By Adam Swift
Architects from Kaestle Boos discussed conceptual plans for the second phase of a public safety building project at a public hearing held by the Fire House Building Committee on Monday night.
Voters will be asked to approve a debt exclusion for the first phase of the project, a new fire station on Winthrop Street next to the existing police station, on Nov. 7.
If that vote is successful, the town could consider moving forward with the second phase of a public safety project several years down the line. That project would include the major renovation of the existing police station, which would include a bridge connecting the new fire station to the police station.
The renovated police station would include a new second floor as well as an outside addition, as well as a major overhaul of the existing property.
The police department would have to relocate during the renovation/construction project, according to Larry Trim of Kaestle Boos.
Once completed, the newly redone police station would be about 33,000 square feet, or about the same size as the proposed new fire station, according to Trim. There would also be parking included, most likely for staff, underneath the building, according to Trim.
Trim noted that any design plans for the updated police station are in the very preliminary stages.
“There is plenty of time to decide the final configuration of the police department,” said Trim.
Trim said the current plans show an expanded detention and sallyport area on the lower level, along with a slightly expanded firing range. There would be public access and meeting rooms on the main floor, and the second floor would likely contain administrative space, as well as facilities for the patrol division.
None of the potential plans for the second phase of the project would affect the proposed cost or plans for the new fire station, Trim said. However, he said the new fire station would be constructed so that it could easily connect to an updated police station.
In addition to discussing the police station plans, Trim said his firm met recently with the police and fire chiefs and made some adjustments to the plans for the new fire station.
Those changes include raising the height of the second floor to be able to put the dormitories for firefighters over the apparatus bay and on the same level as the command staff. Trim said this also would open up more space in the administrative wing so the town’s health department could have more space on an upper level of the building.
“I think it’s really important to conceptually take a look at this to give people an idea of where we are going and where we are looking in the future,” said Town Council President Jim Letterie. “It also gave us an opportunity to make a few adjustments on the fire side.”