TOWN

OF CANTON

50 OLD RIVER ROAD

PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY PROPOSAL
October 26, 2016
INFORMATIONAL TOWN MEETING

Previous Studies
2007 - The engineering firm of Weston and Sampson performed the
following:
Facility Needs Assessment
Existing Site Assessment
Fuel Island Location Study
Weston and Sampson Findings:
DPW Facilities should be approximately 25,500 square feet
Estimated cost $7.8 million (2008 dollars)
Flood Mitigation Compensatory Storage may be possible if the Town is able to locate a
parcel with the same hydraulic reach and with a volume that was not
previously used for flood storage. Although feasible if such a property
exists, this would result in a substantial increase in construction costs
and as of now, no viable compensatory storage has been identified

2008 Design for a 25,500 Sq. Ft. Building

at 50 Old River Road

Based on Weston & Sampsons report, the Selectmen expanded PMBCs

responsibilities to include reviewing alternative locations.

2007 2013: Site Evaluations

PMBC conducted a site selection analysis on more than 80
Town and privately owned parcels.
Included issuing a formal Request for Proposals to individuals
of privately owned land.

2010-2014 Prior Proposals

2010
5 Cherry Brook - $900,000 proposal to purchase 9.25 acres of
land was rejected at referendum.
2012
5 Cherry Brook 19,967 sq. ft. facility at $6,000,000 was
withdrawn by the BOS.
2013
325 Commerce Drive 20,000 sq. ft. facility at $5,400,000 was
defeated at referendum.
2014
325 Commerce Drive 18,901 sq. ft. facility at $4,780,000 was
defeated at referendum.

50 Old River Road

It was unanimous that the next steps would be to make significant improvements the best they
can to the existing garage BOS Minutes Nov. 2014
March 2016 BOS review
Land Use Comments and
authorize cost estimate
and refer proposal to
PMBC for comments and
possible recommendations
of alternative sites
Nov. 2014 - BOS
approves hiring
Consultant to
determine possible
improvements at
existing site

Dec. 2014 - RFP sent to

Engineers

January 2016 - DPW

gives formal report to
BOS and BOS approves
having the proposal
reviewed by Land Use
Agencies

July 2015 - BOS advised

of F&O report and
possibility of improving
facilities at 50 Old River
Road

March 2015 - Fuss &

O'Neil hired

March 2015 - F&O meet

with staff

June 2015 - F&O give a

report indicating
facility could be
expanded through
onsite mitigation of
floodplain

May 2016 BOS

receives positive C.G.S.
8-24 from P&Z

May 2016 BOS receives

report from PMBC
indicating negative
comments on current
concept and recommends
alternative sites including
Commerce Drive and Satan
Kingdom property. Town
unsuccessfully tries to
purchase Satan Kingdom
property.

Board of Selectmen
requested that the
current proposal be
reduced in scope and
cost. Fuss & ONeill draft
preliminary design and
site plan which is
presented to Selectmen
in August 2016.

Original Conceptual Plan

Concerns:
Building was too tall
Required an elevator
Sight Lines for access road

Too much office space

Too expensive

50 Old River Road Proposal

Facility

Designed by Architect, Christopher Bockstael from the

firm Svigals + Partners

50 Old River Road Proposal Site Plan

Designed by Fuss & ONeill, Inc.

Floor Plan
Office Area
2,640

Storage Area
11,500

Actual Office Area

1,196 square feet

Office Area

Mechanical
Room

Machine and
Repair Shop

Storage Area

Reserve
Area

Barkhamsted DPW Facility

Salt Shed
Capacity is 2.5 times the
Current Salt Shed

Proposal Attributes

New Facility is 14,100 sq. ft. / Existing 6,000 sq. ft.

Provides inside storage for all DPW vehicles and equipment.
New salt shed has 2.5 times the capacity of the existing salt shed
Facility has a wash bay.
Facility comes equipped with a mobile lift for fixing and maintaining
equipment.
Facility has increased office and staff work spaces.
Facility has reserve area for additional vehicles and/or equipment.
Area will have up to date storm drains and oil separators.
Plan incorporates possible future WPCA plant expansion.
Fuel storage area will be moved further from the river and raised
above the 100 year floodplain.
Public bathroom is incorporated into the new building and will be
open to the public 24/7.
Additional parking for visitors using the ballfield, bike trail or the
Farmington River.

Flood Mitigation

In order to compensate for the loss of floodplain, additional flood storage will
be created by deepening the existing floodplain. This will be accomplished by
lowering the softball field 9 to 15. The field will then be reconstructed and
utilized the same as it currently is.

Cost
BUILDING $2,577,135
Includes Salt Shed, Inspection and
escalation

SITE WORK

$ 673,618

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

$ 378,637

Includes Flood Mitigation,

Demolition of existing building, and
surveying

Includes Architectural, Engineering,

Bonding Consultant and Bond Costs

EQUIPMENT $ 195,610
Includes Portable Lift and Crane

TOTAL $3,825,000

The amounts within each category are subject to change but the total cost
cannot be increased without additional public approval.
Cost Estimates Provided by Gibbons Estimating Group LLC. and Fuss & ONeill, Inc.

Impact on Average Taxpayer

The annual debt payment for the Public Works Facility would be
$319,313.
Over the next five years, the annual payment would drop to
$282,625 and then continually decrease over the twenty year life of
the bond.
In the first and highest year of debt payment, taxes would be raised
.3 mils to pay for the debt.
This would be an increase of $68.61 in taxes to the average
homeowner. The average home in Canton has an assessed value of
$238,832.

Payment Schedule

Schedule for Next Steps

Professional Services RFQ Dec. 2016
February 2017
Regulatory IWWA / Planning and
Zoning March 2017 September 2017
Final Design March 2017 October
2017
Bid Project November 2017 January
2018
Construction April 2018 November
2018

Transition Plan
Director and Admin Asst. Town Hall Basement
Parks Department 88 Simonds Avenue
Highway Foreman / Staff Transfer Station
Mechanics Horse Barn
Fuel Storage At time of relocation, fuel will be
purchased off site.
Construction will be sequenced so that critical phases are
done first.

November 8, 2016, Canton High School

6:00am to 8:00pm

Ballot Question
SHALL THE TOWN OF CANTON APPROPRIATE $3,825,000 FOR
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW CANTON
PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY TO BE LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THE
CURRENT FACILITY AT 50 OLD RIVER ROAD IN CANTON; AND
AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS AND NOTES IN THE SAME
AMOUNT TO FINANCE THE APPROPRIATION?
YES

NO

Questions & Comments