Marin County is exploring the purchase of the former San Geronimo Golf Course clubhouse to use as a headquarters for its fire department. The Board of Supervisors discussed acquiring the 22-acre parcel in a closed-session meeting last week.
Jason Weber, the Marin County Fire chief, said his department outgrew the Woodacre Fire Station over 30 years ago. Parts of the building predate 1940, and the living quarters were built in 1974. It’s situated a mile from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in a residential neighborhood, which lengthens the time it takes for large engines and a bulldozer to respond.
“It no longer meets the contemporary needs of today,” Mr. Weber said. “A lot has changed over the last 40 years for the Marin County Fire Department. The services we are providing—from ambulance transports to urban search and rescue to wildfire response—have grown exponentially.”
By using the existing clubhouse and infrastructure, the county can save millions in new construction costs. A facilities study in 2010 estimated the price tag of a new station at $35 million, and Mr. Weber said that the cost has likely doubled since then; fire stations are built with strict standards and are meant to last for over 60 years.
The new Tomales Fire Station cost $9 million and is far smaller than a headquarters would be, and a fire station in San Rafael cost $14 million. Part of the due diligence before purchasing the property will be finding funding, Mr. Weber said.
The former golf course has been owned by the Trust for Public Land since 2018. The trust purchased the 157-acre property from the golf course operator with the intention of holding it until the county could buy it and turn it into a park. But the county backed out of the purchase after it was sued by golf advocates for not conducting an environmental review beforehand. Since then, the trust has solicited community feedback and shared its vision for the property, with restored creeks and meadows and multi-use trails throughout.
The trust intends to transfer the property to a new owner, ideally a public agency, by the end of next year. But in the meantime, the clubhouse is being used by fire department staff; the extra space has allowed for more social distancing. Fire crews manning the Woodward Fire used it as a basecamp, and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank sometimes uses the space for its weekly food bank. Covid-19 testing, vaccinations and blood bank donations have also been held there.
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni said that public ownership of the parcel will maintain public access and allow for future consideration of other public uses. “We look forward to working with the community in a transparent and collaborative way to ensure this site remains a long-term community asset,” he said.