Cohasset Select Board Votes to Remove Elm Street as Option for Co-Located Public Safety Facility
COHASSET - July 28, 2026 - Following a comprehensive site assessment by architects and the Public Safety Facilities Committee, the Select Board voted unanimously 5-0 to rule out the current 44 Elm Street site for a combined police and fire facility, clearing the way to focus future design efforts on 135 King Street.
The Full Story
Paula Claridge of HKT Architects and members of the Public Safety Facilities Committee presented a detailed analysis evaluating whether the existing Elm Street site could accommodate both the police and fire departments under a single roof.
The original programmatic needs established in 2024 called for 15,107 square feet for the police department and 16,810 square feet for the fire department. Even after programmatic space reductions were made—bringing police requirements down to 13,205 square feet and fire requirements down to 14,450 square feet—the combined single-story footprint requirement of 30,108 square feet vastly exceeds what the site can support.
The site analysis detailed numerous physical, logistical, and legal constraints at Elm Street:
Site Deficit: Maximum expansion on the site yields only 17,488 square feet, leaving a 13,120-square-foot deficit. Building out to that maximum would require extending past property lines and intruding on neighboring housing.
Zoning & Setbacks: The existing building is a pre-existing non-conforming structure sitting in an RV residential zone. Setback restrictions (30 feet in front, 20 feet on sides/rear) and maximum lot coverage rules severely limit outward expansion.
Vertical Expansion Barriers: Expanding to a second story would necessitate adding elevators, fire escape stairwells, and major structural reinforcement to replace existing wood framing over basements. Architects noted the process would essentially require total demolition.
Environmental & Infrastructure Issues: Both existing basements experience regular groundwater flooding. Additionally, apparatus bay floor drains currently discharge to surface drainage in violation of modern codes, soil lead contamination exists on the northwest corner, and town sewer capacity for an expanded footprint remains unverified.
Temporary Relocation Costs: Demolishing and rebuilding on-site would require temporarily relocating both operational departments for two years, with estimated temporary facility costs ranging from $3.8 million to $4.5 million for fire alone.
A broader review of 151 municipal and commercial parcels along the Route 3A corridor determined that nearly all are constrained by wetlands, open space restrictions, or residential zoning, leaving 135 King Street as the only viable town-owned parcel for public safety development.
Following the presentation, the Select Board voted 5-0 to direct the Public Safety Facilities Committee to focus on 135 King Street as the location for public safety needs and cease exploring Elm Street for a co-located facility.
