Myth 9 - The fire station will have no impact on downtown businesses
- BVMB Board
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
❌ Myth: The fire station will have no impact on downtown businesses.
✅ Fact: The fire station’s location will create significant challenges for local businesses, parking, loading zones, traffic, and downtown events.
🚛 Impact on Business Loading & Unloading
Diablo Way (Alleyway Behind the Hall) is a critical loading zone for local businesses and the Veterans Hall, especially during events like crab feeds and fundraisers.
First Street is also used for loading and unloading, but this would no longer be allowed, as it would block the fire station’s exit.
Oak Street cannot accommodate truck loading and unloading, further limiting business operations.
Can the alley and roads handle the weight of fully loaded fire trucks? This could lead to infrastructure issues over time.
🚗 Impact on Parking
The new fire station would permanently remove parking spaces used by downtown businesses, visitors, and veterans attending events at the hall.
With firefighters requiring 24/7 parking, there would be even fewer spaces available for customers and community members.
🎉 Impact on Downtown Events & Street Closures
Major community events like the Farmers Market, Hometown Halloween, parades, and celebrations of life ceremonies rely on street closures. A fire station at this location would limit or eliminate those options.
Funerals and memorial services held at the Veterans Hall would now be disrupted by sirens and emergency vehicles.
🏙️ Impact on Downtown Character & Ambiance
The proposed fire station would be a massive brick structure towering over the rest of downtown, altering its historic character.
Romantic dinner downtown? Not so much with sirens blaring and fire trucks trying to navigate narrow streets.
🚦 Impact on Traffic & Emergency Response
Delays in emergency response during peak traffic times, especially near Liberty High School and other congested areas.
Narrow turn radius at First & Oak Street could slow response times.
Increased pedestrian traffic downtown could create additional hazards for emergency vehicles.
💡 Bottom Line: The fire station at this location would have a major impact on businesses, parking, loading zones, events, and the overall character of downtown. A fire station is needed—but it should be placed where it makes sense for both public safety and the local economy.
Yes to the Station, NO to the Location
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