Weston Fire Station Group Rules Out October Town Meeting, Eyes $43M to $52M Project Range

WESTON — July 21, 2025 — Weston fire station planners rule out an October Town Meeting vote and peg combined project costs at $43 million to $52 million. The Fire Station Working Group, co-chaired by Tom Palmer and Jim Polando, heard Monday from Tecton Architects' Rebecca Hopkins that a new primary station at the existing 390 South Ave. site could fit at roughly 22,740 square feet — less than one percent below the program target — but faces significant constraints including a required zoning variance, difficult vehicle-backing maneuvers onto South Avenue, and no room for an auxiliary outbuilding. Vertex and Tecton consultants identified $4.2 million to $4.6 million in value engineering savings on the primary station, with removing the auxiliary building accounting for $2.4 million of that figure, potentially bringing the primary station estimate of $37.7 million down to approximately $32 million to $33 million. Hopkins also presented five renovation tiers for the Central Station ranging from $490,000 in cosmetic work up to $9.5 million to $10 million for a full renovation, with members gravitating toward a Tier 3 or Tier 4 approach projected to cost roughly $10 million to $11 million all-in. The group's next meetings are set for August 4 and August 18.