National Guard presents proposed readiness center site plan; planning board receives informational review

The New Hampshire Army National Guard presented schematic designs for a new readiness center on the existing Armory Road site during an informational review at the Jan. 16 meeting of the Plymouth Planning Board. The project is a federal government facility and the presentation was nonbinding; the board heard the plan and provided preliminary feedback.

Chief Ben Stevens (Design and Construction Branch chief) introduced the project and his consultants: architect Owen Smith and civil engineer Eric Doremus. The design calls for demolition of the existing armory and construction of a new two‑story readiness center slightly re‑oriented into the southern slope adjacent to the PSU parking lot. The building would include a large assembly hall, administrative and training spaces, and a public‑facing entrance on the north side with the second floor stepping into grade on the upper side of the lot.

Site work described included widened truck access from Main Street, an undersized existing sanitary sewer reroute to avoid the new footprint, and new stormwater treatment features (rain gardens and basins) to improve current on‑site drainage. The presenters said the team has completed updated wetlands mapping and will pursue required state permitting (AOT, shoreland/river-buffer and wellhead-protection considerations) and a NHDOT curb‑cut/entrance permit. Presenters said utilities would be undergrounded on the rebuilt site, that the project intends to meet sustainability goals (aiming at LEED Silver, high levels of insulation, potential geothermal heating/cooling, and roof-mounted solar), and that the design includes a whole‑building backup generator for emergency operations.

Board members and members of the public asked about water and sewer capacity, archaeological and historic‑preservation coordination (a plaque and known heritage area are near the site), circulation for event or vaccination drives (drive‑through or staged queues), and whether the facility could be used for community emergency sheltering. Project staff said the facility is intended to support military readiness but also to be available as a community asset in emergencies; the presenters confirmed they have coordinated (or will coordinate) with the state historic preservation office and with town water and sewer staff for capacity and connection details.

Presenters said tentative construction would start after funding and approvals schedule out; they identified 2026 as an approximate construction year and said demolition of the existing facility would precede new construction. Because the site is a government facility, it is not subject to the town—s site‑plan review process in the same way as private development, but the board asked staff to share the project materials with relevant town departments and to track any required permits and reviews.