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Residents raise traffic, runoff and noise concerns about proposed ambulance facility in Fayette neighborhood
Summary
At a Jan. 27 Board of Aldermen meeting, residents opposed a conditional-use request to site a new ambulance facility in an RS1 residential zone, citing narrow streets, a culvert that prevents two vehicles from passing, runoff and potential impacts on property values; the council deferred a decision pending further information from the Ambulance Board.
Mayor Greg Stidham and the Fayette Board of Aldermen on Jan. 27 heard hours of public comment about a conditional-use request to build an ambulance facility inside an RS1 residential zone.
Resident Sara Palmer told the council the neighborhood’s streets are too narrow for extra emergency traffic and warned of flooding: "the street is not wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic," she said, noting a culvert where two vehicles cannot pass and that "during heavy rains the water backs up in the area." Other residents echoed concerns about traffic, noise and sewer capacity.
Alderman Grafton Cook read a letter from Melissa Vroman opposing the requested use; Vroman raised similar concerns about nighttime noise and the ability of the streets and sewer to handle increased activity and asked that the city review easements and property-value impacts.
Gwen Wilder, representing the Planning and Zoning Commission, said the Ambulance Authority presented to the commission and the commission voted to forward the request to the City Council as an appropriate use for consideration. City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus told the board it must either approve or deny the conditional-use request.
Frank Flaspohler Sr., director of the Ambulance Service, told the council that "the plans have not yet been consolidated" and that the authority continues to explore locations. He said the authority purchased the residential parcel after two years of searching and that its preference "is to have the ambulance operations in a single building," adding that the property discussed at the hearing would not accommodate that configuration.
Mayor Stidham said the council will obtain additional information from the Ambulance Board and continue the discussion at the next meeting. No formal approval or denial was taken at the Jan. 27 meeting; the council deferred action pending more detailed plans from the Ambulance Authority.
The Board is scheduled to revisit the request after staff obtains the Ambulance Board’s project plans and any additional materials requested by planning staff.
