Opportunity For Public Input On Nanuet Firehouse

The Nanuet Fire District hosts its third and final meeting Wednesday on the status of the current firehouse and proposal for a new building in a different location. 

Fire Commissioner Harold Straut said the district held community meetings to inform the public and give residents the opportunity ask questions and learn about the plans for a new and larger firehouse. He said the fire district commissioners; project architect and attorney will be at the 7 p.m. session at the firehouse on Prospect Street. 

“This will be the last one before the bond vote,” said Straut.

The current building has been used for 70 years and experiences severe flooding problems as well as safety hazards and inadequate space for emergency equipment. The  $16.1 million replacement project goes for a public vote on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Residents of the fire district can vote from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nanuet Firehouse.

The district already purchased a two-acre site on Old Middletown Road for construction of a 23,296 square foot building with six bays to replace the outdated 13,403 square foot building.

At prior sessions, residents asked if the new building would be equipped with emergency generators and if the public would have access to facilities. The answers to both questions was yes, the facility will have a community meeting room.  If the bond is approved, it is anticipated construction would begin in September 2014 with occupancy in September of 2016.

Straut said questions about the narrowness of Old Middletown Road have also been addressed. 

“The Rockland County Department of Highways is aware that Old Middletown Road is narrow.  However, it has no plans to widen the road at this time.  The throats of driveways for the firehouse were proposed to be sufficiently wide so that fire apparatus could make right-hand turns onto Old Middletown Road without crossing the double yellow line.” 

Straut said other traffic modifications could include clearing trees and other steps to improve lines of sight and relocation and reduction in the number of utility poles along the road plus additional signage and flashing lights.

The attached video was prepared by the fire district.