Durham development plan stalled because there are not enough firefighters to keep it safe

They are sounding the alarm, and that could mean a freeze on development in the southeastern part of the county.

At a recent city council meeting, Planning Director Sara Young said a plan to build 700 homes of Kemp Road had to be shelved – possibly for years.

"The issue really is that another fire station is needed to adequately serve this area," she said.

Pamela Andrews, a lifelong resident of southeast Durham County and founder of Preserve Rural Durham, said her group is opposed to the development both for fire safety reasons and for environmental ones.

"We’re just a mile or two from Falls Lake, which is the drinking water for over 600,000 people in Wake County," she pointed out.

Council has tabled approval of the project and sent it back to staff.

"I’m certainly not going to put housing where the fire department says they can’t service it," said Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton.

Given rapid growth and demand for housing in Durham, any delay could be costly.

"At this point, we are still looking at years out until such a fire station would be built," Middleton said. "Who knows how many years."

In a statement, the City Manager Wanda Page disputes what the planning director said about the need for a new fire station, writing:

"Providing services needed and expected by residents and businesses is a top priority as the city grows and as new homes are constructed and occupied. It is unfortunate that the assessment of fire service capabilities in a memo about the proposed Kemp Road development left an inaccurate impression of our ability to serve growth. The Durham Fire Department is prepared to support current and planned growth in this area. Existing Fire Stations in Southeast Durham, (8 and 17) have capacity to house additional equipment and staff as that area develops.  Plans for an additional fire station have been discussed, which could provide additional support if the area continues to develop."