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35 MEMORANDUM DATE: 07/16/03 MEETING DATE: 07/22/03 TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Susan M.H. Hall, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Fire Station Final Plans Requested Action: On June 17, Oertel Architects brought the City's preliminary plans forward to the Planning Commission for a new fire station at 3501/3505 Silver Lake Road. July 15 was the public hearing for two requests related to the final plans: (a) A conditional use permit for a proposed fire station, which is located in a R-1 single family-zoning district; and (b) One front yard setback variance of 11 feet for a proposed setback of 19 feet. Background: The property at 3501/3505 Silver Lake Road is currently zoned R-1 single family residential. A municipal fire station is allowed in an R-1 single-family residential zoning district with a conditional use permit. Hence, conditions may be placed on the use. The proposed use will not be detrimental to health, safety, and welfare of the adjoining properties nor detrimentally affect property values. Based on precedent from adjacent local communities, there is no evidence of deteriorated property values, or a lessening of the quality of life, for those properties adjacent to newly constructed fire stations. The Fire Department is sensitive to the fact they are adjacent to and nearby single- family homes. The design of the building is such that there is cyclical traffic flow on site, with a separate entrance onto the site and separate entrance exit from the site onto Silver Lake Road. Warning lights will be included on the property to warn local traffic and pedestrians of the oncoming emergency vehicles. Finally, it is the goal of the department to minimize noise from horns and signs until well on the road. Fire Chief Joel Hewitt held a neighborhood meeting on July 9 to show the fire station final plans and address concerns. Chief Hewitt will be attendance at the July 15 meeting and will recap the neighborhood meeting. One variance request is necessary to advance the final plans, according to Oertel Architects. It is for one front yard setback variance of 11 feet for a proposed setback of 19 feet. (For information purposes, the two houses currently on the sites are 26 feet from property line to front facade.) This front variance is requested to minimize construction costs associated.with building on the sloped grade at the rear of the site and to minimize damage to the large group of trees (from construction activities) at the rear of the site.