Fire Department Lays Out Plans for New Facility on Website

In an effort to inform the public about its plans to construct a new, $14 million firehouse, the Westhampton Beach Fire Department has outlined the entire project on its website.

According to the website, the project is aimed to fix several deficiencies of its current building, which was built in 1953 by the village with additions added in 1960 and 1978.

Right now, the building, according to Commissioner Fred Overton has a number of issues. For example, he said it does not meet the disability act or code and truck bays are too small for newer trucks.

To remedy, the department has explored a number of solutions over the past two years, finally deciding on a complete rebuild.

The project, according to the website, will be funded through a 20-year bond that the department hopes to put before the public next spring.

Breaking down the numbers, for a home that is assessed at $600,000, the annual tax increase would be approximately $82.00, for a total fire district tax of $265.00.

"We feel this is a reasonable request to the public to provide the community with a safe, modern fire station for our volunteer firefighters that will be a long-term solution and not a short-term patch job," reads a statement from the fire department's commissioners.

The next step is to finalize design plans, which are being worked up by H2M Architects. 

Related Reading:

• Commissioner: We Need a New Fire House

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