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Boxborough FinCom hears updates on fire station visioning and property title work
Summary
Committee members heard community preferences for a library-style fire station, scheduled public visioning at Fifers Day and July 23, and learned title work is underway with a target closing in mid-July pending resolution of easement and retitling issues.
Boxborough Finance Committee members received detailed updates on the proposed new fire station’s design options, public feedback, and the status of the property acquisition.
Presenters said community reaction favored a library-style appearance for the new station and shared four conceptual renderings. The project team will present renderings and hold mini-visioning at Fifers Day and a fuller public session on July 23. The sessions are intended to refine siting choices — whether apparatus bays face the road or sit behind the building — and one- versus two-story design trade-offs.
Members discussed long-term maintenance and flexibility: a two-story design raises elevator and maintenance questions, while a single-story increases foundation footprint. Committee members asked staff to model the incremental cost of building now to allow for a future second floor versus building strictly single-story.
On property acquisition, staff reported title work and a small retitling issue tied to an easement; the vendor (former property occupant) has moved out. The target forecast for closing moved from late July toward mid-July depending on completion of title steps and any required surveying. Committee members emphasized that major engineering (driveway slope, 80–90-foot driveway width) and full design work will follow ownership, so the town is performing conceptual siting and preliminary planning now rather than committing to heavy engineering costs.
Next steps include public visioning events, continued title and survey work, and cost comparisons between one- and two-story design options; staff said they will report back to the committee as those steps progress.
