Brewster FD 3rd Station Proposal

[Remember585 815]

Brewster fire district proposes a sub-station

By MARCELA ROJAS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: December 22, 2006)

SOUTHEAST -The Brewster-Southeast Joint Fire District has proposed a multimillion-dollar substation in the eastern part of town.

The project, an 11,510-square-foot facility on Milltown Road, is before the Planning Board, with public hearings scheduled for early 2007. A $5 million bond referendum is expected at the end of March, officials said.

Although plans to build a third firehouse to protect the growing area have been in the works for five years, the district seized the opportunity recently after insurance giant American International Group (AIG) donated the 4.78 acres to them this year.

"Knowing what property values are in the district, it was a tremendous offer from AIG," district spokesman Richard Hiss said. "It's a strategic location."

But some residents, who say they learned about the project only this month, have raised concerns about the size of the substation and whether it would destroy the bucolic, residential neighborhood.

"To be fair, we don't know enough about it to take a position," said James Ryan, chairman of the Milltown Association, a civic group with 90 families. "But there is great concern on what this will do to the historic character of the area."

Other residents are skeptical about whether the donation will open the door to development. There are 68 undeveloped acres behind the proposed site.

Joe Norton, AIG's director of public relations, confirmed that AIG donated the land, but said he did not have any other information. Supervisor John Dunford said there were no plans at this time to develop it. AIG was once involved in the management of the exclusive Morefar Back O'Beyond golf course off Federal Road in Southeast.

"What's really behind this?" posited David Heer of Settlers Hill Road. "I've lived here for 25 years, and it's never been said it was unsafe for getting fire protection. There are a lot of questions and not a lot of clarity or transparency and the Fire Department is just moving this along."

Brewster Fire Chief Ken Clair said that a substation was sorely needed because the response time to that area was about 25 minutes and there was no water resource there. The department has its main headquarters on North Main Street in Brewster and another station on Route 312.

"Both firehouses are cramped, and so this would definitely be a big help," Clair said.

Hiss said the one-story building would have 3,360 square feet of office space and a 8,150-square-foot apparatus bay for as many as eight trucks around back. The site will also house a 25,100-gallon water storage tank that will be both above and below ground.

Hiss emphasized that the substation would serve all of Southeast and Brewster and was in a convenient location to busy roads, including Interstates 84 and 684. The Brewster Volunteer Fire Department is the busiest in Putnam County, he said, handling more than 1,600 fire and ambulance calls annually.

The 25-year life of the bond is expected to cost $50 a year per household for the first nine years and $20 a year for the remaining 16 years, Hiss said.

Reach Marcela Rojas at mrojas@lohud.com or 845-228-2271.

I had heard this from time to time in passing - not a bad idea. Best of luck to Brewster and their ever-growing community AND call volume.