NEW GLOUCESTER – Some residents at Monday evening’s informational meeting on a public works facility were concerned about the cost and the proposed location.

The new facility, estimated to cost $4.8 million, would allow sand and salt to be stored, mixed and loaded onto the highway trucks indoors and include a washing station for trucks. 

Those jobs are performed outdoors at the town garage in Upper Gloucester village.

Oak Point Associates of Biddeford assessed possible sites and the nine-member Public Works Design Committee determined that the 25-acre site of the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue Station at 611 Lewiston Road is the best of three finalists.

The other two were the town garage and a town parcel at 310 Lewiston Road.

The 611 Lewiston Road site ranked highest with 46 points compared to 310 Lewiston Road at 33 and Upper Gloucester village at 28. 

The 611 Lewiston Road site was rated slightly more favorably because a section of the lot and likely building site is outside the Ground Protection Overlay District.

The criteria studied included road access/traffic impact, pubic safety, central location, space, impact on groundwater resources, impact on neighboring land uses, suitability of soils/slope, permitting issues and potential for shared service.

Resident Scott Doyle said he had no objection to the 611 Lewiston Road site, but “it’s cheaper to keep the garage at Upper Gloucester.”

Oak Point’s report said the town garage site is unsuitable because of its size and location.

The preliminary estimate for building a 10-bay building and a larger salt shed is $4.8 million. No cost has been determined to remove the Upper Gloucester garage and salt shed. A storage building can be preserved.

Several residents said they are concerned about the cost and the proposed location of the public works facility.

Town officials are looking to amend the Pineland Tax Increment Financing District rules so money could be used to offset some of the facility cost.

Committee member Don Libby said, “We have a long history in this town not to build a Taj Mahal.”

Requests from qualified builders are due by July 1. From that list, the committee will interview eight firms. By mid-July the committee will select the top four.

In mid-September another hearing will be held on financing.