The Town of Stratford is one step closer to having a new emergency services facility.
During Wednesday’s meeting, council approved an application from the town and the Cross Roads Fire Department to construct a 27,255 square foot building on the Georgetown Road.
The building will house the fire department, as well as RCMP and Island EMS. It will include a common area, meeting rooms and areas for training.
Mayor David Dunphy said he also wants the building to eventually include a meeting space for community groups.
“I’m hoping we can get to a point where (a meeting space) would be a component of this. That would be an asset for the town,” said Dunphy.
The building will be located on an approximately 2.57-acre parcel, with the building including 23,065 square feet for the fire department, 2,170 square feet for RCMP and 2,020 square feet of leased space for Island EMS.
The building will have space for two ambulances.
While the town has been discussing building a new fire hall for a number of years, it approved $5 million in this year’s capital budget for the construction. That’s because the current fire hall, located on the Mason Road, is being demolished to make way for a new roundabout at the intersection.
The resolution was approved with a number of requirements, including that the new fire hall conforms to submitted conceptual drawings.
A detailed servicing plan must still be submitted for approval to the Stratford Utility Corporation, while a stormwater management plan must be prepared by a qualified engineer and approved by both the town and provincial department of transportation and infrastructure. A detailed landscaping plan must also be submitted.
