Coppell City Council approved a zoning change to allow for a planned development overlay for property along South Moore Road during its April 9 meeting. The property will be converted back into a fire station, which is expected to improve the coverage of the Coppell Fire Department.
Two-minute impact
The terms of the planned development overlay allow for parking in the front area of the new fire station, allow for a 23-foot setback instead of the typical 25-foot setback in a single-family residential zoning district and a proposed landscape plan for the property. The property is planned to be the future home of Coppell Fire Station No. 5, which will help improve the city’s fire coverage between areas served by Fire Station No. 2 and Fire Station No. 3, according to city documents.
Development Services Administrator Matt Steer said the existing building on the property will be demolished to accommodate the new fire station that will have nearly 12,000 square feet of space. Per city documents, the station will house up to five firefighters, a captain and a shift commander.
The context
Council previously appropriated over $600,000 for items necessary for the new fire station that have long wait times, such as generators and an electrical switchgear, during its Feb. 27 meeting. A total of $12.5 million in funding has been earmarked for the project, with council members expected to approve the award of a construction contract later this year.
Steer said the building located at 157 S. Moore Road was used as a fire station until it was converted to the Coppell Theater. According to city documents, the building has been underutilized since the theater moved into the Coppell Arts Center in Old Town Coppell.
What’s next?
With the zoning in place for the project, next steps include allocating the funds to pay for the necessary components of the fire station. Based on previous presentations to council, it is expected that approval of a construction contract could take place during the April 22 meeting.
