Town staff outline long-range plan for new public works facility at Hidden Springs parcel

During the meeting the board reviewed correspondence dated Aug. 21, 2025 from Town Administrator Ryan Heath proposing construction of a new public-works facility at 15 Lot 4918 Hidden Springs Road. Town staff described initial plans to clear roughly 14 acres for the building footprint and outdoor storage areas for highway and water-department materials, including salt and sand storage and pipe inventory.

Staff said the work is at an early conceptual stage and that the town is pursuing an alteration-of-terrain permit for initial site work. The proposed facility would consolidate equipment now spread across multiple town locations and would include covered bays and storage; staff described the first bays as drive-through with mezzanine storage and larger bays toward the rear for heavy equipment. No final cost estimate or firm construction schedule was available; staff suggested a long-term vision of several years (five to ten years) to realize the broader campus concept.

Officials said the long-range plan also contemplates repurposing the town’s existing highway property for parks-and-recreation uses (indoor courts, pickleball/tennis), relocating water-department materials into the new site, and consolidating operations to reduce offsite exposure of valuable equipment. Staff noted the parcel contains environmental features and existing test wells associated with the landfill cap, which the town must maintain; those constraints affect buildable areas.

Planning-board members asked about access, clearing limits and staging; staff said Hidden Springs Road will provide access and that only limited clearing has occurred so far (test-pit and access clearing). The board did not take formal action on the proposal; correspondence was presented for review and future committee coordination with the CIP and other town departments was anticipated.