The Board of Supervisors approved on Apr. 15 the rezoning and plan amendment needed to advance a new co-located fire station and supportive housing facility at 2801 Beacon Hill Road in the southern part of the county. The project aims to improve emergency response capabilities while providing essential support for vulnerable residents.
The planned development will replace the existing Penn Daw Fire Station, which has served the community since 1967. The new two-story station will be over 24,000 square feet and is designed to meet modern operational needs. Features include drive-through apparatus bays and a direct exit onto Beacon Hill Road, which are expected to help emergency vehicles respond more quickly. Upgraded living quarters, operational spaces, and training areas are also included in the plans.
Next to the fire station, a 55,000-square-foot emergency and supportive housing facility will be constructed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The facility will provide emergency beds for those in crisis—offering 50 beds—as well as 20 individual supportive housing units and 10 family units. On-site services such as meals, job training, medical respite care, case management, and daytime activity space are planned to support long-term stability for residents.
Funding for this project comes in part from the county’s 2016 Human Services and Community Development Bond Referendum that supports replacing or modernizing emergency housing facilities across the area.
Since 2020, extensive community engagement has shaped the design of this project. Efforts have included twenty Advisory Committee meetings, seven community-wide meetings reviewing site selection and design alternatives—including topics like stormwater management—and direct outreach with nearby residents about landscaping buffers and potential impacts.
To integrate with surrounding neighborhoods, plans call for enhanced landscaping between buildings and homes as well as sidewalk improvements along Beacon Hill Road for safer walking or biking. Separate entrances will keep traffic organized between both facilities. The project is also designed with sustainability in mind; it aims to achieve LEED Gold Certification.
This initiative forms part of broader efforts to revitalize the Richmond Highway Corridor—including future Bus Rapid Transit expansion—and expand access to vital services. Design work is underway with completion expected by summer 2027.
