Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and selectmen press for bigger site, appraisal as firehouse plan moves forward
Summary
Public commenters and several selectmen questioned whether the town-owned site can safely accommodate a 14,500 sq ft firehouse; commenters asked the town to appraise the existing building and consider alternative larger sites before demolition.
During the public comment period and selectmen Q&A, multiple residents said the proposed one-acre site feels tight for a 14,500-square-foot building and large fire apparatus. Bob Gasser, who identified himself during public comment, said the site looked "really tight" and urged an appraisal of the existing building so the town understands its market value before demolition. "I think we should have that building appraised so that the taxpayers of the town know what that building is worth," Gasser said.
The building committee and architects said they examined alternate sites during earlier renovation studies and performed due diligence (test wells and geotechnical borings) on the chosen parcel. The committee argued purchasing a different parcel and completing comparable site work would add time and cost and leave critical equipment in an unsafe facility longer. The committee also said it had an initial meeting with planning and zoning and that the new design includes buffers and circulation to handle apparatus and parking.
