Brentwood Planning Commission Set to Talk Fire Station 94

On Tuesday, the Brentwood Planning Commission will discuss an application for Design Review to construct Fire Station 94.

Note – regardless how the commission votes Tuesday, in favor or against, the item will likely be pulled for discussion by the Brentwood City Council and this exercise will likely be repeated.

Located in downtown Brentwood at 739 First Street, the item before the commission is design review to construct a new 8,137 square foot, two-story fire station, including two apparatus bays, living areas, and associated site improvements, on a 13,427 square foot parcel.

The station served the Brentwood Fire Protection District in 1929. The station had been open until 2014 when it was placed out of service by the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District due to budget constraints. By 2022, after annexation, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District demolished the station to prepare for construction of a new proposed fire station.

According to the staff report, the Downtown Specific Plan was adopted on November 16, 2005, and subsequently amended in 2014, 2016, and 2017. The project site is located within the Downtown Core zoning district, which allows fire stations as a principally permitted use.

The plans propose an approximate 8,137 square foot two-story building (with two apparatus bays), nine on-site parking spaces, landscaping, storm water treatment areas, a solid waste enclosure, lighting, and utilities. The apparatus bays will house a Type I engine and Type III engine, but no ladder trucks. Fire engines would only enter the site from Diablo Way, along the rear property line, and exit onto First Street. Pedestrian access would be from First Street. The proposed plans depict nine on-site parking spaces for CCCFPD employees; including one handicap accessible space. The proposed solid waste enclosure would be located along, and serviced from, Diablo Way.

If You Go

Brentwood Planning Commission Meeting
March 18, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.

City Council Chambers

150 City Park Way

Brentwood, CA 94513

Documents:

Editors Notes

From Contra Costa County Fire: There has been some misinformation spread about whether a fire station is still compatible with a denser downtown… Facts about incoming Station 94:

Station 94 is in the perfect location to address the needs of the majority of Brentwood. Contra Costa Fire has mapped the density of calls for service in East County, and the largest, densest area of need is around Downtown Brentwood, exactly around the planned Station 94 site. The second-highest density of calls is in West Brentwood and is well served by Station 92.
Station 94 will be built on property owned by Contra Costa Fire, while the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First Street will continue to operate fully on County-owned land that the veterans groups lease for $1 per year. This arrangement will not change; the veteran groups and other nonprofits who use the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building will continue to have full use of the buildings and their wheelchair-accessible ramp.
Fire responses from Station 94 will not interfere with outdoor special events, parades or farmers markets in Downtown Brentwood. Station 94 will have Type I and Type III fire engines, which are smaller and more maneuverable than ladder trucks. Contra Costa Fire drivers are specially trained, and fire and ambulance responses downtown currently have no navigational issues. Contra Costa Fire operates out of similar downtown areas throughout the County, such as in Concord and Walnut Creek.
Locating Station 94 on First Street is the best use of taxpayer dollars and the fastest way to build a station in Brentwood’s highest area of need. Building a station on land that Contra Costa Fire already owns saves taxpayers millions of dollars and potentially years of delays to search out and purchase a new parcel and complete new environmental reviews.

Some background:

1928 – Longtime residents will remember that multiple fire departments have used a fire station at 739 First Street, beginning with the Brentwood Fire District in 1928
1957 – Fire Station constructed.
July 1, 2012 – Fire Station closed due to budget cuts.
May 1, 2013 – Fire Station Reopens thanks to a SAFER Grant obtained by ECCFPD. At the time, the average response time of ECCFPD was between 7:10 minutes to 7:32 minutes per call.
Nov 18, 2014 – SAFER Grant Ended – station closed.
May 2015 – ECCFPD moves to a 3-station fire service model. Closing Station 54 and the Knightsen Station: Since this time, when Station 52 (Balfour) is on a call, nearly 70,000 people are waiting on an engine from either Oakley or Discovery Bay. Prior to annexation, the average response time was nearly 7:30 minutes. In July 2022, annexation allowed Antioch engines and sometimes Pittsburg engines to respond when needed.
- The closure of Station 54 downtown left the City of Brentwood with only one fire station (Station 92 at 201 John Muir Parkway) that now serves over 65,000 residents across nearly 15 square miles. When compared to Oakley (two stations serving more than 45,000 residents across 16 square miles), Antioch (four stations serving 117,000 residents across 29 square miles) and Discovery Bay (one station for 15,000 residents in 7 square miles), it is clear that fire protection and EMS services in Brentwood need a major boost.
July 1, 2022 – ECCFPD is merged into Contra Costa County Fire Protection District — ensuring all CONFIRE resources now available without aid agreements (see story)