1. Why is this building needed?

    Apparatus   The existing firehouse, completed in 1910, was not built to safely accommodate the size of modern fire apparatus.  Although our early firemen put considerable planning and thought into the building, none of them could have imagined at the time that the size of fire apparatus would grow to a size that would not fit within the bays.  For a comparison, our 1948 Mack pumper is approximately 23 feet long.  Our current pumpers range from 28 feet to 32 feet in length.  Only two out of five of our current apparatus fit in the Washington Street firehouse.

Office Space   The existing firehouse has one office that is shared by the Chief and his officers, administrative officers and committees and fundraising committees.  The proposed building includes an office for the Chief and his officers and a conference room for small meetings and training classes.  This would allow the office in the existing firehouse to be used solely by administrative officers of the Fire Association.

           Safety   The location of the existing firehouse, approximately 30 feet from the intersection of Washington Street and Main Street, presents a hazard when fire apparatus are pulling out of or backing into the truck bays.  Firefighters are often required to board the apparatus in traffic due to the tight confines inside the apparatus bays.  This puts them at considerable risk, especially from vehicles turning quickly from northbound Main Street onto Washington Street or coming eastbound from Old Tappan Road.  Safe maneuvering and operation requires three personnel to control traffic at these times.

                        The proposed firehouse will have room for personnel to board the apparatus inside the firehouse, fully geared up.  The trucks can also be pulled out of the bays and wait on the apron without creating a traffic problem.

2. What will happen to the existing firehouse at the corner of Washington Street and Main Street?

The existing firehouse will remain as it is today.  The first floor will continue to house a members’ ready room, kitchen, and office and storage space.  The apparatus bays will remain as they are for now, with possible interior modifications possible at a later date to allow for additional storage, kitchen and/or administrative office space as needed. 

The second floor of the existing firehouse will remain as our meeting room and will continue to host community events as it has for the past 100 years, including our annual Christmas party with Santa Claus.  The hall is also frequently used as a meeting place for Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girl Scout groups, as well as Little League coaches’ meetings.

3. How will the proposed building affect the Tappan Memorial Park?

Accessibility   The existing access easement (a ten foot strip along the eastern wall containing the Sparkill Creek) will remain as it is now.  This access, one of three along with the foot bridge behind the library and the entrance from Oak Tree Road, allows visitors to walk to and from the park from Washington Street and employees of the Town Parks Department to enter the park for maintenance. 

       Visually   The location of the proposed building on the property will create the least possible visual impact to visitors of Tappan Memorial Park.  The proposed building will not be built any further west from the west wall of the existing building.  The area behind the proposed building is wooded and consists primarily of a drainage ditch that runs from the southeast corner of the property to the Sparkill Creek near Oak Tree Road.  This will result in very little net change to the view from the park north toward Washington Street.

                        Further efforts to minimize visual impact to visitors of the park will include decorative fencing enclosures for the proposed emergency generator, air conditioning condenser and dumpster.  Landscaping treatments, such as what have been done along Main Street at the existing firehouse, are also possible to minimize impact to, and most likely to enhance and beautify the park.

More Will Be Added Soon…