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Citizens committee unveils adaptive‑reuse master plan and $22.7 million concept budget for Ross town center
Summary
An eight‑member citizens advisory committee presented a conceptual plan that would adaptively reuse the century‑old civic buildings into a two‑story town center, include space for police and paramedic operations, and seek roughly $22.7 million via a general‑obligation bond; council asked staff for more technical work before committing.
An ad‑hoc citizens advisory committee on April 29 presented a conceptual redesign of Ross’s town center that would consolidate town hall, police and public spaces into an adapted two‑story civic building and preserve the site’s historic character.
The committee said the plan is intended as a conceptual, program‑driven design rather than final drawings and proposed financing the construction with a general‑obligation bond placed before voters. Committee member Ed Dong told the council the group’s contractors and cost consultants believe the adaptive‑reuse approach could be delivered at about $22.7 million, roughly $1,680 per square foot, including the option to fit the building to accommodate fire/EMS apparatus bays.
The estimate is preliminary and the presenters repeatedly described it as a concept budget that requires schematic design, more detailed contractor pricing and environmental and geotechnical studies before the council would have a figure to put before voters. The committee recommended the council authorize a site survey and limited investigations, hire an architectural/engineering team for schematic design, and form a public‑private working group to support outreach and a bond campaign.
Why it matters: The plan would replace the multiple single‑story additions at the existing civic compound with a single more compact, two‑story structure that advocates say reduces site coverage, lowers long‑term construction cost per square foot and creates a central public gathering place. Committee members emphasized the design keeps historic facades where practical and retains the rear apparatus bays so the town retains flexibility to host paramedics or a fire company on site in the future.
Pushback and open questions: Council members and staff focused their questions on items that would materially affect cost and permitting: flood‑plain constraints around the apparatus bays and whether those bays could meet FEMA and local flood‑plain requirements; seismic and foundation work needed to bring the century‑old building up to essential‑services standards; the need for geotechnical borings; and clear program layouts for police operations, public‑works shops and parking.
Police and fire leaders who spoke at the meeting cautioned that operational requirements for a modern station — secure evidence handling, diesel exhaust capture, controlled circulation for victims and staff — would need to be detailed in schematic design. Town staff said the next step is to sign a schematic design contract and a site‑survey scope so architects and cost consultants can produce a 30%‑level package that would support a more reliable bond cost figure.
Committee and next steps: The committee proposed an aggressive schedule for schematic design and costing so the town could potentially present a bond question to voters as soon as November 2026 or in a later special election window in 2027; staff cautioned that meeting a November ballot deadline would be challenging and recommended the council prioritize careful schematic work to avoid under‑estimating costs.
Representing the committee, Ed Dong said, “We believe we can deliver [the civic and community concept] at $22.7 million,” a figure he said is based on contractor walkthroughs and an adaptive‑reuse approach. Town staff recommended the council direct staff to solicit schematic design proposals, undertake selective investigations (as‑built drawings, limited exploratory openings and targeted geotechnical borings), and return with a recommended procurement and outreach plan.
What happens next: Council members generally signaled support for moving into schematic design and for using the committee’s energy and expertise, but they asked staff to provide a clear implementation roadmap that spells out required permits, environmental review steps (SQA/CEQA), likely contingencies and a timeline tied to realistic election deadlines. The committee said it would withdraw a pending ballot initiative if the council adopts a clear, time‑bound plan and advances schematic design costs and financing steps.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 1002, topfinish SEG 3960
