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A bond referendum vote that would allow the New Castle Fire District No. 1 to borrow funds to build a 13,000-square-foot addition to their current fire station in Chappaqua at 491 King St. will be held on Tuesday, April 25 between noon and 9 p.m.
The addition is necessary to accommodate modern emergency equipment, more vehicles, and decontamination facilities, as well as to "ensure the safety and health" of the Chappaqua Fire Department's volunteers, according to the fire district.
The current station, which was built in 1954 and last expanded in 1979, is "grossly inadequate" in meeting legal requirements under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the district added.
Because of this, a serious accident or death involving a volunteer firefighter may expose Chappaqua to a costly lawsuit, district officials said.
“The Fire District’s proposal is not what the Fire Commissioners WANT but rather what they are REQUIRED to provide under the law,” said the district's Board of Commissioners Chairman Brian Murphy.
Murphy continued, "Since the project was first studied in 2003, construction costs have nearly tripled. The sooner this project begins, the better."
If the project is approved by voters, construction would begin in November 2023. District officials added that based on the 2022 average assessed value of $178,508 for all taxable residential parcels in New Castle and Mount Pleasant that are served by the fire district, annual taxes would increase by the following:
- $282 projected increase for residential parcels in New Castle;
- $225 projected increase for residential parcels in Mount Pleasant.
These estimates may change based on interest rates or other market fluctuations, officials said.
The vote on April 25 will be held at the fire station. More information can be viewed by clicking here.
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