Following PMA Consultants' (PMA) recent presentation to the FS1 Steering Committee of rough cost comparisons for locating a new Fire Station 1 (FS1) at three different sites, PMA will give a similar presentation to the community at an in-person public input forum on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:00 p.m. and virtual public input forum on Thursday, July 30 at 7:00 p.m. PMA is the Town of Westwood's owner's project manager for the proposed FS1.
At the July 27 FS1 Steering Committee meeting, a PMA representative stressed that the price ranges associated with the preliminary building layouts are not final cost of construction estimates, but rough numbers only intended to compare the relative costs of building at the three locations.
According to PMA, the same 30,000 square foot design concept would be feasible at any of the three potential FS1 locations. At this size, the building would be about 19 percent smaller, or 7,000 square feet less, than the design by Dore + Whittier that Westwood voters previously rejected.
PMA has stressed that all three sites are viable.
If a new FS1 is built at the 1.02 acre site of the existing Fire Station 1 on High Street, it would require demolishing the existing building and temporarily relocating fire operations. The newly constructed station would have three stories, with two stories viewable from High Street, and one story facing away from and not visible from High Street, due to the grading on the property. An access road would be created within the property without requiring an easement or taking, to provide access from the rear to the front of the building.
Costs specific to building at this location include $2.5 million to temporarily relocate FS1 operations for 22 months, $500,000 in PFAS remediation, $500,000 in abatement and demolition, and $125,000 for INET relocation.
PMA estimates the potential variance to costs at this site at 14.5%.
If FS1 is relocated to the 7.5 acre site of the former Deerfield School, it would be situated between the former school building and High Street. Given the larger lot and its relatively flat grade, multiple configurations are possible at this site, according to PMA.
The FS1 building would have two stories, instead of the three stories envisioned at the more restrictive High Street site. The size of the lot would allow more flexible two-sided access to apparatus bays, so the number of bays could potentially be reduced from five to four, resulting in cost savings and a reduction of roughly 1000 square feet, according to PMA.
The design at this site includes creating a roundabout and “dead end” on Deerfield Avenue, preventing regular vehicle traffic from driving through fire department operations. The barrier creating the dead end would allow fire department vehicles to pass through to provide service to Deerfield Avenue residents.
This location also offers the potential for multiple exits to High Street, including a shared, widened exit with the police station. Other exits would include an extension road to High Street and an exit to Westwood Glen Road. A traffic-preemption light would be installed, giving fire department vehicles priority when entering traffic.
Possible challenges at this property include nearby wetlands, which PMA described as small in area. The proposed access to High Street may be undesirable to abutters, but there would be no need for any taking along the length of the property, according PMA.
Costs associated with this site selection would include $500,000 to relocate the mobile buildings currently on the property and $500,000 to rebuild softball fields. A walking path could be re-established, to preserve the current ability of residents to walk around the field.
PMA estimates the potential cost variance at this site to be a relatively low 4 percent.
If FS1 is located at Lot 14-131, a town-owned parcel behind Starbucks on High Street, the building will likely be very similar to the building described in the Deerfield scenario, according to PMA.
The wooded, five-acre, landlocked site would require tree clearing ($300,000), an easement and taking for access to High Street ($1.5 million), and remediation ($3 million) related to an underground tank on the south side of the lot. Wetlands exist on the site, but would be avoided, according to PMA.
Along with the access issue, special considerations include the challenge of creating an access road to High Street on the sloping property.
A traffic signal would be installed on High Street to prioritize fire department travel.
PMA estimated the potential cost variance at this site at 19.2%.
Steps Ahead to Finalizing a Site Selection
Following the public forums, the FS1 Steering Committee will meet and finalize a matrix of weighted factors to help the committee determine which site to recommend for Select Board’s consideration, committee Chair Ford Spalding said at the group's most recent public meeting. The committee plans to submit its recommendation to Select Board on August 7.
The final matrix will guide the committee’s deliberations and may include revisions to factors under consideration and weight assigned to each one. At the July 27 meeting, PMA advised the FS1 Steering Committee to consider adding the following factors to its matrix as it deliberates:
Mr. Spalding noted that the final matrix will take community concerns and feedback into consideration.
Additionally, the Town of Westwood has created a survey on the FS1 project website, WestwoodFS1.com, asking for community feedback on the FS1 project. The survey is also available at this link: https://www.westwoodfs1.com/project-updates/transformation-k4sg2-88xfa-j52z9
Sunny, with a high of 77 and low of 65 degrees. Sunny for the morning, light drizzle in the afternoon, patchy rain nearby for the evening, clear overnight.
We used to spray our lawn with a company that said they used non-toxic chemicals. The loss of bees, frogs, pollinators and birds in our garden was dramatic.
Great topic! I'd love to see more from the environmental action committee on encouraging less use of pesticides/weed killers/fertilizers in town.
what a great way to encourage people to plant native, it gives me so much pleasure to see who is visiting my plants.
Good (majority) call by the Select Board. Appropriate time to bring in outside, impartial, leadership to the Department.
73° and Patchy rain nearby