The new Peterborough fire and ambulance station building project is moving ahead on time and is projected to be on budget so far, according to Assistant Town Administrator Seth MacLean, who is the project manager.  

At Town Meeting in May, Peterborough voters approved $11.7 million to fund a new fire and rescue station campus adjacent to the Peterborough Community Center, at the corner of Elm Street and Route 101. According to the Peterborough Select Board, 90% of the 368 voters approved the project, which will require raising $10.6 million through bonds.

The Peterborough Fire Department has been housed in a converted 1940s era garage since 1972. 

“The project is on track and progressing according to the plans presented to the community over the past year. The Building Committee continues to meet regularly with our professional services team to stay updated on the design and engineering progress,” MacLean said. “Our Peterborough Fire and Rescue staff are collaborating closely with the architecture team on various design elements and are making significant strides in planning for the necessary equipment and furnishings for the new facility. Additionally, the town's IT staff are working with the team to ensure that the new building meets all information technology and networking requirements, including plans for the data center it will accommodate.”

According to Carl Mabbs-Zeno, co-chair of the project, costs should not exceed the amount approved at Town Meeting.

“The expected cost is unchanged, although the re-estimation lags behind the addition of details. In the end,  the cost will not exceed the amount authorized by Town Meeting. It might go down due to design efficiencies or decline from expected cost of materials or the addition of outside funds.  We expect a firm estimate by the end of December, and construction will start after that,” Mabbs-Zeno said.  

On Sept. 9, representatives from project engineers Hoyle Tanner submitted a preliminary site plan for the project to the Peterborough Planning Board. It includes the new fire station building, parking at both the station and the adjacent community center, an access to the drive to the existing DPW facility, utilities and a stormwater management plan for the site. The Planning Board is currently reviewing the plans. 

MacLean said the design is nearing completion. 

“Recently, the professional services team conducted a preliminary site plan review with the Planning Board to gather their feedback. As of now, we’ve reached about 60% completion on the design, which has been sent back to Harvey Construction for re-estimation to ensure we remain within budget,” he said.  “I am remain optimistic that we will achieve our goal of breaking ground this coming spring. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone involved, especially the Building Committee members, for their dedication and support to our community.”

The Fire and Ambulance Station Building Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the Select Board room. The committee consists of Mandy Sliver, Mabbs Zeno, Tony Cassidy, Carol Nelson and  Sarah Steinberg-Heller. The Select Board representative is Bill Taylor.  The public is welcome at all meetings.

For information, visit peterboroughnh.gov/government/boards_and_committees/fire_station_building_committee.