Stoughton Considers New Joint Police, Fire Station

STOUGHTON, MA — A site for a combined Stoughton police and fire station was approved by the Select Board at its meeting last Tuesday.

The Stoughton Public Safety Facilities Planning and Construction Committee told the board it analyzed 13 possible sites for either separate facilities or a combined facility. The committee chose a 14-acre site at the intersection of Fano Drive and Park Street. Building a 63,000 square-foot joint station was projected to cost $46-51 million.

Subcommittee chair Joel Wolk said the site was the "best solution on a long-term basis as an asset for the Town of Stoughton that will last for many years and have a lot of flexibility to provide us for what we need in the best possible way."

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the sub committee's recommendation, with Debra Roberts voting against the motions. But the endorsement from the Select Board doesn't mean the architect and project manager are free to begin a schematic design yet.

Because the project is on the same parcel being considered for a new South Elementary School, Select Board member Bob O'Regan said the sub committee and project manager Pomeroy Associates needs to meet with the school committee.

Wolk said the school committee has not endorsed or participated in the designs yet, but the committee does have plans to meet with the school committee chair.

"We feel comfortable that a school of that size could fit there," Wolk said.

Pomeroy Associates, architecture firm Dore & Whittier and the subcommittee considered more than a dozen sites, including the existing police and fire stations. Options for separate locations and combined locations were considered before deciding on the Fano Drive site. Wolk said other factors considered included response time, entrances/exits, neighborhood impact, visibility, traffic, zoning and more.

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