Proposal For New Falmouth Fire Station Takes Step Forward

FALMOUTH, MA — The Falmouth Select Board approved a proposal for a new fire station on Sandwich Road on Monday.

The proposed station would be built next to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth and the George Gaspa Sports Complex. Fire Chief Timothy Smith said the proposed station would serve the northeast section of town, from Sandwich Road to the Mashpee border, Joint Base Cape Cod and toward the north.

The proposed parcel at 860 Sandwich Road is owned by the town, but for planning purposes, the location must be split off from the rest of the parcel to begin the planning process.

The select board approved the plan with an "approval not required plan," which according to state law, means planning officials can divide the parcel for different purposes as long as the town owns the land. The planning board has 21 days to endorse the plan.

Town Manager Julian Suso said much of the land that's town-owned on the 86,000 square-foot parcel is athletic fields and parking, but there are 4 acres on the property not being used for anything. Suso said the lot is big enough for both the fire station and the athletic fields to coexist.

If approved by the planning board, town meeting voters will decide whether to allocate the money needed to pay for the design and construction of the new fire station. The Annual town meeting is scheduled for April 12. If approved, the town can begin the next step of hiring someone to design the station.

A fire station committee would also likely be formed to help with design and planning.