The High Street fire station was initially built in 1948 with the last significant renovation in 1975.  Issues associated with the station today include its inadequate size, its deteriorating condition, the expansion of the department to include both males and females, the need to isolate contaminated gear after use at fire-related events, upgrades in building and operational codes, and the need for appropriate training, fitness and meeting spaces. In 2013, an analysis of Westwood’s Public Safety infrastructure (Fire Station 1 – High Street, Fire Station 2 – Islington, and the police Station) called for all three buildings to be replaced.  Fire Station 2 on Washington Street and the Police Station on High Street opened in 2016 and 2017, respectively. 

A feasibility study of Fire Station 1 concluded building a new fire station at the current site is the best solution to meet the needs of the department and comply with national safety standards. Renovating the existing facility would be extraordinarily costly and would not address the inadequate size, layout and safety problems of the current station. For example, renovations would require the entire apparatus floor to be braced, which would eliminate the ability to use the current garage bays in the basement which are now used for repair work on apparatus. Renovations would not solve for the current lack of space for a training area or storage for medical equipment and firefighting apparatus.

The feasibility study included a response time analysis which analyzed how quickly necessary equipment and personnel arrive on scene after a call comes in for assistance.  That analysis looked at not only the two current station locations but also considered alternative sites. This analysis identified the best sites, with the current site on High Street being superior.

The estimated increase in cost is approximately 3% each year under normal circumstances.  Extraordinary events in the past such as the overwhelming winter of 2015 and the impact of COVID on all elements of construction caused greater cost escalations. In summation, the costs associated with building a new FS#1 will increase over time.

There are additional consequences associated with delaying this project. For example, the Fire Department will have to change its operational model by having more personnel stationed at FS2. This will increase our response time to areas of greater call volume. 

Fire Station 2 was built as a substation which means it has a smaller scope of operations as compared to the main station.  Therefore, scaling up the design of Fire Station 2 would not adequately address the needs of the town’s main station. Another important factor contributing to a different building design for the main station is the significant downward slope of the site from High Street to the rear of the property.   

Factors impacting building requirements have changed over the years for several reasons.  NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) codes and standards, building codes, accessibility requirements, and equipment size translate into larger buildings. One of the most significant changes is the NFPA’s response to firefighting safety and the decontamination process. Standards require new types of decontamination equipment and new planning requirements, which can lead to an increase in space needs.

The programmatic needs of Fire Station #2 are different than Fire Station #1. There are fewer personnel stationed at FS #2 and simply scaling up the design would not account for the FS #1 programmatic needs. The size and topography of the two sites are also very different, which informs the building design.

The new design of FS#1 also accounts for future growth in the department. The current recommendation for staffing is 11 personnel total, for both stations per shift. Projected growth in staffing will necessitate the main station personnel. 

There are several unknowns about the American Legion Hall Building that cannot be discovered without extensive demolition and research. With a Haz-mat abatement likely required, there is no guarantee the space could be rehabilitated to accommodate temporary operations without incurring a large price tag.  In addition, the existing structure doesn’t have these required systems:

• Updated electrical service
• Updated HVAC
• Accessible facilities
• Space to store apparatus

Updates for the temporary operations would likely trigger the need for full building upgrades for sprinkler systems, fire alarms, etc. regardless of what the building might be used for in the future.

Since there is not definitive long-term use planned for the building after the Fire Department moves to its new building, the project’s working group was concerned that the renovations and upgrades would need to be removed or altered to accommodate whatever the future use of the building might be.

The fire station needs direct access to High Street, which this site doesn’t offer. Making a left onto Gay Street from the Deerfield is difficult. In addition, the building is under the control of the School Committee and not the Select Board.

In 2023, the Select Board commissioned an operational study of the Westwood Fire Department staffing. Currently, the Department operates with a shift of ten (10) personnel. Seven (7) at FS1 and three (3) at FS2. The operational study recommended a minimum staffing of eleven personnel eight (8) at FS1 and three (3) at FS2. The new FS#1 would provide for future growth of the department which is projected to occur over the next few decades.

Additionally, during storm related events and All-Call events when all available personnel are called in to work, additional personnel often need to stay overnight. Currently, these individuals (and/or neighboring Town firefighters for station coverage) sleep on the floor of the station or in chairs. This condition is not conducive to a healthy firefighting force. 

Finally, current codes and regulations require separate living quarters for male and female personnel.  The proposed building design utilizes a gender-neutral approach to comply with these codes.  This approach also requires less area as reflected in the compact design.

The mechanic’s bay is necessary because it is the most cost-effective and efficient solution for maintaining the department’s apparatus. If the town were to outsource this work, it would cost approximately $200 an hour and would likely incur delays to conducting preventative maintenance. Constructing a stand-alone facility for equipment maintenance would cost over $2 million. Including it in Fire Station 1 is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000.

The iNet is the connection hub for all of town and school technology networks. It has historically been located in a small room in Fire Station 1. The iNet needs to be in a secure building with 24-hour access, making fire stations a logical location. During construction, the iNet will move to a temporary location. The working did consider relocating the iNet to a different municipal building, like the Police Station, but doing so would incur additional capital costs.

