Boxborough committee votes unanimously to pursue one‑story design for new fire station

The Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee voted unanimously to proceed with a one‑story design for the town’s proposed fire station, the committee chair announced after a motion passed at the meeting.

The vote follows a lengthy presentation by project designers and a focused debate over operational needs, construction cost estimates and long‑term maintenance. Maria, a committee member, moved to advance the single‑story direction; Allen seconded the motion, and Chair Mary called for and recorded a unanimous vote.

Why it matters: Committee members and the fire chief favored a single‑story layout for rapid, direct circulation between living quarters, the triage area and apparatus bays — a configuration they said reduces the risk of injury and supports faster deployment of vehicles. Designers cautioned that two‑story schemes can have a smaller footprint and modest initial cost savings, but they underscored operational tradeoffs.

Design and cost details: Chris, the project designer, told the committee that early schematic pricing suggested a roughly 1%–2% difference favoring a two‑story option, which he estimated could translate to about $300,000–$450,000 in preliminary savings. “These are very preliminary,” Chris said; he added the numbers will be refined in schematic design and through a formal cost estimate.

Operational priorities: Mike relayed the fire chief’s operational preference after the chief reviewed the revised schematics, saying, “1C is his first choice,” because that layout provides the most direct internal circulation from living and administrative spaces to the apparatus bay. Committee members repeatedly emphasized that the chief’s priority is rapid, unobstructed access to apparatus for small crews.

Committee comments: Several committee members cited firefighter safety and life‑safety logistics as decisive factors. One member noted the strain of repeated stair use for personnel who live in the station and respond to alarms at all hours; others weighed longer‑term roofing and maintenance tradeoffs associated with a single‑story building’s larger roof area.

Next steps: With the one‑story direction approved, the project team will move from concept design into schematic design. The project manager reported property‑purchase work on 984 Mass Ave is on track (inspections complete, ALTA survey underway, and a tentative closing date of July 17). The committee also scheduled a public design update for July 23 and a sustainability session on July 22 to refine schematic details and pricing before the next committee decision point.

The committee adjourned after routine minutes approval and scheduling discussion.