submission of the revised drawings to incorporate the city architect's comments, showing relocated plantings, and complying with engineering and traffic study requirements before the application proceeds to city council first and second readings in February and March, respectively.