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Needham committee summarizes DPW Phase 1 site walk; residents ask about traffic, cost and visibility
Summary
Project staff and designers summarized a community site visit for the DPW Complex Phase 1, outlined concerns raised about traffic, perceived competition with the Pollard project and visibility from Central Avenue, and the committee approved a professional-services supplement for ground-source well work.
The Permanent Public Building Committee on March 10 summarized a public site walk for the Department of Public Works Complex Phase 1 project and approved a professional-services supplement for ground-source heat-pump well design and drilling.
Hank and project staff said about two dozen members of the public attended the walkthrough, where project boards, cones identifying the proposed building footprint and three-dimensional visuals were displayed. Attendees asked questions about traffic increases, the total cost of the new DPW facility and how this phase relates to the concurrently planned Pollard project. Project staff emphasized the five-phase approach to DPW work and said the phases are not contingent on one another; each phase could proceed independently.
Residents also raised concerns that the original promises for an older facility had limited staff presence; staff clarified the new facility is not intended to relocate the entire DPW and that site constraints would make that impractical. A question came up about whether the new building would be visible from Central Avenue; staff said finished grade and ledge outcrops mean a roughly 34-foot building will be largely screened by topography and summertime foliage for most public viewpoints.
The committee approved a professional-services supplement (PSS No. 2) from Weston & Sampson for design and well work related to ground-source heat pumps for $172,783.00, funded from the designer budget. Staff explained the work covers deep well drilling (estimated at about 1,600 feet) and related mockups and insurance; the well-drilling outcome will determine whether the project requires two, three or four wells. The motion to approve the PSS was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote.
Project staff said further public outreach and FAQs will be prepared for town meeting and that a tour of the existing DPW building (470 Central Avenue) will be offered to town meeting members and possibly opened to the public in April. The committee expects reconciled estimates to be presented at the first April meeting and said project phasing and bid reconciliation will be discussed then.
