Council delays vote on fire station addition after extended design debate

The Alpine City Council paused action on the planned Alpine Fire Station addition and community center after an extended debate about exterior materials, compatibility with the historic downtown square, and the timing of design changes relative to the ongoing bid process.

Planning staff summarized the planning commission recommendations — more brick, no faux wood, a landscaping plan submitted before installation, and an exception to parking setbacks as warranted. Councilmember Jessica Smuin proposed a motion to approve the project conditioned on several design changes including a gabled vestibule, removal of the wood cladding and selective replacement with brick, and adjusted window/trim colors. She moved that the council "recommend approval of the construction of the Alpine Fire Station addition remodel based on the following conditions: the vestibule into the community center becomes gabled. All wood cladding is removed…" The motion drew multiple amendments and a lengthy discussion about whether those recommendations were based on current adopted guidelines or draft changes the council has not yet approved.

Council ultimately approved a substitute motion to table the item for two weeks so staff and the architect can bring back visual renderings of the proposed changes for final review. The council asked staff to provide cost and schedule impacts of the proposed adjustments and whether any of the changes would require re-bidding or would be handled as change orders. No final design approval was adopted at this meeting.