Scottsdale City Council approves new fire station
Apr. 24—I
t's a booming time for the Scottsdale Fire Department — as it scrambles to keep up with a growing city.
New training facility?
Check, under construction.
More firefighters?
Check, being hired by the dozens.
Ambulance service?
Check, as the state's recent certification of need clears the way for the fire department to begin operating ambulances for the first time — possibly as soon as January.
New fire stations?
Another big check.
The voter-approved bond package in 2019 provided for the construction/renovation of several fire stations.
After previous approval of a renovated fire station near 90th Street and Via Linda, a brand new fire station was approved by City Council April 16.
By a unanimous vote, council approved an $11.1 million fire station near Hayden Road and the Loop 101.
While other bond projects — most infamously, the fire and police training center, which ballooned from an advertised $4.2 million to over $20 million — have far exceeded original budget lines, this one appears to come in just a shade higher than what was on ballots.
The cost to "design and construct a new 12,000 square foot fire station northwest of the Airpark near the 101 and Hayden Road to improve response times" was projected in 2019 at $10.5 million.
Moreover, the amount over the original budget was covered by a "transfer of up to $631,300 from the Bond 2019 Project 4 — Replace Outdated Emergency Response Equipment."
The fire station architectural services contract was awarded on August 24, 2021 in the amount of $690,630 — bringing the total around $11.8 million.
The new fire station will be located at 18455 N. Hayden Road, near the former Mayo Boulevard that is now Axon Way.
Indeed, the land for the project was donated by Axon as part of a development agreement when the Taser company purchased former state land.
Neighbors in the Stonebrook II community previously expressed concerns that the fire station — especially if it was two stories — would tower over their backyards.
No public comments were made at the April 16 meeting.
According to the project narrative, "The proposed Fire Station No. 612 project encompasses an 13,819 square foot new building, site improvements, and associated off site roadway and utility improvements along Hayden Road. The building is a one-story structure with a minimum height of 26 feet above finished floor."
There will be space for 12 dorm rooms "with associated living spaces and operations support spaces."
The station will have three bays.
Due to "explosive growth for residential and commercial properties in the area," according to the bond pitch, the new fire station was needed as two others in North Scottsdale "have a response time that exceeds the goal of 4 minutes.
"By moving the station closer to the geographic center of the area it serves and improving access, the response times for emergency services will improve significantly," the bond literature promised.
