June 7, 1989

Fire officials to fight rejection

       White River Fire Department officials definitely will fight Tuesday’s denial of a proposed new fire station location.  What weapons the department will use in attempting to win the right to a new fire station off Fairview Road remains a mystery.  The five members of the White River Fire Department Board of Directors met Tuesday night to chart a course of action after Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals members unanimously denied the department’s request for a special zoning exception.

        Fire Department Chief Howard Bennis said the directors voted to take action, but at this point, they don’t know what strategy to use.  “We are not certain what the best option is.  We have decided to explore several options and then discuss those with our attorney,” Bennis said.  Department officials filed for a special exception variance February 28, seeking to build a new fire station on the 33.3 acre Schreckengast farm west of the railroad tracks on Fairview Road.  The new station would serve the northern portion of the 17 square mile fire district.

         BZA members Tuesday night voted unanimously to reject the variance request.  Members denied the request on three grounds: adequate access roads do not exist; the station would not meet pollution standards; and the site plan did not address ways to minimize congestion on Fairview Road.  Bennis said eminent domain and a court appeal loom as some of the options under consideration.  He indicated Wednesday that eminent domain would be considered as a last resort.

         According to the Johnson County zoning ordinance, a person or group denied a variance cannot make another request for the same location for at least six months from the date the variance was denied.  The item can be entered on the docket for consideration before the six month period expires if all five BZA members vote to rehear the petition.
 
 

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