NEWPORT BEACH : Fire Station Wins OK Despite Protests

A $1.25-million fire station with adjacent public restrooms planned for a residential part of Balboa Island won preliminary City Council approval this week over the protests of dozens of neighbors.

The council voted 6 to 0 with Councilman John W. Hedges absent to go forward with designs and development of the structure.

But some residents also urged the council to consider putting public restrooms planned as part of the project in the commercial district instead of near homes and called the proposed structure a “monolith” that would clash with the tiny island’s quaint architecture.

“The monolith they’ve proposed on Balboa Island is simply too big for that location,” said resident Tom Sullivan, adding, “We want the restrooms, but they should not be there.”

The hearing Monday ended two years of discussions over where to put the island’s new, updated station that will replace the small, decades-old facility that Fire Department officials say is no longer adequate.

Monday’s crowd was divided between island residents and business people, most all of whom agree that the island needs both a new station and public toilet facilities but are at odds over where they should be located.

The new station is planned for an oversize lot at 124 Marine Ave. The planned height of the two-story structure has been reduced from 31 feet to 27 feet, and the overall size has been reduced a few hundred square feet to 5,150 square feet, Fire Chief Timothy Riley said.

The new structure will house a fire engine and a special emergency response unit, along with three to four resident firefighters.

The new building will replace the current facility at 323 Marine Ave., which needed a custom-built, small-size fire engine to fit the narrow structure in the heart of the commercial district.

The council Monday also approved plans to sell the lot at 323 Marine Ave. but left open the possibility that residents would buy the land and turn the site into a public park, library or rest area.

Funds from the sale of the old lot are needed to finance the new station.

Some speakers debated the merits of public restrooms.

“I can relate to that gentleman who used to be able to run around the island,” Councilwoman Ruthelyn Plummer said. “I like pit stops now. I use public facilities.”

Resident Mike Sullivan questioned the fairness of putting restrooms in a residential area when doing so would be more helpful to area merchants than homeowners.

“Who, really, are these restrooms for?” Sullivan asked, arguing that customers of merchants would be the biggest benefactors. “If anyone thinks that’s fair, I’ll eat this podium.”