Brick Wrap-Around Design Chosen for Burlington Police Station

Burlington's Select Board has unanimously endorsed a design option for the new police station. The new building will feature a transitional brick facade that aims to complement the surrounding architecture in the Town Center. The station's construction will involve the removal of trees between the existing police station and sculpture park, and new trees will be planted in various areas to add visual appeal and replace the trees that were removed.

The ultimate design will need to meet the requirements of Burlington's Town Center Overlay district while providing a modern, functional facility for the police department.

Police Chief Thomas Browne is pleased with the interior layout, stating, "I'm very happy with the [plans for the] inside of the program and the program as a whole."

The project team will now refine the design based on feedback from the Planning Board and community members; suggestions include adding architectural accents and adjusting molding details to enhance the building's appearance.

Town Administrator, John Danizio, acknowledged it's impossible to please everyone, saying, "No matter what we build, someone will want it to look different. But it's good to hear from everyone and try to incorporate their suggestions where possible."

In the end, the Board expressed a desire to select the option that has the best chance to be approved by Planning Board so the process can continue as swiftly as possible, especially in light of some delays getting to that point.

The project now moves to the Planning Board for site plan review, with a public hearing set to begin June 5. The Planning Board will confirm that the design meets all requirements of the Town Center Overlay district. The Police Department is scheduled to move into their temporary station on Middlesex Turnpike at the former Vine Brook Water Treatment facility this summer, and ground is scheduled to break this fall for the new station.