What is the Project?
Answer: The Orcas Island Fire District passed a levy in 1999 to (among many other things) build and refurbish its 7 fire stations. The construction of the new headquarters station in Eastsound was the largest part of this plan. The remodel of the Rosario station has been on-going for over a year. Four of the other 5 stations are getting “face Lifts” to include paint, electric door openers, rest rooms where possible and other improvements. A new Fire Station is scheduled for the Deer Harbor/Spring Point area.
Why Does Deer Harbor Need a New Fire Station?
The Deer Harbor Station was constructed 1972 and has served for over 35 years. This concrete block building is 16 feet wide and 32 feet long. It is barely large enough to allow a modern fire truck in the station and still open the cab doors. It has no rest room and no real space for storage of supplies. It is inadequate for our needs now and for the future The main issue is that it cannot house another fire truck and we desperately need to house a water tanker in the community for fire protection. The lot we lease is only big enough for the existing station.
What is the Plan for a New Station?
The new station will be built on the property we own next to the existing station. The actual design and site plan is to be determined with your help. We envision enough space for four vehicles. A new fire truck to be ordered next year, a tanker coming from the Westsound station (theirs is being replaced). An ambulance when one of the current apparatus is replaced (within 5 years) and space for a fourth vehicle when future needs determine what that is. We also want overnight living space for 3 volunteers (6 when a serious event such as our last winter occur). The total square footage we envision is about the same as a large house (3,840 square feet). We need your help to finish this plan.
What is the Process for Finishing the Plan?
There is no zoning for fire stations and we are required to apply for and complete a “Special Use” permit. This process requires public meetings and input. The open house we had does not qualify as we have not applied for the permit. The moratorium has just expired and we wanted to seek your input at the Open House before we applied. We need more input before we apply and that is what this process is about.
How Can I Obtain More Information?
Please look at the concerns other residents had under "Open House Questions” and then review the responses we supplied under “Responses to Open House Questions” for more information.
What is the Next Step?
As of August 8th 2007 the next step is to have a second meeting in Deer Harbor to show our designs based on your input and our needs. That meeting has not been scheduled. It will require significant professional work and will probably not be until late September at the earliest.
New Conceptual Schematics as of May 23rd
2008 (8.6 MB
PDF)
B.O.F.C. Public Meeting in Deer Harbor,
February 12th, 2008
Open House Questions from July 16th, 2007
Responses to Open House Questions from
July 16th, 2007
Deer Harbor Sounder Article, August 8th,
2007