2017-64 Granting Conditional Use Permit Construction of a Government Building (Fire Station) 330 W Mound Road

Home Browse Search

Pook: 465- : Nee S)9 Excerpts from Plan Commission Meeting of December 7,2017: Cal.No. 17-44 Petition of JEFF ABBOTT,FIRE CHIEF, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DECATUR for a Conditional Use Permit in the R-3 Single Family Residence District to allow for a government building located at 330 WEST MOUND ROAD. Mrs. Joselyn Stewart was sworn in by Mrs. Janet Poland. Mrs. Stewart presented the recommendation of staff: The subject site contains a single-family residence and an attached garage on an approximately 0.52 acre site. This subject site is zoned R-3 Single Family Residence District. The subject petition is a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for the construction of a fire station in the R-3 district. The purpose is to replace the existing Fire Station# 5 located on Christine Drive. This existing fire station was built in 1962 but a large section of the dorm room ceiling in Station# 5 collapsed without warning in 2015 and has since been repaired. The Fire Department selected the proposed location based on previous studies and because it would meet their current need to provide better coverage to the northern areas of Decatur. The proposed 2-bay, one-story building has a first floor area of 5,450 square feet and a basement of 3,050 square feet in area. The building will be twelve (12)feet from the west property line and twelve(12)feet from the north property line. A driveway serving the proposed fire station is to be on Greenridge Drive. A total of eight(8)parking spaces will be provided on site including a handicap space. Some parking along Greenridge Drive will be removed because of the proposed development. Landscaping will also be provided on the site, particularly to the north and east abutting residential uses. Staff supports the proposed Conditional Use Permit, as a relocated,newly constructed fire station, replacing the existing Fire Station# 5,will help to better serve the northern part of the community. According to Section XXII.A.3. there are three standards which must be met in order to grant a conditional use permit. The first standard requires that the use be "necessary for the public convenience at the location." The proposed use is generally compatible with the surrounding area and the proposed fire station will provide a fire protection service for area residents and businesses in the northern part of the community. The proposed use also meets the second standard. The facility is located and designed to be operated in a manner in which the public health, safety and welfare will be protected. The proposed relocation of Fire Station#5 will help to better serve those heavily residential and commercial areas in the northern part of our community with better response times. On the east side of Greenridge, parking will be restricted from Mound Road to the northern property line of the proposed Fire Station which is approximately 190 feet north of the edge of Mound Road. On the west side, parking will be restricted directly across from the fire station's driveway including an extra 20 feet north of said driveway and 17 feet south of said driveway. This adds up to approximately 80 feet of"No Parking"on the west side of the street. Last,the facility should not cause injury to the value of other properties in the areas as stated by the third standard. The Conditional Use Permit application has been reviewed by the City's Technical Review Committee, with Planning and Sustainability Division, Engineering Division, and Fire Inspection Division have all approved the proposed fire station site plan.