Collaboration to Bring Additional EVA to Oakmont
News Release from Burbank Housing, March 25, 2024 – Oakmont Village Association and Burbank Housing announced that following close collaboration, the two organizations have reached an agreement on the construction of a fire apparatus access road, commonly referred to as an emergency vehicle access (EVA) route, as part of the development of the Southeast Santa Rosa (SESR) housing project (formerly known as Elnoka). The EVA will provide an additional means of ingress and egress through the future project which can also be used for evacuations, providing greater access to critical neighborhood exit routes on Montgomery Drive and Highway 12, during public emergencies.
This EVA will provide a third point of emergency access for fire apparatus and emergency vehicles and can help facilitate public evacuations, coordinated by public safety officials including law enforcement and fire, when conditions warrant its use. “The proposed installation of an additional fire apparatus access road would exceed the minimum California Fire Code requirements for the SESR project. This effort can improve emergency vehicle access during critical incidents, enhancing the safety of the public in and around the area,” said City of Santa Rosa Fire Chief Scott Westrope.
Photo credits: City of Santa Rosa
“Through close collaboration with Burbank Housing, we have been able to secure another long sought-after EVA, the next step towards fulfilling this critical community need. This agreement will enable another means of emergency access to be constructed, potentially giving local residents and the greater community an additional means of ingress and egress in the event of an emergency. We are pleased with this outcome and appreciate the collaborative relationship we have built with Burbank,” said Christel Antone, General Manager of Oakmont Village Association.
Larry Florin, President and CEO of Burbank Housing, echoed these sentiments saying, “While Burbank Housing’s core mission is to provide critically needed housing in our community, we recognize this project also offers an opportunity to build greater disaster resiliency in our community by addressing another important need – one that has the potential to improve public safety and save lives. We are proud of the relationship we have built with Oakmont and see this as yet another great example of what we can achieve when we work together as a community.”
Burbank Housing acquired the SESR property in early 2023, for the development of critically needed housing. Since acquiring the property, Burbank has been actively working with City and County staff, Oakmont and the adjacent neighbors to address long-standing issues of concern including evacuation planning, weed abatement, vegetation management and bike/trails planning. The housing project will be designed with two access points as required by Fire Code, as well as the EVA. When not in use during public emergencies, the EVA is anticipated to be utilized for recreational purposes offering greater connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout Sonoma Valley.
Burbank Housing is in the preliminary planning phase for the SESR project and anticipates initiating the City’s review process approximately summer 2024. Once the project is approved by the City, the EVA will be constructed as part of the greater housing project.
To stay apprised of the latest developments on the SESR housing project visit: BurbankHousing.org/spotlight/sesr/ and SRcity.org/2568/Elnoka-Senior-Community
(Included photos: City of Santa Rosa)
The fundamental question is, will Oakmont residents be allowed to use this road in the event of wildfire or other emergency?
There has been a road through Wild Oak and Annadel to Montgomery – but Oakmont residents have not been able to use it in the past during emergencies!
Appreciate the question! Yes, Oakmont residents will be allowed to use this EVA as this is an agreement between Burbank Housing and Oakmont Village Association. The EVA will be constructed on the Oakmont parcel that contains the dog park and garden between Stonebridge Drive and the future street on the SESR property. The park and garden will not be impacted by the EVA.
I just read the comments from last March concerning the Elnoka property. Both were incorrect.
The OVA negotiated the use of an emergency road between the OVA community garden and the abandoned sewage plant into the Elnoka property back in 2014. We also negotiated use of Channel Drive with the City of Santa Rosa in 2019 as a temporary emergency exit from Oakmont. The city would unlock the gates and Oakmont could (and did) use it with the proviso that Santa Rosa could shut it down to us if they needed its use for emergency vehicles to enter Oakmont.
Wally Schilpp
Past chair of the Oakmont Community Development Committee