Milton Fire Department unveils expansion plans

Milton Fire Department is planning a 13,000-square-foot expansion of its existing building on Front Street.

Department officials unveiled plans before Milton Planning and Zoning Commission Oct. 16, winning unanimous approval. The preliminary site plans will next go to state and county regulatory agencies for approvals before coming back to the commission for site-plan approval. If the commission signs off, plans will the go to Town Council for final approval.

Zach Crouch, of project architects Davis Bowen and Friedel, said the expansion will provide two new vehicle bays on Front Street, a new roof, a second floor and reconstruct an existing rear bay fronting Chestnut Street.

The firehouse was built in 1950 and was previously renovated in 1980, said engineer Mike Wheedleton. He said the new top floor will include a training room and an expanded banquet hall. Wheedleton said the department hopes to begin construction in early 2019.

One of the first questions, from Chairman Richard Trask, was whether the department considered moving its operations out toward Route 16, near the Food Lion shopping center. The department helps serve a 100-square-mile area in and around Milton. Trask said the idea of moving operations out of downtown is contained in the town’s comprehensive development plan.

Department President Johnny Hopkins said a move out of town was considered, but land was determined to be too expensive. Hopkins said the department already owns the Front Street property, along with several adjacent properties, including two other parcels across the street that are used for parking, so it made more sense for the department to build on land it already owns. The fire department is an independent entity, Hopkins said, but most  members live close to downtown, making the Front Street location ideal.

“We’re here to serve the community,” he said. “We’re here to help out.”