I do not doubt Fire Chief Michael Trovato’s list of needs required to keep the community safe. Those needs include a new fire substation, new trucks, more bunks, and more space to train.
Unfortunately, the town will now be voting at the Dec. 2 special town meeting to eliminate housing at the VFW property in order to accommodate the proposed police and fire dept. programs. I am not aware of another piece of land in Provincetown that could provide for the local housing needs that have been discussed at a series of public forums sponsored by the community housing office. It is my understanding that JM Goldson, the town’s housing consultant for the VFW parcel, will be preparing a request for proposals based on the results of these forums.
I would hope that Chief Trovato would consider an alternate development option: the existing police station parcel across Shank Painter Road from the existing main fire station. That 13,242-square-foot parcel has access from both Shank Painter Road and Brown Street. A new one-and-one-half- or two-story building could be as large as 52 feet by 120 feet (see accompanying site plans) and could accommodate new trucks, ambulances, and second-story dormitory facilities.
Site Plan A shows the existing police station lot on Shank Painter Road with the existing 52-by-44-foot building in red.
Site Plan B shows one example of how the same site could be used for a new substation with access from both Shank Painter Road and Brown Street. The sketch shows the footprint of a 52-by-120-foot building in green. The dashed heavier line shows the present location of the police station on the lot.
Paul Kelly, who is vice chair of the Provincetown Building Committee, submitted this as his personal opinion.
