Safety board approves moving Fire Station 294 site to front of DPW campus

The Science Hill Safety Board voted 5–0 on March 16 to endorse relocating the planned Fire Station 294 from its originally studied site at 875 East and 400 South to a town‑owned parcel immediately in front of the Department of Public Works campus.

Town presenters told the board the new site yields more acreage (staff estimated roughly 5 acres at the DPW-front parcel versus about 3 acres at the northern parcel) and comes with existing utility access that should lower long‑term construction costs. Deputy Chief Potts walked the board through response‑time heat maps and said the shift produced only marginal changes to two‑minute coverage in the modeled area.

The presenters characterized the recommendation as conceptual and not a commitment to additional purchases; the town owns both parcels, and staff said utilities coming with the DPW campus infrastructure would reduce the need for off‑site utility extensions.

A board member moved to send the board’s approval of the proposed change to the council and the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The board thanked staff for the graphics and analysis and closed the item with staff direction to continue planning and to coordinate next steps with council and town departments.

Because the change is a recommendation to council rather than a construction contract, the vote does not obligate immediate spending; staff said council would consider appropriation and contract approvals (for other stations) in future council sessions.