A proposed remodel of Portola Valley's fire station that includes a zoning code change for its site has some residents concerned that more public buildings could be added to the site in the future.

During a March 17 Planning Commission meeting, Woodside Fire Protection District Chief Rob Lindner said the fire department has outgrown its current facilities and is in "desperate need" of a remodel. But town planning staff say since the station, which is located on a 46,970-square-foot lot just slightly north of the intersection of Portola and Alpine roads, is zoned for residential use, the town code would need to be updated first.

Station 8, which is located at 135 Portola Road, is considered a legal nonconforming use, which limits updates or additions that otherwise would be considered typical, according to a report prepared by staff for the meeting.

Resident Rita Comes Whitney wrote to the commission in a March 17 email that she supports the changes to the fire station, but she said changing the zoning creates "a broad and non-specific array of indeterminate potential uses ..."

"The clear and obvious need to permit a pre-existing fire station, staffed 24 hours/day, to qualify for a conditional use permit in a residential neighborhood does not demonstrate the need for or propriety of changing our zoning ordinance to allow any use that can be categorized as a 'public building' to be permitted in a residential neighborhood," she said. "Do we really need or want to authorize a 'public' authority to purchase any residence in any residential neighborhood and then convert that residence to some future 'public' use? ... What exactly is the reason to create an exemption that is much, much broader than the present application and the demonstrated need?"

Commissioner Jon Goulden said the fire station is intended to be in its present location for a long time and that there's "clearly been a heightened sense of fire danger" in the last few years, so fulfilling the district's needs is important.

"The town has grown over time and our infrastructure has grown with it," he said. "It's in line to say, 'You know we're building something for the future.' We don't want to try to limit it now. Let's do the right thing so they're not back here in five years asking for something more."

Town staff will look into the option of modifying the code narrowly to allow for building related to a fire station, but not other uses (a public building is defined as a facility that provides a public service to residents, such as a fire or police station, library, health care center, community center or recreation facility.)

Fire station zoning history

The station was built in 1970 and last remodeled in 1994, according to The Almanac's archives. Plans for the latest remodel have been in discussion for over two years.

The fire station property is located within the town zone that permits single-family dwellings and conditional uses, according to the March 17 staff report. However, public building or other similar uses are not currently listed as either a permitted or conditional use in this zone. From 1967 to 1980, the property was zoned for public buildings. However, the "public building" portion of this section was removed from the code in a 1987 ordinance.

"It is unclear from the Sept. 9, 1987 town council meeting minutes for this ordinance adoption why exactly the text amendment was made; staff was unable to locate an associated staff report or any other supporting documents to clarify intent," according to the report.

The rezoning of the property created a discrepancy with the existing use. Staff doesn't know why the fire station would have been deliberately made nonconforming. It is possible that the current regulatory constraint is an unintended consequence of the past code amendments.

Lindner outlined the district's need for additional sleeping quarters (some staff working 48-hour shifts are currently forced to sleep in makeshift bedrooms in the office and exercise room), a reception area, and more parking spaces.

He acknowledged neighbors' concerns about possible increases in noise and light from an expanded facility and offer of office space to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The fire district removed some of the parking and exterior lighting from the plan to address their concerns.

Proposed changes

The proposal includes a remodel of current facilities and requests the following updates:

• Adding one bedroom to the station for a total of five

• One office

• A reception area

• A new fitness and training area

• 10 parking stalls, plus two new ADA compliant stalls, in front of the building.

The current fire station houses between three to five personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Everyone at the station responds to emergency and non-emergency calls. They work a continuous 48-hour shift at the station, with a roughly one-hour shift change overlap occurring in the morning between 7:30 and 8:30. Up to 10 people occupy the station within the shift change overlap.

The station has three bedrooms, with each person having their own bedroom. However, if the station has a five-person shift, makeshift bedrooms are created in the office and exercise room.

The station has two garage spaces in the apparatus room for an engine and water tender, according to the staff report.

Any additional equipment is housed in a covered sheet metal carport, which does not currently meet Department of Homeland Security standards for securing the fire station and its equipment.

Project timeline

Project plans next go to the Architectural & Site Control Commission for a recommendation on the architectural and site development permits. The project will then return to the Planning Commission for a public hearing on the environmental review. The project appears to qualify for a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act, though staff is still evaluating that.

The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Town Council, which will have final say on the project.

The staff report from the March 17 meeting can be viewed here.