By Sara Beth Williams–
One of Citrus Heights’ local fire stations could soon be demolished to make way for a remodeled two-story, upgraded facility.
A proposal to demolish Sacramento Metro Fire Station 23 on Greenback Lane is now pending review with the City of Citrus Heights. The proposed project consists of demolition of the existing building and construction of a new 19,500-square-foot, two-story fire station.
Documents submitted to the city include a 3D rendering of the proposed fire station, showing a modern two-story building with multiple rooms on the second floor and five engine bays on the first floor.
In a project description letter to the city, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire) said the remodel is designed to “meet current emergency response, firefighter health and safety, accessibility, and operational requirements.”
Metro Fire confirmed the remodeled facility would include five bays, administrative and command functions, firefighter living quarters for up to fifteen personnel, support spaces, and associated site improvements, the project description reads.
Site improvements include employee parking, a covered fuel island, an emergency generator, trash enclosure, bicycle parking, utility infrastructure, landscaping, and public accessibility improvements.
Currently, the project site consists of just over 43,000 square feet and sits on almost one acre.
Due to what Metro Fire explains as site constraints, the fire district is also requesting approval for an easement variance, documents show.
Unlike typical development within the RD-20 district, the site must accommodate multiple large emergency response vehicles, including a ladder truck approximately 61 feet in length, fire engines, medic units, Battalion Chief vehicles, Metro Fire states, adding that the facility must also accommodate living quarters for 15 firefighters, administrative space, parking for shift overlap and emergency staffing,
The current property has a “narrow configuration,” Metro Fire said, measuring at 150 feet in width and 343 feet in depth, which makes the maneuverability of large emergency vehicles difficult, along with accommodating fifteen staff per shift, who bring in their own vehicles to park while on shift.
“Required apparatus turning movements, parking demands associated with fifteen-person staffing shifts, and site area limitations create challenges in meeting certain zoning and landscape requirements,” documents state, adding that a reduced east side-yard setback from 30 feet to 5 feet is “essential” to allow for adequate bay width and turning radii for large emergency vehicles.
Currently, Citrus Heights Zoning Code requires a 30-foot side-yard setback for a two-story structure in the RD-20 zoning district.
“The requested setback reduction does not create a special privilege. Rather, it allows the property to continue functioning as an essential public safety facility and preserves.”
“While relocating the station to an alternative site was studied, there were no alternative sites that met the same level of coverage necessary to provide adequate response in this geographical area, as demonstrated in the District’s Standards of Cover.”
“These circumstances are inherent to the property’s use as a fire station and are not the result of a self-imposed design decision, but rather a unique operational requirement.”
The replacement station will improve emergency response capabilities, firefighter safety, operational efficiency, and long-term service delivery to Citrus Heights residents and businesses, Metro Fire emphasizes, adding that the variance, if approve, wouldn’t alter the “fundamental land use designation,” or increase any development intensity.
The new remodel would also incorporate health and wellness areas for firefighters, including enhanced decontamination areas, modern living accommodations, fitness facilities, and separation of living quarters from fire engines.
“Station 23 serves a vital role in protecting the lives and property of residents, businesses, schools, and visitors throughout Citrus Heights and neighboring communities. The existing station has reached the end of its useful life and no longer adequately supports modern firefighting operations, emergency medical response, firefighter health and safety practices, and doesn’t have the required capacity to meet the demands of the community into the future,” Metro Fire says, adding that a new remodeled facility will provide a “resilient, modern, public safety facility.”
The proposed remodel project was last updated in mid-June. A hearing date for the Citrus Heights Planning Commission has not yet been announced.
