Planning Commission approves new West Annandale Fire Station
The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a project to replace the West Annandale Fire Station and to use a vacant commercial building nearby as a temporary fire station during construction.
Built in 1970, the existing fire station, at 8914 Little River Turnpike, “has exceeded its operational usefulness,” David Stinson, a county planner, told the commissioners at a Dec. 6 hearing.
The new 14,300-square-foot West Annandale Fire Station will be built at the same location. It will better accommodate modern equipment and provide improved living space, including space for female staff. It will have three apparatus bays to accommodate six emergency response vehicles and space for 14 firefighters per shift, including four volunteer firefighters. The flagpole will remain in its current location.
The temporary fire station will be located in a long-vacant commercial building at 8723 Little River Turnpike that previously housed a PNC bank branch. It will be repurposed to house living quarters and office space.
A new temporary structure will have two apparatus bays and will be connected to the building by an enclosed corridor. The temporary fire station will be just 0.2 miles from the existing fire station.
The county will lease the property for four years, with an option to renew for up to two years. After the permanent fire station is built, the building will be returned to a state similar to what it was before.
Work on the temporary fire station is scheduled to start this spring and is expected to be completed in spring 2025. The permanent building would be completed in winter 2026.
Funding comes from a public safety bond approved by voters in 2018.
Pre-emptive signal capabilities will be added to the traffic signals on Little River Turnpike at Prosperity Avenue and Guinea Road. That will help emergency vehicles get to their destination faster.
The Planning Commission also recommended approval of a zoning special exception to relocate an existing telecommunications equipment compound to the rear of the property.
The Mason District Land Use Committee approved the temporary and permanent fire station projects in November.
I hope the bay doors are bigger than those at the new station on Sleepy Hollow near route 7 – doesn’t look like a toy fire truck will fit in those bays…did the County BoS mess that new station up???
Such a waste of money on both accounts.
I’m always surprised when I see fire stations being torn down and replaced. The justification is that the current 53-year old building “has exceeded its operational usefulness.” The said the same thing about the fire station at Seven Corners. Is it not possible to renovate these buildings and wouldn’t that be less expensive than completely replacing “old” buildings? There are fire stations in D.C. and other major cities that are much older.
The BoS want a resume bullet to show how progressive and green they are. Purely political in my opinion.
Developers First rule of construction, time is money. The longer it takes to build, the more it costs. So private sector may be slow to start building, but once started generally goes quickly. Developers Second rule of construction, when it is government work take your time to maximize profit. The federal government builds big buildings in the time frame that Fairfax county government takes to do a fire station. Keep voting for incumbent politicians and party, this is the result. Drawn out timelines, higher costs, and we haven’t even looked at or who’s benefiting from these contracts at taxpayer expense.
Guaranty Bank & Trust FTW!
Experience in Fairfax County and other similar-sized jurisdictions in the region has shown that it is much more efficient to rebuild a new fire station that incorporates modern and required features than to remodel an existing facility. Remodeling usually takes longer, impedes normal operations and can rarely incorporate all the new features desired in the existing site plan / building footprint.
Fifty years is a decent life expectancy for such a capital expenditure; especially when one factors the increase in staffing and emergency responses. Building systems wear out whether they be major HVAC components or apparatus bay doors and everything in between.
Having been the “house captain” at both Fire Stations 23 and 28; I can tell you that both are in need of replacement. Fairfax County wisely plans for these essential replacements with corresponding bond referendums as well as ready-to-go and up-to-date architectural plans that will accommodate the future needs of the Fire and Rescue Department and bring them in line with nationally recognized guidelines for Fire station design.
Thank you. It’s good to read some real information rather than the mindless knee-jerk negative responses about Fairfax County.
Agree with Jay! Money well spent! Arlington County has been way ahead of this since they also have a strong tax base and very much value our Fire Fighters!