A public engagement event hosted by the City of Lawrence will allow residents to speak with the project team that’s planning the new fire station.
It will be a come-and-go event running from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5 at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, Tom Wilkerson Room, 4706 Overland Drive.
Fire Station 6 is slated for 555 Stoneridge Drive — next to the water tower at Sixth Street and Stoneridge Drive — after getting approval from the Lawrence city and Douglas County commissions.
“The goal is to improve emergency response times and coverage in northwest Lawrence while strengthening service citywide,” Michael Leos, a spokesperson for the city’s Municipal Services & Operations department, said via email.
At the Dec. 16 city commission meeting, two public commenters who live near the future station site said they felt the city hadn’t done a thorough job of informing nearby residents of the development. They questioned whether 555 Stoneridge Drive is truly a prime spot for a fire station and were concerned that the lights and noise would be a disturbance in the neighborhood.
“Residents can stop by to meet the project team, learn about the project timeline and site, ask questions, and share feedback,” Leos said of the upcoming listening session.
The city will likely need to increase the property tax rate in the future to pay for the station’s construction and the ongoing costs for it to operate, commissioners have said. The estimated cost to construct the station is almost $13 million, which would be split with the city paying approximately $8.3 million and the county paying about $4.7 million.
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