It is difficult to make apples to apples comparisons of fire stations for surrounding towns as each Town has unique needs.  Below is a list of facilities cost and square footage for surrounding towns:

The project scope was identified during the feasibility study and is based on many parameters including such items as 1) a survey of the fire department personnel, 2) a study of projected future growth, 3) input from multiple Town officials, 4) building and safety codes and accessibility standards, 5) firefighters' decontamination requirements, and 6) the need for dedicated mechanical systems.

The resulting recommendation is a new 36,000 SF building design inclusive of spaces for administration, living quarters, training, fitness, and operations including five (5) apparatus bays, a vehicle maintenance bay, and associated support spaces sized for maintaining an efficient operation.

The present station has four (4) bays upstairs that are not long enough to accommodate the length of the Department’s vehicles. There are also three (3) smaller bays downstairs. Despite this room, department vehicles are still stored outside and exposed to the elements. 

The proposed station has five (5) bays upstairs of adequate size and three (3) bays downstairs. This setup will allow all of the department’s vehicles to be stored in the most efficient manner.

The proposed plan calls for the elimination of the driveway on the southern side of the property.  Due to the slope of the driveway, the apparatus currently cannot access the rear of the building via the driveway. Employees are presently using the Hillcrest Place entrance/exit to access rear parking areas in order to avoid traffic on High Street/Rte. 109. Eliminating of the driveway also eliminates its use as a “cut through,” which reduces town liability.  The town is working with neighbors of the the Hillcrest neighborhoods to make the transition as smooth as possible.

As of Sept. 2024, the estimated cost of the building is $39,528,343. This includes:

1. The new building
2. INet
3. Headquarters for temporary operations
4. Furniture
5. Technologies
6. Moving costs
7. Project Manager to oversee the project through construction. State law requires municipalities have this type of oversight.
8. Architecture and engineering services through construction, which include site surveys, geotechnical work, hazardous material studies, testing, etc.
9. Contingency. 5% for construction an 1% for OPM
10. $3.5 million allocated at the January 2024 Special Town Meeting for the design and bid has been removed to bring the cost under $40 million.

• June 2025 Construction for FS1 Begins
• December 2025 Fire Department Moves to Temporary Operations
• January 2026 FS1 Construction Starts
• July 2027 Substantial Completion
• August 2027 Fire Department Move-In
• December 2027 Final Close Out

We are keenly aware that both the school project(s) and a new Fire Station 1 are critical for Westwood. Both the schools and Fire Station 1 are facing aging infrastructure and need upgrading. The new Fire Station 1 was designed purposefully to incorporate a design which is cost effective and energy efficient to minimize the cost to residents.

The project design is needs-based, meaning it has been designed to provide for the operational needs of the department and nothing more.  The FS1 Working Group, utilizing information gathered from Town departments, boards, and committees, has focused on the most compact station that the need-only program will allow.  The Group’s mission is to ensure the size of the building is only what we need to be safe and code compliant, with space for future growth with no need to expand in 20-30 years.

Another element of the overall FS#1 project is the creation of temporary operating quarters on the site of the American Legion building behind Town Hall.  In the process of determining how best to provide for temporary operations, cost control measures have included not rehabbing the American Legion building, but instead utilizing less expensive trailers for firefighters.

The scope of this project is to ensure FS#1 will be correctly sized and will not need any additions or renovation in the next several decades.

A 26,000 SF facility will not meet the current or future needs of the department.   Specifically, the building as presently designed requires five apparatus bays and a maintenance bay.  This results in a set building footprint on the main level.  Reducing overall space would need to make the building undersized right from the start.  It should be noted that through the course of planning and refining the building layout, the 36,000 square-foot facility has been reduced from the conceptual design of 38,383 square feet. 

The design team will remain nimble to make sure anything that arises will be assessed and addressed in a cost-effective manner. During the process if we see prices spike for one material or system we can identify other options to satisfy the project requirements, provided that there is a financial and project benefit to the Town.  We have also budgeted for contingencies, which is the Town’s means to address any unforeseen issues.  These contingencies protect the overall Project Budget from cost over-runs.  Lastly, because the proposed project is a new station, it will have less unknowns than an occupied/phased renovation of an existing building. In addition, the Public Building Committee, the Owners Project Manager, and the Architect and Engineers, are tasked to constantly monitor and evaluate project costs against the budget, as well as compliance of construction to the contract documents.

Both a debt exclusion and an operating override, if approved by voters, result in an increase in local real estate taxes. The main difference is that a debt exclusion is meant to finance a specific project through a fixed-term borrowing (bond), and authorization is sought to cover the cost of the debt only. Once the bond of that project is paid off, the associated tax increase for that project goes away. A debt exclusion does not become part of the base upon which the tax levy limit is calculated like an operating override. So, a debt exclusion is a temporary increase, while an override is a permanent addition to the levy limit.

Both a debt exemption and an operating override require a two-thirds vote by the community at a Town Meeting and a majority vote of approval by the electorate at a subsequent election.