Parcels
The fire station relocation will result in an opportunity for the Town to consider the future of several parcels of land not specifically required for municipal activities:
- The existing fire station building and land
- This parcel has an assessed value of $2.7 million ($2.267 million land, $440,000 building)
- The portion of the Tenney Hill lot that is not required for the Public Safety facility
- This parcel has an assessed land value of $209,000–including the portion to be retained for the Public Safety building
- The South Street property previously gifted to the Town
- This parcel has an assessed land value of $146,000
Consultation/Decision-making Process
Although there is great community interest in the ultimate use of these properties (particularly the existing fire station and the extra Tenney Hill land), the Select Board believes that, assuming the relocation plan moves ahead, no firm decisions should be made until much closer to the actual “move-in” date. The Select Board believes that it is important to maintain flexibility as to both timing of a move and the specific footprint of the proposed Public Safety facility.
Consultation
There has already been substantial community input about future use of the Water Street fire station property and the prospect of a fire station relocation in connection with the recently-completed Comprehensive Plan. But that process was not specifically devoted to the question about how best to use these parcels.
The Select Board expects to invite further community input through some combination of public forums, a survey, one or more “straw polls” around election time. And it would be open to formation of a Town committee to conduct this consultation, as long as the committee is structured to impartially solicit community feedback, without preconceptions as to what the “right” use of the properties would be.
Decisions
Any significant disposition of Town-owned property or investment in improvements of Town property would require a vote at Town Meeting. So, ultimately, Blue Hill residents will have the opportunity to vote on any significant plan to use any “excess” property held by the Town.