After a final briefing that would grant concept approval and waivers for the reconstruction of Greenwood Fire Station 21, the Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee approved the design for the new facility, which will also undergo major upgrades.

Rebecca Herzfeld, with council central staff, presented the proposal to the committee at the committee meeting this morning, Aug. 12. The approved redesign is scheduled to go to full council vote on Monday, Aug. 17.

She said that the fire station was in a neighborhood commercial zone with a pedestrian designation. She explained that most of the waivers for the reconstruction was due to the pedestrian designation.

“The waivers would allow it (Fire Station 21) to be located there,” she said. “It’s not unusual to have a fire station in a commercial zone.”

A waiver requested increasing the curb cut width to 40 feet.

City council adopted legislation that would allow wider curb cuts for fire stations last week, however, the law has not been formally written. Herzfeld suggested the council make it clear the waiver request would be allowed for the Greenwood station based on the new legislation.

In addition, the first floor of the station would be set at 12 feet from floor to ceiling to coincide with the allowance of successful retail uses in both pedestrian and commercial zones.

The Greenwood station is located at 7304 Greenwood Ave. N.

To accommodate a larger building, a small parcel of property was acquired directly east of the station. The project scope includes the new station built to current safety standards.

The project is currently funded through design through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy, approved by voters in 2003, which over nine years will upgrade, renovate, or replace 32 neighborhood fire stations.

To compensate for lower than anticipated Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funding, the project will be put on hold at the end of design if alternative funds are not identified.

As previously stated by Scott Wolf, with Miller Hull Partnership, the firm designing the facility, the redesign would make the front apparatus bay (facade with fire station garage doors) more visible, giving citizens the opportunity to see more of the station’s operations.

“I’m comfortable with these allowances given that it’s in the heart of Greenwood and needs to function moving trucks in and out within a pedestrian area,” council member Clark said.

“This one is very well designed,” council member Tim Burgess said.