ACCGov Seeks Public Input on Potential Sites for Fire Station #5 by July 30

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) will host community feedback opportunities on eight potential sites identified as possible locations for the new Fire Station #5 as part of SPLOST 2020 Project 6: Fire Station #5 Replacement Project.

Public meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, July 12 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Athens-Clarke County Tennis Center (4460 Lexington Road) and Thursday, July 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Fire Station #7 (2350 S. Barnett Shoals Road). An online map with information about the potential sites and an online survey for public input on the locations are available through the button above or through www.accgov.com/fire through Sunday, July 30.

Residents can drop in anytime during the public meetings to find out details, ask questions about the project, and provide feedback on the potential sites. Staff will use feedback from the public while working with the project user group and Site Selection Committee to narrow down the list to at least three candidate sites that will be presented to and voted on by the Mayor and Commission in early 2024.

Potential sites were evaluated by the SPLOST Site Selection Committee, a resident committee appointed by Mayor Kelly Girtz and chaired by District 8 Commissioner Carol Myers, and ranked based on the site selection criteria that was approved by the Mayor and Commission on April 4, 2023. 

Eight of the highest-scoring sites have been identified as potential sites for the facility. The sites, in ranked order, are:

• 1350 Morton Road – Undeveloped – Scored 54 points, 6.63 acres
• 1185 Morton Road – Undeveloped – Scored 52 points, 48.98 acres
• 0 Morton Road – Undeveloped – Scored 52 points, 30.41 acres
• 755 Morton Road – Undeveloped – Scored 50 points, 168.67 acres
• 5370 Old Lexington Road – Undeveloped – Scored 50 points, 197.71 acres
• 985 Morton Road – Developed – Scored 50 points, 20.94 acres
• 4885 Old Lexington Road – Developed – Scored 46 points, 27.60 acres
• 0 Morning View Road – Developed – Scored 44 points, 24.25 acres

Approximately $6 million has been designated for the project, which includes land acquisition, design, construction, a fueling station, station equipment, and other related costs to meet facility standards for a suburban design comparable to previous fire station design prototypes. Changes to the budgeted items are likely depending on the purchase price for the site and the design and construction process.

To learn more about SPLOST 2020 Project 6: Fire Station #5 Replacement Project, or to take the brief survey through July 30, visit www.accgov.com/fire.

For additional questions, contact the SPLOST Program Management Office at 706-613-3025 or splost@accgov.com.