Story · Public Safety Building Committee
Building concept and site layout options
Option 1 (called taupe) is two stories, about 16,800 square feet. It sits behind the 60-foot front setback, the required distance from the road. It needs about 2,500 cubic yards of structural fill, which is soil brought in to raise the ground, and the architect said its exits could shine headlights toward neighbors' homes. Option 2 (gray) is two stories, about 15,600 square feet. It flips the building, keeps a wooded buffer to the neighbor, and works better with the existing slope. Option 3 (red) is one story, about 14,800 square feet. The architect and the site engineer said it has the smallest footprint and would likely cost the least, and that wood framing would work. Options 2 and 3 break the setback. The final program was about 15,600 to 15,700 square feet. A commissioner noted that in option 1, a visitor who needed the fire department would be escorted upstairs. The document does not record a choice of option.
How it happened
Sep 30 · MinutesFirst mention
On 9/30/2026, Jason LaCombe of SMP showed three early site concepts for a building that would hold police, fire and emergency management. These were site layouts, not floor plans. Two were two-story designs. The taupe one would need about 2,500 cubic yards of fill because the site sits lower than Route 87. The grey one put the truck bays closer to Old Lee Rd, where less fill is needed. Both two-story designs needed more floor space for stairs and an elevator. The red option is a one-story building of about 14,800 square feet with a shared public entrance and separate department access. Mr. LaCombe said it was the most efficient in footprint and likely the cheapest to build. The group also discussed ways to limit effects on nearby homes, such as separate traffic flows, downcast lighting, timers, dimmers, fencing and landscaping. Mr. LaCombe proposed a work session with the chiefs and Lt. Blais, then a more developed plan in about three weeks.
The committee voted unanimously to move the smaller one-story red option forward for more design work.
Sep 30 · Video
The architect from S&P presented three site approach diagrams. These are not floor plans. They show where a building could sit on the 14-acre lot on Route 87 to limit wetland impact, fit the space needs worked out with the chiefs, and keep traffic from police, fire and the public apart. Taupe: two stories, about 16,800 square feet, apparatus bay raised about 12 feet with roughly 2,500 yards of fill, and the only option that stays behind the 60-foot front setback. Gray: two stories, about 15,600 square feet, flipped layout that keeps a wooded buffer to neighbors, and it breaks the front setback. Red: one story, about 14,800 square feet, and it also breaks the front setback, with the building about 30 to 40 feet from the property line. The architect and committee members said red has the smallest footprint and is likely the cheapest, with a smaller floor area than the program target of about 156,000 to 157,000 as stated in the recording. The recorded figure may be a transcription error. Members said the parking, estimated at roughly 30,000 square feet of pavement, could be reduced or moved later. None of the concepts has an entrance on Meadow Road.
Sep 30 · VideoDecided
The committee took a straw poll, not a formal vote, and agreed the red, one-story, smaller-footprint concept is preferred. Members discussed whether to look at meeting the front setback, and said the town can seek relief if it reduces wetland impact. The architect will hold a work session with the committee chair, another committee member and the fire chief on details before drawing floor plans. The site engineer will start looking at grading and site distance for the driveways. The architect said a real floor plan could be ready in a couple of weeks. Separately, the committee voted to recommend that a resident who applied fill the open at-large seat, and the select board makes the appointment. It also approved prior meeting minutes.
Straw poll: committee favors the red one-story concept (unanimous, per chair). Vote to recommend the applicant for the open seat; one member stated opposition. Prior minutes approved as submitted; no opposition recorded.
Sep 30 · Video
The architect from SMP Architecture showed three site approach diagrams. These show where a building could sit on the lot. They are not floor plans. The goals were to limit wetland impact, fit the space the chiefs asked for, and keep traffic from mixing. The architect hoped the committee would agree on one option so floor plans and building design could follow. A committee member said the diagrams show the footprint and traffic flow, not where rooms go. The architect said any option will need many more meetings. The document does not show a vote on a final option.
Sep 30 · Video
Option 1 (called taupe) is two stories, about 16,800 square feet. It sits behind the 60-foot front setback, the required distance from the road. It needs about 2,500 cubic yards of structural fill, which is soil brought in to raise the ground, and the architect said its exits could shine headlights toward neighbors' homes. Option 2 (gray) is two stories, about 15,600 square feet. It flips the building, keeps a wooded buffer to the neighbor, and works better with the existing slope. Option 3 (red) is one story, about 14,800 square feet. The architect and the site engineer said it has the smallest footprint and would likely cost the least, and that wood framing would work. Options 2 and 3 break the setback. The final program was about 15,600 to 15,700 square feet. A commissioner noted that in option 1, a visitor who needed the fire department would be escorted upstairs. The document does not record a choice of option.