Frequently Asked Questions

Community Impact & Services

  • The current Elm Street station was built in 1962 for nine officers. Today, the Police Department has 27 sworn officers and 10 civilian staff, plus the Fire Department has 26 firefighters/paramedics. The building is undersized, outdated, not ADA-compliant, and does not meet modern safety standards.

  • By adding a Fire Substation at King Street, response times to Beechwood, North Cohasset, and all schools west of the railroad tracks will be reduced by up to 4 minutes — a critical difference when lives are on the line.

  • •A modern Police Department with secure holding cells, evidence storage, booking areas, and interview rooms.

    •A two-bay Fire Substation designed to NFPA standards.

    •An Emergency Operations Center that doubles as a community meeting and training room.

    •A secure municipal and school Data Center to strengthen cybersecurity and technology resilience.

  • The Emergency Operations Center will be available for community meetings and training sessions when not in use for emergencies.

  • Yes, in a positive way. Once the King Street facility is complete, Phase Two will renovate the Elm Street property to create a modern Fire Headquarters, a permanent hub for the Town’s IT Department, and a new home for the Cohasset Safe Harbor Coalition.

  • The Town will continue to rely on outdated, non-compliant facilities that experience frequent system failures. This puts added risk on our first responders and delays improvements in emergency response times.

Project Design & Cost

  • The final design is 21,300 sq. ft., reduced from the original 28,823 sq. ft. through three rounds of cost-saving revisions.

  • The original design included non-essential features like a “Chief’s suite” and additional staff amenities. These were eliminated to control costs, leaving a lean, right-sized design that focuses only on essential public safety needs.

  • In 2023, Town Meeting approved $10.4 million to purchase 135 King Street. That estimate was based on limited information. With full engineering, design, and code review, the total project cost is now estimated at $27.4 million. The increase reflects:

    Upgrading to a Level IV essential facility is required for all public safety buildings.

    Full ADA compliance, including elevators and accessible public spaces, booking, and holding cells.

    Environmental and civil engineering upgrades, such as drainage, stormwater, and parking improvements.

    Public safety infrastructure, including sallyports, secure evidence rooms, and backup power.

  • 135 King Street was the only available property large enough for this project. Renovating it is more cost-effective than building an entirely new facility, and it keeps the project within Cohasset’s boundaries.

  • The facility must meet Level IV essential facility standards (built to remain operational during disasters), comply with ADA accessibility requirements, and follow NFPA fire station standards.

  • The facility is designed to serve Cohasset for the next 50 years, with modern technology infrastructure, compliant facilities, and the flexibility to support a growing workforce and population.

  • Yes. The design includes stormwater management, traffic improvements, energy-efficient systems, and compliance with current environmental standards.

Process & Transparency

  • P3 Project Planning Professionals (Norwell, MA) – Project management firm with over 50 communities of experience across New England.

    HKT Architects, Inc. (Charlestown, MA) – Design firm with more than 40 years of experience in public safety projects.

  • The project has been presented at multiple public meetings, including the Planning Board, ZBA, Conservation Commission, and Board of Health. Plans were also displayed at the Town Recreation & Health Fair. Residents have had opportunities to ask questions and review details throughout the process.

  • September 12, 2025 – Bid results due

    November 3, 2025 – Special Town Meeting for funding approval

    January 1, 2026 – Target construction start date

  • The Town will share updates on its website, at public forums, and through local media. Residents are encouraged to attend meetings, stay informed, and participate in shaping the project. Upcoming information sessions prior to Town Meeting include:

    • Tuesday, 10/14 - Community Session at 135 King Street; 6:30-8:00pm

    • Wednesday, 10/15 - Community Session at Beechwood Meeting House, 51 Church Street; 6:30-8:00pm

    • Saturday, 10/18 - Behind the Scenes Tour, Police/Fire Station, 62 Elm Street; 1:00-3:00pm

    • Wednesday, 10/22 - Community Session at Panagia Greek Orthodox Church, 811 Jerusalem, 6:30-8:00pm

Comparisons & Priorities

  • Public safety was identified as the Town’s top priority in the 2016 MAPC Infrastructure Study. Schools remain a critical focus, but new school projects are not expected to be shovel-ready before 2028–2029. Public safety cannot wait — our first responders need a safe, code-compliant building now.

  • All public safety facilities, regardless of town size, must meet the same standards for ADA, safety, and essential services. Cohasset’s facility has been scaled back to fit our community’s size while still meeting these non-negotiable requirements.

  • It was the only available property in town large enough to support a consolidated Police and Fire facility. Choosing this site was a strategic decision to control costs and meet space needs.