This July, Westwood residents have opportunities to learn about rough cost estimates and a new, preliminary design for Westwood Fire Station 1 (FS1), described by project officials as capable of meeting all of Westwood Fire Department’s programmatic needs in a building that is significantly smaller than the Dore + Whittier design that voters previously twice declined to fund.
Todd Coster, lead architect and principal at Kaestel Boos Associates, alongside PMA Consultants project managers Walter Hartley and Sheamus Connor, presented the new design concept for FS1 to Westwood Select Board at the board's July 13 meeting, describing the concept as a building that measures 29,737 square feet.
The reimagined design represents a size reduction of almost 7,000 square feet, or almost 20 percent, from the 36,724 square foot design previously put forward by Dore + Whittier.
The reduced square footage would be achieved through reductions in size to some spaces, along with an emphasis on making spaces flexible and multifunctional, said Mr. Coster.
For example, while the new FS1 design concept would still include five apparatus bays and a maintenance bay, the bays would be slightly smaller than the Dore + Whittier design. Lobby space would also be reduced. Separate office spaces are now envisioned as shared office spaces, and bunk rooms would be designed to accomodate shared sleeping arrangements during emergencies as well as future growth.
Decontamination space would be retained, and training space and operations-support space would be expanded in the Kaestel Boos Associates design.
Town Administrator Connor Read noted that the redesign seeks to reduce administrative office space and prioritize space for fire operations. Mr. Coster agreed with Mr. Read’s characterization.
The smaller sized building could potentially fit at any of the three sites currently under consideration, said Mr. Coster. Each site offers its own distinct advantages and disadvantages:
Challenges at the latter two sites may include accessibility, the need for easements or property takings, and/or wetlands-related constraints.
Town officials say that this July and August are critical periods for public involvement as they hope to speedily advance a project with public support, ever mindful that construction costs of the fire station can be expected to continue to increase, and not decrease, with the progression of time.
The FS1 Steering Committee and project team are setting an ambitious schedule, with a goal of selecting a preferred site at the committee's August 7 hybrid meeting. Ahead of that meeting, the town plans to share information with residents through two public meetings on July 29 and July 30, timed to inform the FS1 Steering Committee and the design process.
Following Select Board’s approval of a final site, town officials hope to present the rebooted FS1 project for residents’ vote at a Town Meeting in late October.
If that vote is successful, a second vote to approve a debt exclusion for funding the project would be held on November 3, Election Day.
The community can track developments related to FS1 on westwoodma.gov/fs1 and through the Town of Westwood’s social media pages. Westwood Minute will also continue its coverage on this issue.
Thanks to the Town of Westwood for sharing information about public input opportunities with Westwood Minute.
Officer Abbatangelo deserves to return to his job. I am happy this unfortunate situation has been resolved. Officer Abbatangelo has provided our town with true community policing for the past 24 years. It is not an easy job. I am left to wonder, how did this situation escalate in the first place?
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