Firehouse plans studied

The Spencerport Planning Board reviewed structural plans for the Lyell Avenue Station 1 Spencerport firehouse at a public hearing April 3. Representatives from Bergmann Associates architectural firm made a presentation and discussed how questions raised at previous meetings with the board and with village officials had been addressed.

Board members agreed that drainage concerns had been corrected but raised questions with other aspects of the building and site. Proposed parking space on the Prospect Street side of the building encroaches on the village right-of-way, a situation which caused concerns over liability, village officials said.

The building would include a community use space which would be accessed through the Prospect Street public entrance as well as through entrances on the south side of the building. The adjacent parking area would service those attending special events such as voting or large meetings and would also service firefighters responding to calls. There is also parking planned at the back of the building. Fire district officials said they needed the eastside spaces along the street to service the needs of the department volunteers as well as community members attending functions which might be scheduled at the site.

As proposed, the new building would sit farther back from Lyell Avenue than did the former firehouse which was destroyed in a blaze on August 11, 2006. A cupola would extend the height of the structure to 38 feet in one section.

Zoning variances would be needed for setbacks and to establish one category for the three parcels involved in the site. Spencerport Fire District commissioners plan to demolish a building at the back of the property and a brick structure owned by the firemen's association located on the west lot line.

Planning board members asked for a privacy fence on the west lot line as well as on the south line. They made no decision on the plans and will review the project again at the May meeting.

April 8, 2007