“The Arcata Fire Protection District (AFPD) understands that a Public Hearing on the Arcata General Plan 2045, Gateway Area Plan and Form Code, and the Final DEIR will be held May 29, 2024. We also understand that a vote to approve/adopt these elements is planned.
We are writing to request that approval of these elements be denied at this time and put on hold ….”
See also:
Arcata Fire District tells the Council: No building permits, no occupancy of 4-story and taller buildings, please – April 16, 2024
The Arcata City Council had their first public hearing special meeting to discuss the eventual adoption of the General Plan 2045 updates, the Gateway Area Plan, the Gateway Code, and the Final Environmental Impact Report.
The topics that were discussed included City-wide Inclusionary Zoning; 3-story Zoning Administrator approval of Gateway projects; the L Street Corridor linear park and “woonerf”; and the clearly-stated requirements of the Arcata Fire District that there be no new buildings taller than three stories constructed or occupied until the Arcata Fire District is fully capable of providing necessary emergency safety services to the people who would occupy those buildings.
The directive of the Arcata Fire District (AFD) in their letter to the City Council from April 9, 2024, stated: “However, until funding is established, and district expansion is underway, we believe it would be imprudent to approve building permits and begin occupancy in the envisioned residential buildings.”
The complete April 9, 2024, letter can be viewed here.
At the May 29, meeting, starting at about 2 hours and 40 minutes in the YouTube video, the matter of fire safety was brought up. More specifically, the communication among the participants in these fire-safety conversations was discussed: AFD Board Chair, Eric Loudenslager; the current Fire Chief, Justin McDonald; the incoming Fire Chief Chris Emmons; the Arcata Mayor and other City Councilmembers; the Arcata City Manager, Karen Diemer; and the Community Development Director, David Loya.
The 26-1/2 segment of the video of the meeting can be seen here, below.
During the discussion, at about 14 minutes in, Councilmember Kimberley White read the letter that the Fire Chief, Justin McDonald, and the AFD Board President, Eric Loudenslager, had sent to the City Council the previous day, on May 28, 2024. Here is that letter:
The text of the May 27, 2024, letter. Highlighting has been added.
| From: | Eric Loudenslager |
| Sent: | Tuesday, May 28, 2024 2:11 PM |
| To: | Meredith Matthews; [email protected]; Sarah Schaefer |
| cc: | Justin McDonald |
| Subject: | AFPD Request for GAP, Form Code Decision Delay |
Mayor Matthews
Council Member White
Council Member Schaefer
RE: May 29, 2024 Public Hearing on the General Plan 2045 and Gateway Area Plan and Form Code
The Arcata Fire Protection District (AFPD) understands that a Public Hearing on the Arcata General Plan 2045, Gateway Area Plan and Form Code, and the Final DEIR will be held May 29, 2024. We also understand that a vote to approve/adopt these elements is planned.
We are writing to request that approval of these elements be denied at this time and put on hold until the AP Triton Standard of Coverage (SOC) for the AFPD is completed and the Arcata City Council and AFPD Board of Directors achieve consensus on a plan for the likely expansion of the District’s capacity.
The SOC, which the City and District are collaborating on, is due to be completed within a few months. The recommendations in the SOC should clarify the scope of the required expansion of stations, staffing, equipment and training necessary for the District to respond to emergencies with the anticipated growth in Arcata. These recommendations should inform implementation the General Plan 2045, Gateway Area Plan, and the Gateway Form Code.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Eric J. Loudenslager
Board President
Justin McDonald
Fire Chief
May 29, 2024, meeting video segment
Fire Safety
Letter from the Arcata Fire District
This is the 26-1/2 minute segment of the video of the May 29, 2024 City Council meeting in which fire safety is discussed. This portion of the meeting starts at about 2 hours 36 minutes into the video.
The AFD letter is read by Kimberley White at about 14 minutes.