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Highway building drafter outlines layout; committee asks for lift provisions and HVAC details
Summary
The Highway Building Advisory Committee reviewed non-structural draft plans showing bay doors, mezzanine dimensions and a 4' concrete wall; members asked drafter Mike Cowdrey to revise plans to allow a future vehicle lift, clarify stair landings and confirm ductwork and heating arrangements.
Acting Chair David Kelly opened the Highway Building Advisory Committee meeting at 7:12 p.m. and introduced drafter Mike Cowdrey, who presented non-structural layout plans for a proposed highway building and offered to revise the drawings based on the committee’s direction.
The drafter described core elements of the layout: exterior doors on every wall, 14-foot-by-14-foot bay doors, a mezzanine with a guardrail and a specified lateral load of 200 pounds on the mezzanine. Cowdrey said the design includes a 4-foot concrete wall with 2x6 framed wall above, an 8-foot first-floor height and a 9-foot-5-inch mezzanine height, and recommended a 6-inch concrete slab with insulation to reduce condensation. He also recommended raised-heel trusses to improve attic insulation.
Why it matters: committee members said early design choices should accommodate future equipment and ease later construction. Chair Jim Hoyt and other members pressed for clarity on structural supports and asked Cowdrey to coordinate with contractors and a truss engineer before returning revised plans.
Committee concerns and directives included provisions for a future vehicle lift. Harvey Peters warned a lift would be "extremely expensive," and Hoyt said the building does not need a lift now but advised designing the mezzanine and floor to withstand one later by pouring footings or adding a haunch wall rather than retrofitting after construction. Cowdrey agreed he could show a reinforced strip of concrete or other details to allow a future lift installation.
The committee also discussed vertical circulation and code questions: stair height prompted a request to consult Building Inspector Chuck Bodien about whether an intermediate landing is required. For mechanical systems, Hoyt recommended unit heaters for the garage and forced hot air for office and break areas; the group discussed propane as a fuel option for heating and hot water. Jason Hood and Kevin O'Neill raised routing questions for ductwork; Cowdrey said an 18-foot overall building height would allow a suspended or drop ceiling to carry ductwork and insulation.
Cowdrey said he would update the plans with the committee’s plumbing and mechanical decisions and consult contractors on buildability before the next meeting. The board also flagged lighting, alarm systems and paving plans as items to include in the next revision.
The committee scheduled follow-up work: Cowdrey will revise the plans, Hoyt will speak with concrete and HVAC professionals, and Bodien will be asked to attend the next meeting for code clarifications.
