Spencerport Station One proposal
gets review at information meeting

Location, size and cost were some topics raised at the information meeting about the Spencerport Fire District’s plans to rebuild Station One on Lyell Avenue in the village. Over 100 people attended the November 30 meeting at Spencerport High School.

Fire district commissioners, Spencerport Volunteer Firefighters Association representatives, and the architect who designed the plans were among those who presented data about the fire service’s needs in the new construction.

Station One was destroyed by fire August 11. Since then, the district has used two different locations in Spencerport village to store three of the seven trucks formerly housed at the main firehouse. Other apparatus are relocated to the two other district stations – one at the corner of Route 259 and Ridge Road West, the other on Route 259 in Ogden.

Commissioners began studying replacing Station One about two years ago. Though other sites have been considered for the main headquarters, commissioners strongly favor keeping the village location. Many firefighters live within the village, district board of commissioners President Rich McQuilkin said at the meeting, and response time is shortened by having the base centrally located. Quicker response times yield a better insurance rate for residents, he said.

One resident suggested commissioners look at expanding the Union Street (Route 259) site rather than rebuild on Lyell Avenue.

Some speakers at the meeting were concerned with the use and accessibility of Lyell Avenue at certain times of the day, particularly when traffic to the Spencerport school campus located east of the fire department site is at its peak. Various options to access main routes exist from that location, McQuilkin said. Also, a different site could necessitate land purchase, he noted, which would drive the project cost up.

One resident was concerned that a larger firehouse would change the character of the neighborhood, which is largely residential. A representative from Bergmann Associates said the project was designed with its surroundings in mind and features residential aspects in the construction, including the angle of the roof lines and green areas surrounding parking spaces. To maximize space, an unfinished basement is part of the design. That also increases building costs.

As proposed, the building would include an elevator, mandated by state codes. The former headquarters, a car dealership and repair shop, was built on a concrete slab. Remediation would be needed for two areas of contaminated soil at the site, McQuilkin said, cost of which has been factored into the financial plan.

Spencerport Fire Chief Chris Wood said the new facility would help the department “catch up” in terms of space and amenities and would “give us room for the future.” Officials said they hope the new firehouse would meet district needs 40 to 50 years into the future.

The proposed two story project includes two bunk rooms, two locker rooms, meeting rooms for the chief, association president and other officials, a large meeting room, training room, space for seven pieces of apparatus, a kitchen and records and gear storage areas.

In 1999, firefighters responded to 746 calls; in 2005 – 841, an increase of 13 percent. There are 105 volunteer firefighters in the association.

Several residents spoke in favor of the project and applauded the efforts of the all-volunteer fire department. “We want our volunteers to be comfortable,” Dave Connor said. “But we need to be able to afford” the facility, noting he thought the cost of the project was in keeping with today’s building costs. He characterized the building as “first class and attractive” in design, “with what you need. But please spend our money wisely.”

Commissioner President McQuilkin responded, nodding, “It’s our money, too.”

On Tuesday, December 12, registered voters in the Spencerport Fire District will be asked to cast their votes on the Fire District referendum for the purpose of authorizing the district to spend up to $5,200,000 for the cost of the construction and equipping of the proposed fire station at 175 and 183 Lyell Avenue. The district is seeking to bond $4,200,000. The balance of funds for the construction will come from casualty insurance proceeds estimated at not less than $1 million.

If approved, the 20-year bond will cost the taxpayers with the median home value of $130,000 an average of $21 per year. As with all bonds, the rate is derived over the 20-year life where the cost declines from year one at approximately $37 to year 20 at approximately $9 based on projected growth data, according to fire district leaders.

The vote Tuesday, December 12 from 3 to 9 p.m. is at Spencerport Fire Station #3, 2588 South Union Street.

If the referendum is approved, McQuilkin said department officials will begin the process of seeking planning and zoning board approval.

by Westside News Inc. staff

December 3, 2006