Fire chief offers alternative to expanding Belle Haven station

Instead of building a new, bigger fire station in Menlo Park’s Belle Haven neighborhood — a plan that has drawn the ire of local residents — Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman has suggested the district work to build a new station in the industrial area around Belle Haven where most of the growth is taking place.

A new station elsewhere was one of the alternatives Chief Schapelhouman gave to the several dozen residents who came to a community meeting in the fire district’s Chilco Street fire station on Saturday, April 29.

The neighbors let the chief and the three fire board members in attendance know that they don’t like the original proposal to rebuild their 22-year-old neighborhood fire station so it can handle the neighboring industrial district’s new and planned development.

The district first heard that message at a March 21 board meeting from a crowd of about 50 upset residents. Speakers were especially angry about threats to use eminent domain to purchase as many as three residential properties, but they also said they don’t need a bigger fire station.

The proposal was for a two-story station similar to one in East Palo Alto, with three vehicle bays, and living space for 12 people. The station would expand to a residential property next door, which the district doesn’t yet own. Vehicles could drive in the front and out the back of the building so they don’t have to back in.

The residents at Saturday’s community meeting made it clear that even though the district has said it no longer plans to take residential property on Terminal Avenue, they don’t want to lose any homes.

“We want no eminent domain in this neighborhood, period, ” said longtime resident Rose Bickerstaff. “Please know that every property is just as important” as the properties the fire district had taken off the table after the March meeting.

“This (proposed) expansion is not for our little postage stamp neighborhood,” Ms. Bickerstaff said.

Resident Sheryl Bims also asked to have a new fire station closer to new development. “The growth is not happening right here,” she said. “The growth is in the perimeter. We do not have 11-story hotels,” she said. “Put the response as close as possible to the need.”

Ms. Bims also asked to have the fire district clean up the existing station, which houses the district’s water rescue craft and deteriorated rail cars from a rail rescue project, and is the district’s fleet services headquarters for repairing and outfitting district vehicles.

The chief presented two alternatives that he said he had not yet told the district’s board members about. One, to leave the Chilco Street station as is and rely on putting more firefighters and equipment at the newly built East Palo Alto fire station, didn’t generate much enthusiasm.

The other idea was to enhance the existing station by changing the type of vehicle stationed there to a more versatile hybrid “quint” vehicle that requires only a four-person crew, while working with Facebook and the city of Menlo Park to find a location for another station across Willow Road where much of the new development is planned.

Resident Terry Epidendio said she was still angry about the fire district’s original plans, including using eminent domain, if necessary. “I no longer trust the fire board,” she said.

She suggested the district could make some simple changes to the existing building, including moving workout equipment taking up one of the two existing vehicle bays. “Build a structure out back so they can work out,” she said. “Add another room, put bunkbeds in.”

Mario Teruesto Reyes, a local resident and business owner, said he appreciates the work firefighters do. “You guys are my heroes, but at the same time I don’t want to jeopardize my neighborhood,” he said. “Let’s put a real fire station on the other side of Willow Road.”

Fire board members Rex Ianson and board president Peter Carpenter were at the meeting and member Virginia Chang Kiraly was in the audience, but did not participate.

City Manager Alex McIntyre and Assistant City Manager Chip Taylor were also at the meeting, but did not comment. Mayor Kirsten Keith was traveling, but said later that the city has told the district “we would be happy to work with them to find another site east of 101.”

Mayor Keith said “conversations with the city, Facebook, or other landowners east of 101, to find a better site are an excellent idea.” Once a location is identified, she said, the city can analyze and consider rezoning the site. “I’m encouraged by this outreach to the community, which will produce a better result for everyone,” she said.