Property Feasibility Review

Fire Station 10 Temporary Location — Landing Page 

At the Regular County Board Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 24, the County Board accepted the County Manager’s recommendation to put a temporary fire station on the Wilson School site, after extensive public engagement and examination of two dozen potential sites.

This chart shows the sites considered for the location of temporary Fire Station #10 in the Rosslyn area — along with various feasibility factors. Below the chart, each factor is defined, followed by an analysis of each property.

Category Definitions

• Adequate Response Time: In order to meet Arlington County Fire Department performance measures, as well as the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1710 standard, a response time of between four and six minutes is necessary to adequately serve the properties within the fire station service area.
• Adequate Size: In order to meet Arlington County Fire Department requirements, a minimum site area of approximately 10,000 square feet is necessary to accommodate a temporary fire station and all of its access and facility requirements, however depending upon site characteristics, a larger site may be necessary.
• Adequate Topography: A site with minimal topographical elevation changes is necessary to accommodate the temporary fire station.
• Appropriate General Land Use Plan (GLUP) Designation: A site with a General Land Use Plan GLUP designation that supports the use of a property for a fire station is necessary. GLUP designations as “Public” or other commercial designations such as Service Commercial or high-density designations such as “High” residential would permit use of a site as a fire station, subject to the zoning classification of the site.
• Appropriate Zoning: A site with a zoning classification that permits the use of a property for a fire station either by-right or with the approval of a use permit is necessary. Public zoning districts typically permit use of a property as a fire station by-right, whereas Multiple-Family zoning districts do not permit this use (with the exception of the RA7-16 district), and Commercial/Mixed Use zoning districts typically permit use of a property as a fire station either by-right or with the approval of a use permit.
• Publicly Owned: A site that is publicly owned is desirable as to avoid a separate negotiation with a private land owner.
• No Interim Loss of Green Space: Minimizing the loss of green space to accommodate a temporary fire station is desirable.

Wilson School

• Response Times: Meets fire department performance measures and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: The available area is approximately 27,500 sq. ft. in area; a temporary fire station requiring approximately 18,000 sq. ft. would be required to fit on this site.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 170 to 174 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “Public” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “S-3A”, which allows a fire station use by-right.
• Publicly Owned: The site is owned by the Arlington Public School Board.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would result in a temporary loss of over half of the proposed new field space for at least two years after the opening of the new school.

Rhodeside Green Park

• Response Times: Meets Arlington County Fire Department performance measures and the NFPA 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: Rhodeside Green Park is approximately 17,850 sq. ft.; a temporary fire station requiring approximately 11,100 sq. ft. would be required to fit on this location.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 167 to 172 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “Public” and “Low” Residential in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “RA6-15” and “RA8-18”, neither of which allow a fire station use (however, because the GLUP designation is “Public”, the site could be rezoned to “S-3A”, which allows both fire station and park uses by-right).
• Publicly Owned: The site is owned by County Board of Arlington County.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would make Rhodeside Green Park unusable for approximately three years (although the park would be restored and improved after removal of the temporary fire station).

Holiday Inn

• Response Times: Meets Arlington County Fire Department performance measures and the NFPA 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: The parcel along Lee Highway north of the Holiday Inn is approximately 4,789 sq. ft. and cannot accommodate all of the temporary fire station needs at this location.
• Topography: The site has significant grade changes, with elevations ranging from 82 to 95 feet above sea level over a distance of only 160 feet.
• GLUP: The site is designated “High Residential” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “RA4.8”, which allows a fire station use with approval of a Use Permit
• Publicly Owned: The site is owned by the County Board of Arlington County.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would result in loss of the existing green space for approximately three years.

Key Boulevard Community Gardens

• Response Times: Meets Arlington County Fire Department performance measures and the NFPA 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: The community gardens on Key Boulevard is 14,913 sq. ft., and a temporary fire station requires a minimum of 13,500 sq. ft. at this location. However, the site is only 60 feet wide, which, with required setbacks, cannot accommodate all of the temporary fire station needs at this location.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 170 to 174 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site currently owned by the County is designated “Public” in the GLUP; however, the adjacent single family residences are designated “Low-Medium Residential” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “RA6-15”, which does not allow a fire station use; there is no zoning district consistent with a “Low-Medium Residential” GLUP designation that allows a fire station use.
• Publicly Owned: The site is owned by the County Board of Arlington County.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would result in the loss of some of the existing community garden space (although the community garden could be expanded after removal of the temporary fire station).

Queens Court

• Response Times: Meets Arlington County Fire Department performance measures and the NFPA 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: The Queens Court site only has approximately 5,000 sq. ft. and cannot accommodate all of the temporary fire station needs at this location.
• Topography: The usable portion of the site has moderate grade changes, with elevations ranging from 154 to 162 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: A portion of the site is designated “Low-Medium Residential” in the GLUP, and another portion of the site is designated “High-Medium Residential” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “RA6-15”, which does not allow a fire station use; there is no zoning district consistent with a “Low-Medium Residential” GLUP designation that allows a fire station use.
• Publicly Owned: The site is privately owned.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would not result in a loss of public green space.

Lynn Street Lot

• Response Times: Meets Arlington County Fire Department performance measures and the NFPA 1710 standard of 4 to 6 minute response time. Additional concerns with Rosslyn service include vertical height access at certain locations.
• Size: The parcel is approximately 24,000 sq. ft.; a temporary fire station requiring approximately 15,000 sq. ft. would be required to fit on this site.
• Topography: The usable portion of the site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 84 to 86 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “High-Medium Residential” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “C-O-2.5”, which allows a fire station use with approval of a Use Permit
• Publicly Owned: The site is privately owned.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would not result in a loss of public green space.

Courthouse Plaza

• Response Times: Does not meet Arlington County Fire Department performance measures or NFPA 1710 due to increased travel distance.
• Size: The Courthouse surface parking lot parcel is approximately 89,550 sq. ft., which is large enough to accommodate a temporary fire station in a variety of configurations.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 232 to 236 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “Government and Community Facilities” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “C-O”, which allows a fire station use with approval of a Use Permit.
• Publicly Owned: The site is owned by the County Board of Arlington County.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would not result in a loss of public green space.

Danville Street Lot

• Response Times: Does not meet Arlington County Fire Department performance measures or NFPA 1710 due to increased travel distance.
• Size: The proposed area contains approximately 18,500 sq. ft., a temporary fire station requiring approximately 10,000 sq. ft. would be required to fit on this site.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 230 to 232 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “Service Commercial” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “C-2”, which allows a fire station use by-right.
• Publicly Owned: The site is privately owned.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would not result in a loss of public green space.

Adams Street Lot

• Response Times: Does not meet Arlington County Fire Department performance measures or NFPA 1710 due to increased travel distance.
• Size: The proposed parcel contains approximately 6,500 sq. ft., which is not large enough to accommodate an approximately 10,000 sq. ft. temporary fire station at this location.
• Topography: The site has minimal grade changes, with elevations ranging from 232 to 243 feet above sea level.
• GLUP: The site is designated “High-Medium Residential Mixed Use” in the GLUP.
• Zoning: The site is zoned “C-2”, which allows a fire station use by-right.
• Publicly Owned: The site is privately owned.
• Green Space: Siting a temporary fire station would not result in a loss of public green space.

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