Fire District new station

The Durango Fire Protection District has purchased a 3.298-acre piece of property at 201 E 12th St., outlined below in solid yellow, from Durango School District 9R. This property contains the 9R administration building and the Durango Big Picture High School.

The fire district's offer to buy the 9-R administration building is a transaction between the school district and the fire district. The city is not a buyer or seller of the 9-R administration building. Any proposed use of the 9R property for a relocated downtown fire station will require a full review by the city including public input. No application has been submitted yet.

Updates

March 3, 2022: The fire district is hosting a public form from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The agenda includes a presentation from Chief Hal Doughty and moderated questions and answers from pre-submitted questions.

Jan. 18, 2022: The Durango Fire Protection District Board of Directors hosted a study session at 7:30 a.m., online or at 142 Sheppard Drive, to discuss the Downtown Fire Station. View the full agenda and recording of the meeting at DurangoFire.org. There was no public comment. Items on the agenda:

• Discussion on alternate location to be considered for Downtown Fire Station
• Discussion about the Historic Designation of the School Building
• Presentation of draft plans for the new Downtown Fire Station including site plan and floor plans (*PDF added Jan. 27, 2022).
• Discussion about City and Fire District, community connections and joint efforts.

Oct. 27, 2021: Durango Fire Protection District representatives met with city staff for an initial discussion on the district's conceptual plan for the Durango School District 9R building. No decision were made. Fire Chief Hal Doughty presented an overview of the draft project to staff but said the project is not ready to be formally submitted to the city yet.

The fire district was informed of the city’s land-use process and three paths were available to the district:

• Staff review of a site plan 
• If the project adds more than 10,000 square feet of new building area, the district would need a Major Site Plan Review Process with a Planning Commission review; or 
• If the district is adding a unique use that is not allowed by right within the Central Business district zone, they may need to go through the Planned Development process with planning commission and City Council reviews and approvals.

The district was informed that the city’s Land Use and Development Code requires the following plans and studies for the project submittal :

• Site Specific Development Plan (Major if more than 10,000 sf of new building area is added)
• Stormwater Plan
• Traffic Study with Truck Routing Plan
• Grading and Drainage Plan
• Utility Plans
• Landscape Plan
• Lighting Plan

Contacts:

The Durango Fire Protection District Board members asked the City of Durango make their phone numbers available to the public:

• Jerry Martinez – 970-759-0148
• John Dezendorf – 970-799-3275
• Matt Leeder – 970-799-0948
• Lyle McKnight – 970-759-1021
• Wayne Barger – 970-749-3413
• Patti Zink – 970-759-5585
• Kathleen Morris – 970-759-0681

This page will be periodically updated.