Date: Fri 11-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

space-needs-Brimmer

Full Text:

Space Needs Panel Must Now Make Some Decisions

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Selectman Bill Brimmer's municipal space needs committee has all the

information it requested. Now it must make the tough decisions.

On Wednesday, architects from Kaestle Boos Associates presented their final

facts and figures. They won't be at the next meeting. From here on out, the

space needs panel will be on its own in determining which direction Newtown

takes in its quest to fill its needs for office space and other facilities

into the next century.

"For our next meeting, we're charging ourself to take a look at the scenarios

and rank them as to what we think are the strongest ones and the ones that are

not and the reason why," noted Mr Brimmer. "We'll come back next week and

discuss our thinking and come to some consensus."

Committee member Peg Daley suggested that each member rank the options in

order to help speed up the process.

In October, the committee was presented a list of 13 different scenarios for

addressing the need for more municipal office space. Some of the options

called for the construction of a new municipal building, while others

suggested the town add on to its existing buildings -- at Edmond Town Hall and

Town Hall South. A few scenarios recommended the use of Watertown Hall and the

former Gordon Fraser building, although those fell out of favor in initial

discussions.

This week, the committee talked at length about consolidating all town

offices, including the Board of Education, in one location.

"If you're going to do something, why not do it right?" Mr Brimmer said. "We

want to come up with something that is convenient for the public. These are

town buildings, we should make them user friendly.

Scenario 12 appears to best suit the town's need if it does decide to

consolidate. That scenario calls for a 22,000-square-foot addition to Edmond

Town Hall, providing enough space for all town offices (including those

currently at Canaan House) and Board of Education facilities.

The scenarios can still be modified and Scenario 12's $18.6 million cost is

not set in stone, according to the committee.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal suggested the committee be prepared to have

alternate options ready, just in case its top choice does not work out due to

cost or other circumstances.

He remains optimistic that the town will be pleased with the committee's

conclusions.

"I think something good will come out of it that the public will support. I'm

optimistic that the cost won't be at the high end," Mr Rosenthal said.

Recommendations

On Wednesday, architects from Kaestle Boos Associates unveiled their

recommendations for suitable space for the future needs of each town agency.

It has recommended more than doubling the current municipal space. Presently,

the town has a total 24,560-square feet of net space. Kaestle Boos has

recommended that figure jump to 54,955.

Much of that increase would come at the police department, which would expand

from its current 4,402-square-feet of net space to 18,843-square-feet.

According to architect Rusty Malek, the almost 19,000-square-feet of net space

is about normal for a modern-day police department in a town of Newtown's

size.

"It really shows how little space the police department has," Mr Brimmer said.

The current net space of town hall offices is 11,805-square-feet. Kaestle Boos

has suggested that be raised to 19,410. The recommendation calls for, on

average, the doubling of space for each town agency.

Kaestle Boos also recommended the net space at Hook & Ladder Fire Company jump

from 5,235-square-feet to 11,230, which would include at least two more bays.

Under these recommendations, the Board of Education's administrative offices

would also increase from a current net space of 3,118-square-feet to 5,472.

"Those figures can still be refined. We still have to keep an eye on cost," Mr

Rosenthal said.

Mr Rosenthal said he has been told that Newtown's population will not go much

higher than 30,000, based on the town's current zoning laws. Further growth

would only take place if the town was to change its zoning laws to allow for

more multi-family housing.