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The applicant seeks approval under Category 11 to build a
combined fire and rescue station in the Village of Catlett.
The site is currently being used as the Department’s Fire
Hall. It has been used as a venue for fund raising
events for the Fire Department such as bingo or spaghetti
dinners, as well as for community events in Catlett.
The applicant indicates that the location of the site is
ideal as it has direct access to Route 28 and is adequately
sized to accommodate the proposed new buildings and parking.
Project Update:
On April 27, 2006, the Planning Commission unanimously
recommended approval of this item to the Board of
Supervisors.
Project Information:
The site receives public water but sewer service is not
available at the present time. In the future, the site
should have access to public sewer when it is made available
in the Village. The site, fortunately, does have a
drainfield with capacity to serve the project requirements.
The Health Department permit will reflect any special
conditions or limitations.
The proposed Fire and Rescue station will house the Catlett
Volunteer Fire Department’s Company 7 and the Cedar Run
Volunteer Rescue Department’s Company 12 response personnel,
equipment, and vehicles. The current station used by
Catlett, is too small to meet the needs of its service
area. The Catlett response area is one of the largest
within the County. The applicant notes in the last five (5)
years that the number of emergency response incidents has
nearly doubled within the County.
Because the two companies are located in separate locations,
delays in response time are currently a problem in Catlett.
In addition, the “response time” may also be effected as
there is no room for personnel to stay at the Fire and
Rescue facilities. By bringing the two companies together
and providing a facility which is more conducive to
volunteers readiness for calls, turnout times and response
times will be improved and this will enhance public safety.
The station will operate as a 24-hour facility. There will
be two (2) full time employees present Monday through Friday
from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The majority of the personnel
are volunteers. On a regular day/night shift, generally 3
to 4 people wait for calls. On a busy day/night, the
highest estimate of employees would be approximately twenty
(20) according to the Catlett Fire Chief. This type of
situation would likely involve a storm event or other
natural or man-made disaster scenario.
The station, at capacity, can house up to ten (10) apparatus
for Fire and Rescue teams. The new station would no longer
be used for social events or bingo. It is probable that
local school groups may want to schedule visits/tours or
that an occasional community open house would be hosted.
Fire and Rescue indicate that they have other buildings that
can be utilized for social gatherings.
The proposed new station will have five (5) bunkrooms with 3
to 5 beds in each room. It will also contain men’s and
women’s locker rooms and restrooms, a kitchen, dining room,
lounge, recreation and exercise rooms, offices and ample
storage for gear, equipment, hoses, a communications room,
as well as five (5) double-load apparatus bays.
The proposed structure will be a single story design with
apparatus bays on one side and the residential/office areas
on the other. The architecture will be attractive and blend
in with the local area. In particular, the bay doors will
feature wood panels with a stone arch. |
