Oakhurst could get 13,400-sq.-ft. CHP station

By Denise Aday

(Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2008, 10:33 AM)

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is proposing the construction of a new CHP station in Oakhurst.

The new station would be a two-story, 13,400-square-foot facility on 2.1 acres at the southwest corner of State Route 49 and Redbud Drive, across from the Masonic Hall.

CHP Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Adams confirmed the station is in the early stages of development and said Leia Riley of the California Department of General Services (DGS) is the project director.

"The project is in the very preliminary stages of development," Riley said. "It is being designed, managed and constructed by the DGS. CHP is our client. Construction drawings have not yet been prepared but conceptual drawings have been made."

Riley said CHP is located in Coarsegold at a temporary facility.

The new facility would include:

40 secured and unsecured parking spaces

A 40-foot radio tower

A fueling station with 20,000 of above-ground fuel storage

An automotive bay and service area

The 9,500-square-foot upper level would include staff offices, a public lobby, conference room, briefing room, interview room and ammunition storage room.

The 3,900 square foot lower level would include a vehicle service area, staff office, raincoat room, evidence room, interview room and an equipment issue room.

Riley said, as a state project, the proposal does not need to go before the Madera County Board of Supervisors, but a presentation will be made to the Madera County Planning Commission as a courtesy.

"The project will be building to LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) standards, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and all applicable state and county codes and regulations, including the State Fire Marshal," Riley said.

CHP officials said the project was planned with the objective of retaining the three largest interior live oak trees on the project site.

However, seven interior live oak (quercus wislizeni) trees would be removed from the project site to accommodate proposed on-site buildings.

For every mature interior live oak that is removed from the project site, CHP proposes to fund the planting and management of 14 trees at an off-site location.

In addition to the courtesy presentation to the planning commission, after the 30-day public comment period, CHP will present the project to the California Public Works Board in Sacramento and request approval to purchase the land.

After Public Works, Cal Trans must approve the highway encroachment, and the Erosion and Surface Water Quality Agency and Regional Water Quality Control Board must approve the project.

Riley said the new facility would house 23 staff, 19 of whom would be uniformed officers.

CHP officials said they hope the project will be ready to break ground by 2009.

A 30-day public comment period began Jan. 11.

The CHP officials said a copy of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration is available at the Oakhurst Branch Library. For more information, call (559) 683-4838.