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Residents and environmental advocates are pushing back against the city of San Diego’s proposed location for a new fire station in the Webster neighborhood, saying they support the project but oppose building it on more than an acre of canyon green space.
The city has proposed a $28 million, 14,273-square-foot fire station at Fairmount Avenue and 47th Street. The site is near Webster Elementary School, as well as Leisureland Mobile Home Community for those 55 and over, and some homes in the Webster community.
Neighbors say the area represents some of the community’s only green space in a neighborhood without a park.
“This green space matters to us,” resident Jen Eastman said.
The Sierra Club also opposes the proposed location.
“We support building a fire station, we do not support building a fire station here,” Charles Rilli, deputy chapter director of the Sierra Club San Diego said.
Opponents say developing the canyon could impact the Chollas Creek watershed.
“Increasing flooding risk, taking away native habitat, impacting wildlife,” Kristin Hurst said.
The city says it evaluated multiple sites in the area but determined no other locations were viable.
Opponents, however, say the city did not adequately consider other options and it is asking the city to take a closer look at alternative locations.
“We urge the city to pause this project to provide the public hearing this community deserves,” Rilli said.
“I don’t know why the city isn‘t working a little but harder to find someplace less meaningful to neighborhoods that have been dismissed and neglected,” Eastman said.
The city has completed a draft of the environmental impact report, and a spokesperson said the city is close to completing its final environmental impact report, including responses to comments submitted during the public review period.
The city says that’s part of the work to support a site development permit, which requires initial approval by designated staff. If the permit is approved, opponents will have 10 business days to appeal. If an appeal is filed, it will be heard by the San Diego City Council. The outcome of that process could affect the project’s expected timeline.
According to the project’s website, if approved, the design is expected to be completed in 2027, with construction beginning in 2028.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.
