Description
The replacement South Fire Station is in schematic design, with the committee now exploring whether a third apparatus bay should be added to the two-bay conceptual design.
Impact summary
Wetlands near the station will be affected by the larger footprint, and the commission will weigh in on the permit before it advances.
Applicant
- Name
- Town of Salem Fire Department
At a glance
- Hearings
- 2
- Public comments
- 1
- Total mentions
- 2
Recorded in the meeting · Conservation Commission
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 7, 2026.
Meeting timeline (2)
Conservation Commission - Oct 7, 2026
The town is replacing the South Fire Station on the same site with a wider building and expanded pavement, which will mean wetland impacts. The project team will present a wetlands permit application to the commission next month, with a site walk set for November 2.
Municipal Buildings Advisory Committee - Jan 8, 2026
The replacement South Fire Station is in schematic design, with the committee now exploring whether a third apparatus bay should be added to the two-bay conceptual design.
Related issues (3)
South Fire Station Wetland Permit
The 1974 station is overcrowded, has asbestos flooring, no decon room, no ADA access, and apparatus bays too small for modern trucks. Impact fees of about $1.35 million must be committed within six years or returned to developers — using them on this project means near-zero tax impact for the first three years of a 20-year bond.
South Fire Station replacement wetland impacts
Councilors discussed applying fund balance toward the South Fire Station to keep the taxpayer burden low, with Withrow targeting a total cost under $5 million — around $4.7 million with fees and donations.
New Fire Station #3 at 170 Lawrence Road
The town is moving toward a new South Fire Station, with schematic design headed to the Town Council and possible placement on the March warrant. About $1.3 million in public safety impact fees will expire — and be returned to developers — if not used, and those funds could go toward this project.
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