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Falmouth committee unveils 47,713-ft² police station design and $65 million preliminary price tag
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Summary
Advisory committee and designers presented schematic layouts, community-driven site changes and an early $65 million construction estimate (plus $5 million already borrowed), with town staff estimating an illustrative tax impact of roughly $135–$225 per year on the median home depending on financing choices.
The Police Station Advisory Committee and design consultants presented a schematic design for a proposed new Falmouth police station at 100 Brick Kiln Road and described a planning process that reduced building footprint, relocated access points after neighbor input, and moved support facilities to reduce impacts.
Boyd DeMello, chair of the advisory committee, said the project moved forward with Tekton Architects and Vertex as design partners and listed completed studies including a Phase I environmental assessment, geotechnical borings and an expanded traffic study. Steve Kirby of Vertex reviewed floor plans for a roughly 47,713-square-foot facility with a protected public entry, training and EOC space, evidence suite, booking and holding areas, male and female locker rooms, fitness space, canine facilities, armory and a dispatch/communications suite on the second floor. "The building is at 47,713 square feet," Kirby said during the presentation.
Town staff outlined preliminary cost assumptions and financing options. Early schematic-level estimates put construction at $65,000,000 (in addition to $5,000,000 already borrowed), with projected annual debt service of about $4–6.5 million depending on term and interest assumptions. Staff translated that range into an illustrative tax-rate impact of roughly 17¢–30¢ per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $135–$225 per year for a median single-family home valued at $792,000, while noting that final numbers will change as construction documents, independent cost estimates and contingency reconciliation progress.
The project team said the site plan includes minor tree clearing for sightlines and to establish a consolidated security fence and that design adjustments were made after abutter concerns: the staff driveway was moved west to reduce headlight impacts on a nearby house, and an impound lot was shifted to the rear. The committee also proposed running conduit and pads for a potential indoor modular training/range outbuilding, with a later decision on whether to include it in initial construction.
Next steps: the advisory committee expects to receive independent cost estimates in the coming week, continue reconciliation, hold further community forums, and return design documents as the project advances. The Select Board and staff emphasized ongoing public outreach and further refinement of budget assumptions before any borrowing or town-meeting action.
