By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
With a new lease agreement with the university and the state worked out, plans are moving forward for a new northern fire station, including a design charrette this month to seek public input.
Tuesday night, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen heard a review of the plans so far and gave representatives from the fire department and the architectural firm Stewart-Cooper-Newell the green light to hold the design charrette. Carrboro Fire Chief Travis Crabtree said he hopes to schedule at least one charrette this month to get the project rolling.
The new fire station will be located on state-owned land off Homestead Road near the new Winmore development.
Town Manager Steve Stewart said that although it took time, the town’s agreement to work with the university on a $1-per-year 99-year-lease led to a good deal of savings.
After 99 years, the town will have the option of renewing the lease.
Architect James Stewart (no relation to the town manager) said that final designs for the entrance and driveway and discussions with Winmore have delayed an initial cost estimate.
Taking into consideration the lot shape, and after talks with the department, the building’s size has already been reduced from 11,350 square feet to 8,900 square feet.
Crabtree said the building is being planned with a LEED certification in mind. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a rating system set up by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Alderman Joal Hall Broun said she hopes the town will take a long-term view and not try to do a lot of cost cutting up front that will hurt the town in the future.
Alderman Dan Coleman agreed, saying he would like to explore the idea of using geothermal wells for heating and cooling along with passive and active solar.
Mayor Mark Chilton said while he agreed that the building should be energy efficient, he would like the board to temper its thinking. The town should use the money as wisely as it can, he said.
Alderman Alex Zaffron said board members should be willing to jettison some “cool†ideas if they prove too expensive. He said the board should remember its experiences during the Century Center project, and keep close tabs on the project.