Committee Discusses Potential Locations for New Highway Garage

This week, members of the Permanent Municipal Building Committee further discussed potential sites for a new highway garage.

It’s been a long-time goal of the town to replace the Department of Public Works Garage near the Farmington River. Officials say the facility is outdated, has numerous safety issues, is in a 100-year flood plain and lacks the proper space to store and repair vehicles. They also contend that storing the trucks outside shortens their life span.

Tuesday night, the committee discussed a few potential locations, including some 14 acres to the east of the Canterbury Heights Condominium complex. Committee members and town officials said an initial analysis by Jeff Alberti, an engineer from Weston & Sampson revealed that overall the site had several positive aspects, such as buffering from neighbors, ability to fall within zoning regulations and an approved curb-cut to Route 44.

“I think we’d be OK on this site,” Jeff Shea, the town’s project manager said.

There were some concerns noted, such as potential sight-line issues on Route 44 and some steepness, but the biggest question about the property is whether the Canterbury Heights Condominium Association would even be willing to sell it to the town.

At the committee’s February meeting, according to its minutes, a representative told members that the board of directors was “exploring options” for the land but noted that it would have to be approved by the majority of the association’s voting members.

The committee also discussed another property on Route 44, 361 Albany Turnpike, which is roughly across from BreMar Rental. The site is about 7.2 acres but an initial report by Alberti indicates site work could be as much as $2.5 million, largely due to its steep topography.

‘You’ll end up with a very expensive, tight site,” Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner said.

Committee chairman Peter Reynolds said a past business proposal at the site included a $200,000 site development estimate. While the nature of the projects could be totally different, it is at least worth investigating why the figures are dramatically different, Reynolds said.

Another site on Route 44, near Bristol Drive, was also discussed. There was the possibility of combining the commercial site and another adjacent property but wetlands issues are likely too substantial, members said. Two potential sites offered on Cherry Brook Road in Canton Center were also essentially eliminated due to especially steep topography. 

The committee also briefly discussed 5 Cherry Brook Road, the site Canton voters rejected purchasing, at a cost of $900,000, at a 2010 referendum. The site is still for sale and committee members said it is in many ways similar to the Canterbury Heights Property.

The outcome of the Canterbury property could change the committee's outlook on the site, known as Hart's Corner, members indicated. And ideally, the garage would not be located in a parcel that is being offered for commercial use, Skinner said. 

Hart's Corner, like much land in Canton, would also includes some development challenges, including underground ledge but many feel the garage could be built there. At the time of the referendum, however, many residents stated they wanted to see a complete highway garage proposal rather than just the land purchase, according to several town officials. 

This year town officials are hoping to do just that if an option on a viable property can be secured in time.

The project is part of a capital projects study group's proposed November bonding package. The recommended projects total nearly $18 million but some estimates are preliminary and the Board of Finance has not indicated if it will send that amount to voters. 

In the study group’s report, the highway project is estimated at $7 million, although officials said that is not a final number but rather an estimate for site acquisition, development and the building of a suitable facility. 

Editor's Note: Many residents have recently expressed an interest, and varying opinions, on this potential project. Over the next few months Patch will take a closer look at the garage issue, the current location and the plans for a new facility. Anyone wishing to weigh in is welcome to send editor John Fitts a message at john.fitts@patch.com.