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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-01 RMHS School Council MinutesPublic Meeting On Proposed Police Station Relocation Proposal, November 1, 1995 sponsored by READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION, COMMENTS, AND QUESTIONS v--- Prese6fation: 4_21r ser Station too small, no parking, no expansion w/o adjacent property, not for sale station would be an office building, mostly phone and mail contact, no direct dispatch 5>offi s per shift coming in and out at various times ~:trnate sites: Light Building too small, old, expensive ($375,000); Walker's Brook site (la dfill) too large and won't open environmental issues; commercial sites expensive Plate--to bid about 10,000 sq. ft. on two stories, plus one story 15 sq. ft. elevator penthouse, bud in a 80 ft. by 120 ft. footprint Oakland Rd. site is only possibility according to the committee's selection criteria Trying to make project become eligible for state legislative funding for major part They would try to service police cruisers at DPW garage Police cruisers would be parked on property Questions: How many people? 51 total employees, 39 of them officers, 10 dispatchers, 2 clerks How much parking is proposed for Oakland Rd. site? 30 cars, all off-street How would proposed building be seen from street? Only from the front, plus elevator penthouse seen from'Chestnut Rd. Trees would screen the rest. If the School Committee will not release the land, can it be taken? No Are there vernal pools on site? Presumably not at higher elevation proposed for the building Comments: High School area already has congested traffic, "nearly impassable" at certain times, including many double-parked cars Proposal will add traffic to an already busy area This is not a typical "Not in my backyard!" situation, since the Birch Meadow area is over taxed with schools, playgrounds, congestion, and traffic This proposal is for a commercial building going up in a residential zone Site was deeded to School Committee in 1929 for future needs; now used as a buffer zone The current site would be preferable if there was a change in status of adjacent property Also possibility of buying another small property adjacent to current police station Police station is best in center of town, prominent location; response: present site is very difficult to find, while Oakland Rd. is easy to locate, signage would help Even with state money this project would affect taxes Recheck the possible availability of Marshall's property, given their pending corporate merger. What about the current state Registry site, given the Governor's proposal? No discussion at School Committee thus far. Not sure if School Department will need land in ,Mrs the future Present wooded lot and look of high school campus pleases everyone--students and abutters Public Meeting On Proposed Police Station Relocation Proposal, November 1, 1995 sponsored by READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION, COMMENTS, AND QUESTIONS, page 2 of 2 Follow-up: Police station location committee will report to Town Meeting this Fall, but without formal motions for action Must also discuss plans with the site owner, the School Committee If approved, a motion to approve land transfer and to fund project would be brought to Spring Town Meeting State funding is contingent on proposed legislative action and appropriations Note: an extensive news article covering this meeting was printed on page one of the Reading Chronicle on Thursday, November 2, 1995.