To: City of San Diego Engineering and Capital Projects (ECP) Staff

We, the undersigned residents and community stakeholders of Mid-City, respectfully request that the City of San Diego deny the Site Development Permit (SDP) for the proposed fire station on a 1.28-acre site located at 1950 47th Street.

While we fully acknowledge and support the necessity of strengthening emergency response services in our community, we strongly oppose this project at the proposed location due to its significant environmental, logistical, and financial concerns.

Environmental Concerns
According to the draft Environmental Impact Report, the project would result in unavoidable significant environmental effects in the areas of:

• Archaeological/Historical resources
• Biological resources
• Air quality
• Flood Risk
• Threats to sensitive species 

Additionally, the site’s steep slope above Chollas Creek presents major challenges. Construction would increase impervious surfaces, worsen stormwater runoff, and elevate the risk of downstream flooding. The devastating January 2024 flood events along Chollas Creek underscore the urgency of protecting our already overburdened watershed system.

Expansion of Project Scope
The original Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project description stated the fire station would be approximately 14,273 square feet. However, the newly released Draft EIR now identifies the project as a 22,443-square-foot, four-story facility—an expansion of more than 8,000 square feet. This dramatic increase in scale intensifies the environmental, traffic, and stormwater impacts of the project and reflects a lack of consistency in planning. 

Financial Concerns
Originally estimated at $12 million, the project’s cost has already escalated to over $26 million—before design is even finalized (anticipated in 2026). These ballooning costs, combined with the scope increase, raise serious questions about fiscal responsibility and whether this project diverts funding away from other critical infrastructure and public safety needs.

Community Opposition
This opposition is broad and growing. Community-based organizations and environmental advocates—including the Chollas Creek Coalition, Groundwork San Diego, San Diego Canyonlands, Sierra Club San Diego Chapter, Eastern Area Communities Planning Committee, Webster Community Council, and Friends of Webster—have all formally voiced objections to the proposed location and its impacts.

Our Position
We are not opposed to a new fire station for our community. We recognize its necessity. However, we strongly believe that this particular site is inappropriate. We urge the City to explore alternative locations that do not compromise environmental integrity, community safety, or fiscal accountability.

Our Request
For the reasons outlined above, we respectfully request that the Engineering and Capital Projects staff deny the Site Development Permit for the proposed fire station at 1950 47th Street. We suggest city staff review feasible alternative sites to bring back for future consideration.