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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ_CUP_Justification_Fire_ Station_15_1South_170922_v1 Fire Station 15 CUP Justification September 2017 Conditional Use Permit Justification statement for a new neighborhood fire station as approved by City of Renton voters and proposed by the City of Renton and the Renton Regional Fire Authority. Proposed Project: Fire Station 15, Kennydale neighborhood Consistency with Plans and Regulations: The proposed fire station will be located on city property purchased for the fire station project. It co-located with a new water reservoir constructed at the rear of the site. Development of facilities and services needed by the city for functional, safe and efficient environment is the responsibility of the City. This includes fire service. Approval for funding for this station was voted for by the City fo Renton and use of those funds is consistent with the stated policies of the plan. This new station provides improvements consistent with the stated Goals of the Capital Facilities Element of the 2015 City of Renton Comprehensive Plan. The Capital Facilities Element policies are also supported by this project. Table CF-1 Levels of Service lists an average response time of 7.3 minutes, 90% of the time. This new station will allow service areas to modified to provide more efficient and effective response times. IN line with CF-8 and CF-9, the station will be efficient and designed to conserve energy while providing long term value. Appropriate Location: The proposed use supports growth and needed facilities for the City of Renton and specifically for the Kennydale neighborhood area. The proposed property was purchased by the city for a future fire station. The location selected is on an arterial with quick access to both the neighborhood and freeway area the station serves and improves fire department service to the City of Renton overall. Effect on Adjacent Properties: The project is similar in scale to surrounding small businesses and residences. The structure itself will fit in with the scale and density of surrounding properties. There will be limited impact to adjacent properties due to the nature of a fire station. Engine traffic, sirens and lights will exit direct to the arterial to limit noise and light. Traffic will need to stop for the apparatus to respond to calls. Efforts will be made to shield the impact of noise and lights to adjacent properties and the station will be focused toward the arterial with limited impact to residential properties behind the station. The engine will return from calls to the station via a driveway at the west edge of the property but will not be using sirens or lights at that time. The project will bring improved response times for fire and emergency services in the neighborhood. Compatibility: The proposed fire station building form is compatible with the land use plan for the City of Renton and the size and volume of structures nearby. The building is well below all thresholds for development limits for the site type. Parking: The station will provide adequate parking for all uses. Due to the colocation of the fire station and water reservoir construction projects, the proposed parking will not be available upon initial occupancy of the building. This will result in both the public and firefighters utilizing public street parking initially. After the tower construction is complete, the parking spaces will be constructed and provide all necessary station parking. Traffic: A traffic study was done and determined that the impact is not significant to require mitigation. Noise, Light and Glare: Sirens and lights will be directed toward the arterial to minimize noise to adjacent properties. Plantings and the elevation changes on site will reduce light and glare to adjacent properties. On site lighting will be shielded to limit light spill to adjacent properties. The station has little car traffic except at shift change, once daily, when six cars will arrive or depart within a limited time. Two parking stalls are provided at the front of the site for the general public. Fire Truck engine noise and siren noise will occur on demand as service calls occur, with the trucks exiting the site direct to the arterial. Return trucks will open a gate and drive along the west side of the site to return to the apparatus bay. Landscaping: Landscaping will be provided for the full site including trees, bushes, rocks and groundcover. Tree replacement will be provided in accordance with City of Renton requirements. Screening will be provided per code except that reduced landscaping is requested for a small portion of the site along the west edge to accommodate driveway widths.