By Chris Kopacko, Contributing Writer
Westborough – The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing during its June 25 meeting for a site plan review by the Municipal Building Committee (MBC) on the proposed building of a new fire station.
Project architect Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC presented his plan to the board, saying the site plans were complete and they were ready start the bidding process upon approval by the selectmen.
The project – which was approved by town meeting last October – calls for the construction of a 26,800 square foot building in a vacant lot next to the current fire station located at 42 Milk St. Once the new building is complete, the fire department will vacate the existing building, which will then be demolished and repaved for a parking lot.
One of the concerns Humes pointed out regarding the project was environmental in nature.
“It was discovered that there were some volatiles in the soil,” he said, speaking of the abandoned lot to be used for the new fire station. According to Humes, trichloroethylene, or TCE, was found in the soil shortly after the town purchased the site in 2006. This contamination requires any soil that leaves the site to first be analyzed, and then disposed of at designated landfills.
“All of that has added a component that we are working through,” Humes said, noting that reports with the Department of Environmental Protection will also be required.
Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the site plan, with Selectman Leigh Emery praising the MBC for all of their work on the site plan.
“You'se done a remarkable job,” she said. “My hat's off to all of you.”