ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the relocation of Fire Station 1 to a temporary facility at the Pacific View Art Center property, following structural concerns that led to the station’s closure last October.
The council allocated $125,000 to design sewer, water, electrical and IT infrastructure to support the temporary fire station at 608 Third Street. The approximately 2,500-square-foot modular structure, located in the property’s southeastern corner, will include bedrooms, an office and laundry facilities.
Officials said the facility could later be repurposed for other city needs.
The temporary station is expected to improve emergency response times in downtown Encinitas, which has experienced delays due to train crossings and increased call volumes in high-density areas.
Fire Chief Josh Gordon outlined the challenges posed by the closure of Fire Station 1, citing a 2014 facility conditions assessment and a more recent seismic study that found the building’s unreinforced masonry would not withstand an earthquake.
The cost to retrofit and bring the station up to code was estimated at $9 million.
“We did not anticipate it necessarily getting red-tagged, but it did,” Gordon said. “The seismic evaluation that we had done basically showed that there was unreinforced masonry that needed to be retrofitted.”
The closure has increased response times, with backup crews operating out of Fire Station 3 on Orpheus Avenue in Leucadia. Gordon noted that the station, originally designed for four personnel, currently houses seven.
The Pacific View site was selected after the city explored multiple alternative locations, including the Moonlight Beach parking lot, City Hall, and commercial properties. Councilmembers acknowledged initial hesitations about the site but ultimately supported the move.
“I wasn’t in favor of Pacific View at first, either, and I think everyone knew that,” said Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes. “But I came to the conclusion that it is our best opportunity for this temporary facility.”
Councilmember Jim O’Hara praised the city’s efforts in mitigating potential impacts to the art center and the surrounding area, adding that the fire station’s presence could benefit the community.
“We could invite more people to get excited about the property and get more involved with the activities going on there,” O’Hara said.
Former Mayor Tony Kranz, who was involved in the city’s acquisition of Pacific View, expressed support for the revised plan, calling the updated layout “much more acceptable.”
Councilmembers also noted the need for a long-term solution for Fire Station 1, and discussions about a permanent location are expected to continue.
