Bedford officials will hold a public hearing early next year on a $36.5 million bond request to build a new safety complex on South River Road and renovate the existing complex and the town offices building.
Town officials hope to pay for the project through the sale of a 20-year bond, which would raise taxes for the average $600,000 single-family homeowner by $320 in 2025.
The plans call for a police station and fire substation on South River Road, following a study of town-wide space needs. The plan was developed to address “issues of risk, potential liability, and resident and employee health, safety and welfare” with the current public safety complex at 55 Constitution Drive, town officials said in a news release.
A conceptual design of the facility shows a one-story, 44,294 square foot building at 300 South River Road that would house the new police station, a fire substation, common spaces for both departments (including the emergency operations center), as well as public space, according to plans presented by the town’s construction management firm, Fulcrum Associates, along with architects from Lavallee Brensinger Architects, hired to design the complex.
The Police Department would occupy 24,512 square feet and include an area for property and evidence handling and storage, booking and intake areas, patrol, operations and training spaces, records storage areas, dispatch center, and investigations, patrol, administration and support staff areas.
The fire substation would take up 10,213 square feet and include an apparatus bay sized to house four vehicles, turnout gear storage, kitchen and locker facilities, dayroom and ready room.
Shared spaces would include an emergency operations center, mechanical and electrical rooms, and an exercise room.
Public areas would include a community meeting room, the lobby, and briefing rooms. The site will be developed with an access drive from the end of the Cedarwood Drive cul-de-sac to South River Road, near the Consignment Gallery store.
“The proposed facility is sized to meet Bedford’s needs for at least the next 40 years,” town officials said in a statement. “With this site placement, the town hopes to maintain its high standard of safety response, protect property values, and continue to make Bedford an attractive place to live and work.”
In a presentation to the Town Council last month, Town Manager Rick Sawyer said officials believe the project carries a preliminary cost estimate of $34 million. Officials are looking for another $2.5 million to renovate the existing safety complex at 55 Constitution Drive and the town offices building at 24 North Amherst Road, for a total cost of $36.5 million. The Fire Department would still occupy the renovated station.
“The renovation will upgrade safety facilities and create space for other town departments,” Bedford officials said in a statement.
The estimate was developed with an anticipated early spring 2025 construction start and an 18-month construction contract duration. The $34 million estimate includes $750,000 for the installation of solar panels on sections of the roof to offset building electricity usage.
The mechanical systems cost roughly 14% of the overall cost, and electrical systems 12%, including fire protection, HVAC systems, and relocation of dispatch systems.
Site work is approximately 8% of the cost and concrete, masonry, metals, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows and finishes are estimated at 23% of the cost.
The remainder of the facility includes 18% construction costs including general conditions, final design services, insurances and fees and approximately 15% contingency and escalation costs.
The early estimates of the 2025 tax impact of the 20-year bond is 53.1 cents per $1,000 valuation. That amount will decrease each year until the bond is paid off, officials said.
The Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bond on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at BCTV, 10 Meetinghouse Road. Residents will be asked to vote on the bond request on election day, Tuesday, March 12.
The town’s Facilities Information and Communication Committee has several public information sessions planned ahead of the vote, including tours of the existing safety complex on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m.
Information sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m.; and Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 6 p.m., in the McAllister Room at the Bedford Public Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road.
Community members are invited to attend and ask questions about the proposal.
In June, the town announced it had purchased 12 acres for the project for about $2.45 million, using money from the town’s facilities capital reserve fund. The funds were approved at the 2021 and 2023 budgetary Town Meetings.
The property includes the former A.P. Horne Nursery and the MacEwen home, as well as outbuildings that will be removed.
The 300 South River Road site was chosen due to its proximity to the area with the most frequent service calls.
Town officials released a video featuring an overview of current safety complex conditions, which can be found on Bedford Community Television’s webpage.
Residents can learn more about the project on the Facilities Projects page of the town website, www.bedfordnh.org. Residents with questions should contact Assistant Town Manager Jeanne Walker at jwalker@bedfordnh.org.
