Alamo MAC Recommends New Fire Station Plans

Despite resident concerns, plans for a new Alamo fire station are moving forward with the support of the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council.

At a three hour meeting attended by more than 40 people Tuesday night, the Alamo MAC unanimously recommend a proposal to replace the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District's current Alamo fire station.

The District's plans for the 1.1-acre lot and current residential home on the 2100 block of Stone Valley Road, include a 9,000 square-foot facility. The site is 2,000 feet from the current fire station on the 1100 block of Stone Valley Road. 

Fire District officials have said the current station, built in 1958, is out-dated and cannot meet the current needs of the community.

San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Fire Chief Richard Price said he was pleased with the MAC's recommendation and unanimous support for the new fire station.

The recommendation now goes to Contra Costa County officials for final approval.

Both supporters and opponents attended the meeting and were allowed three minutes each during a public comment section, although several chose to only state their support. More than 20 attendees asked to put their stance into council records.

Supporters included Adam Geraghty, who works at a property management company near the new station site.

“This is something for the community, a new updated facility that we know is going to work when the community needs it,” said Geraghty.

Allen Makely said he supported the plan because it would improve the district’s emergency responsiveness and aesthetics of the surrounding area.

“I’ve lived off Stone Valley Road and that corner has been a total eyesore for so long,” he said. “It doesn’t represent what the community is and the design I’ve seen tonight will greatly improve that.”

Price and architect Bob Deiss presented the proposal’s designs and layouts at the meeting.

During the presentation, Price said the Alamo MAC recommendation would be another step in a process that has taken almost a decade.

“For about 10 years now we’ve been searching for a new site for our fire station,” said Price.

He added the difficulty was finding a lot that met district needs and was centrally located.

“This is a dream site: It is a large flat lot and at the center of town," said Price. "If you were planning Alamo with no homes here yet, that’s the site you would put your fire station."

Opponents said they have qualms with the location and design elements of the plan. 

Many complaints were about plans for utilities on the site, including a propane tank.

David Cardiff said the distances between the propane tank and other buildings in did not meet state regulations and insufficient spacing could lead “to another San Bruno incident.”

“I understand we need a fire station, but on what level do we sacrifice the residents’ safety?” Cardiff asked.

The Alamo Improvement Association recommended denying a permit for the new station during its most recent review of the fire station proposal on March 9.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the association's Chairman Roger Smith said the site is on “one of our most heavily traveled streets in Alamo.” 

Smith also expressed concerns about the propane tank’s proximity to traffic.

The association also listed a handful of other suggestions it said the district should adopt in its design to “make it more attractive and more compatible with the residential neighborhood in which the site is located.” Those included a more subdued color scheme and smaller signage.

According to Diess, the plan places utilities closer to Stone Valley Road to accommodate complaints from residents who wanted the complex further away from their homes.

He also said the distances between elements in the utility complex meet national standards that differ from state standards.

County officials will specify which standards are required and relocate elements within the site, he said.

For example, Deiss said, district officials have design alternatives that replace the propane tank with another fuel source. He added an 8 foot concrete wall will protect the fuel tank from the road.

Several MAC members said their recommendations for the fire station were based on the design's flexibility.

“This will go under exhaustive review by the zoning administrator and other county people,” said councilmember Steve Mick.  “There are still things to be heard and finalized, but I have confidence that if major things need to be changed, the district will do so.”

Chair David Bowlby agreed, saying he believed the proposal’s immediate concerns “would be well mitigated by our team of district officials and professionals.” 

MAC members also asked the fire district to present them with a revised proposal, if county officials substantially modified to the plan for the new station.

Price said he expected the plan to reach the county zoning administrator in the next month. Because of the appeal processes, he did not know when the project would break ground. He said construction would take 10 months to a year.

Other supporters speaking at the meeting included Vishwas More, a 13-year Alamo resident, who said it would be foolish to delay the project because of doubts about specific design elements.

“Let’s build this before I die,” he joked. “If we keep doing this, we’ll never build this country.”

Len Horowitz said fire district personnel “saved my life” with a quick response time to an incident he called in. He also said the recent disaster in Japan is a reason to build a modern-day station that will be the hub for Alamo's disaster preparedness.

“This station is an asset to the community,” Horowitz said.

Paul Salvoni, a resident on Valley Oaks Drive, also said Japan’s disaster put the need for a new station in Alamo at the front of his mind.

“This is a forward-thinking project that will keep us safe,” Salvoni said.

He said he realized the need for disaster preparedness after he and his wife participated in the district-sponsored Community Emergency Response Team program.

“You never need a new fire station or fire crews until you need them, and by then it’s too late," said Salvoni.

Opponents said safety is paramount for the fire district and the new station will damage the well being of Alamo residents.

“Where is this protect and serve business?” said Ken Brown. “Fire trucks will have to go through junior high school students and two lanes of cars, and there’s no room to pull it off.”

According to Price, the current Alamo fire station averages two emergency calls a day and expects the same at the new station, which will house six employees. 

When responding to calls, Price said, firefighters will be able to control the traffic light at the nearby intersection to create safe routes to emergencies.

For a timeline of the proposal, read .

For the district’s website on its proposal, visit here.

Also at Tuesday's MAC meeting:

• Councilmember Mick said the Alamo Chamber of Commerce is hosting a golf tournament at Roundhill Country Club on April 18.  Proceeds will go toward scholarships.

• Councilmember Nancy Dommes said the Alamo Women's Club will host a community garage/craft sale on May 21.
• Field Representative Jennifer Quallick said Caltrans will host a forum on the I-680 Rehabilitation Project on March 23 at the San Ramon Community Center. 
• Quallick also said Supervisor Mary Piepho requested council meetings be reduced from twice a month to once a month. Quallick said Piepho asked the new schedule go into effect starting in May. Chair Bowlby said he wanted to discuss the issue further.