WE DID IT!
The City of San Diego has committed to completing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the proposed site plan. Below, you will find details on the timeline, EIR updates and more.
Q2 2014
As part of the City of San Diego’s 2015 budget planning, a brand new, $12,000,000 fire station was proposed for Home Avenue in the City Heights area.
Q2 2018
Through the city’s real estate and planning processes, it was determined that the project should be moved to its current location at 47th Street and Fairmont Avenue. The city's 2018 budget disclosed the 2017 acquisition of the site and officially renamed the project the Fairmount Ave Fire Station.
July 2019
A 2019 report by Dudek identified a plethora of sensitive receptors on the site the city acquired in 2017 (47th Street and Fairmount Avenue) to build the Fairmount Ave Fire Station. According to the City’s records, the fire station would infringe on city-designated, multi-habitat planning area (MHPA) and multiple species conservation plan (MHPC) lands.
By then, the project was projected to cost upwards of $16,000,000.
September 2019
Leisureland Mobile Villas management learned about the Fairmount Ave Fire Station via a flyer affixed to a telephone pole - which served as a “notice of future decision,” to be reviewed by the City Heights Community Planning Committee.
Anywhere but Here was established; a team whose goal it was to begin researching the project’s history as well as forge a path forward.
April 2020
After months of research and coordination, Anywhere but Here hosted local stakeholders (Sierra Club - San Diego Chapter, San Diego Canyonlands, Groundwork San Diego – Chollas Creek) for an on-site tour of the proposed Fairmount Ave Fire Station site to discuss project updates and strategize next steps.
July 2021
Anywhere but Here representatives reached out to local stakeholders to create awareness of the proposed fire station, including: Chollas Creek Coalition, Groundwork San Diego, San Diego Canyonlands, Sierra Club San Diego Chapter, members from the Eastern Area Communities Planning Committee, and the Webster Community Council. Anywhere but Here provided a briefing on the project and hosted a tour of the proposed site for these environmental stakeholders.
Anywhere but Here commenced outreach to each San Diego City Council office. Meeting with each and every elected representative, asking the city to complete an EIR before planning the Fairmount Ave Fire Station.
San Diego’s 2022 adopted budget revealed the Fairmount Ave Fire Station’s new cost to be $22,327,795.
august 2021
The San Diego Union Tribune and a local Univision affiliate took notice of Anywhere but Here’s efforts and covered the progress made, communicating the need for preserving this open space.
October 2021
Leisureland Mobile Villas hosted a meeting for their residents on October 2nd with participation from the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter. In addition to local media outlets, representatives from the mayor’s office and council districts 4 and 9 were in attendance.
Anywhere but Here provided a comprehensive project update and called on Leisureland Mobile Villas residents to reach out to the mayor and encourage him to complete an EIR before proceeding with this project.
NBC 7 San Diego and Telemundo 20 provided broadcast coverage of the event.
For a full recording of the event, CLICK HERE.
On October 21st, the City of San Diego confirmed their intent to complete a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Fairmount Ave Fire Station before proceeding any further.
November 2021
The Eastern Area Planning Committee sent a letter to the mayor and city council thanking them for their commitment to pursue an Enviornmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Fairmount Ave Fire Station. The letter can be found here.
February 2022
The mayor’s office reached out to Anywhere But Here (ABH) representatives to confirm the City of San Diego’s intent to complete the EIR. They also confirmed that the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and Department of Engineering and Capital Projects will begin planning to engage with local community groups to seek public input and provide more information on this effort.
March 2022
The Engineering & Capital Projects Department reached out to ABH representatives to confirm that the EIR is moving forward and offered to provide community stakeholders with an update on the EIR.
APRIL 2022
The City of San Diego began engagement with local stakeholders on the Fairmount Ave Fire Station, laying out the EIR process. Those groups include the Southeastern Planning Committee, Chollas Valley Community Planning Group, City Heights Area Planning Committee, Chollas Creek Coalition (inclusive of the Oak Park Community Council and the Webster Community Council), and the Eastern Area Planning Committee. The city reported the EIR will take 18-24 months to complete and is outlined accordingly:
Preparation of Updated Technical Reports (3 months)
Review of Updated Technical Reports by DSD (45 days)
Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meeting (30 calendar days)
Preparation of draft EIR (6 to 8 months)
Public Review of Draft EIR (45 calendar days)
Preparation of Response to Comments and Final EIR (3 to 5 months)
Agency Decision on Findings, Statement of Overriding Consideration, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (2 months)
Site Development Permit, if applicable (1 month)
APRIL 15, 2022
The City of San Diego publicly announces the FY23 Proposed Budget, projected at $4.98B. The Fire-Rescue portion states the initiation of the “EIR for the Fairmount Avenue Fire Station” as one of the Fire-Rescue Department’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) goals for FY2023. The projected cost for the project is currently at $23,727,795.
MAY 2022
The City of San Diego met with ABH representatives, Leisureland residents and local stakeholders at Webster Elementary to discuss the EIR process and gather feedback.
JUNE 13, 2022
The City of San Diego adopted the FY23 Adopted Budget. The Fire-Rescue Department’s CIP goal for the EIR in FY23 as well as the projected cost for the project remained unchanged.
September 2022
Mark Koons, General Manager of Leisureland Mobile Villas, sent a letter to the mayor and city council thanking them for their commitment to pursuing an EIR for the Fairmount Ave Fire Station. That letter can be found here.
April 26, 2023
San Diego’s Active Transportation and Infrastructure Council Committee voted unanimously to recommend to City Council an authorization of a second amendment with RRM Design Group to update Fire-Rescue standardization documents and provide EIR and design services for the Fairmount Avenue Fire Station. You can find the staff report here.
May 16, 2023
San Diego City Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that authorizes a second amendment with the agreement between the City of San Diego and RRM Design Group for Fire Station Design Standardization (Contract No. H166574) to provide EIR and design services for the Fairmount Avenue Fire Station, as well as updates to the Fire Station Design Standardization documents in Phase 3, Phase 4 and Phase 5. You can find the staff report here.
June 6, 2023
San Diego City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that authorizes a second amendment with the agreement between the City of San Diego and RRM Design Group for Fire Station Design Standardization (Contract No. H166574) to provide EIR and design services for the Fairmount Avenue Fire Station, as well as updates to the Fire Station Design Standardization documents in Phase 3, Phase 4 and Phase 5. The EIR will be conducted by the firm Dudek. You can find the staff report here.
September 2023
The City of San Diego now has a public-facing website detailing all future updates with the Fairmount Ave Fire Station EIR, as well as the upcoming Notice of Preparation (NOP) scoping meeting (Expected Date - Jan 2024). The website can be found here.
January 12, 2024
The City of San Diego sent out their Notice of Preparation (NOP) letter to the surrounding community in regards to their upcoming Fairmount Ave Fire Station EIR Scoping Meeting. This will be the first official city meeting regarding the EIR, with the purpose of informing the public about the process as well as receiving feedback.
This meeting is set for January 30, 2024 at 6 PM in the Webster Elementary School Auditorium, located off Elm St. The public has 30 days (February 12) to respond with comments either electronically or by mail. You can find more details about the NOP and how to comment here.
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