NEWPORT BEACH : Fire Station Design to Be Re-Examined

Construction plans for the new Balboa Island fire station have been sent back to the drawing board in an effort to please island residents, unhappy with the City Council’s earlier approval of the plans.

City officials and residents, who are hoping to pacify local homeowners who are upset at what they called a mammoth structure in their village-like neighborhood, are meeting with architects for a new round of design discussions in hopes of producing a new plan in two to three weeks.

“We’re kind of back to stage one,” said Fire Chief Timothy D. Riley. “Hopefully, this will make everyone happy.”

Residents appear to agree that their neighborhood is more suited to a Mediterranean or mission-style design, as well as a smaller building with a low second story that would not block views.

“It probably won’t look like a fire station,” said Steven Bromberg, president of a homeowners association on Little Balboa Island.

In March, there was an outpouring of community opposition when the original design was unveiled. Many residents thought that the bulky, institutional structure at Park and Marine avenues did not mix with the offbeat but quaint designs of small homes and shops dotting the posh island.

Many residents wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process and have since formed a community committee that has been meeting with city officials and architects to draft a substitute design.

Those residents say they feel confident that the city is listening to their concerns and that a new design will offer both firefighters and residents a building the neighborhood can live with.

A smaller group of residents had opposed plans for public restrooms at the fire station. They argued that the restrooms would be too close to their homes and would be better suited in the commercial area of the island. But so far, plans for the restroom facilities remain in the overall proposal.

Fire officials add that they want the neighbors to be satisfied with the design, and as long as the house holds the necessary equipment and apparatus, the style of the building should be something the residents like.

“It’s a community building, and they need to be just as happy as we are,” Chief Riley said. The building replaces the original island fire station, built in the 1920s and now sandwiched between stores and boutiques on the island’s main shopping street. That building is still open but is too small to house modern equipment. A city ordinance requires that the new building be operating by January, 1994.