Terri Pederson
WiscNews
(TNS)
Jan. 7—The city of Columbus is looking at the possibility of constructing a new public safety building to replace both the Fire Department and Police Department.
“The city has started the process of analyzing our existing police and fire stations and a consultant has completed a feasibility study regarding a new Public Safety Building,” Columbus City Administrator Matt Amundson said. “No decisions have been made regarding this work but this will be an ongoing discussion for the city in how it plans for the future of our police and fire services.”
The city hired Bray Architects to complete a feasibility study and space needs analysis for a public safety building and had a public hearing in December.
The new fire station was listed as a high priority for the city’s 2050 plan that the Columbus City Council passed in 2021. The fire station is deemed too small to meet current or future needs.
The council will be discussing the city’s strategic plan for 2025-2027 on Tuesday, Amundson said.
“This plan identifies 15 objectives for the city and the hope is that it will align resources, elected officials, city staff and the overall community towards completing those objectives over the next three years,” Amundson said.
Other focuses for Columbus include modernizing the city code and a potential development site on Tower Drive.
“In 2025, we will be starting the process of a zoning rewrite to create more efficient permit processes and reduce barriers to development,” Amundson said. “Tower Drive is a potential development site owned by the city, and we will likely issue a request for proposals in 2025 for possible future development.”
A new housing project is already underway, Amundson said.
“Cardinal Heights development continues to work through the approval process of the city,” Amundson said.
The proposed residential development is located at 1400 Park Ave and includes a multifamily apartment building and proposed single family homes, Amundson said.
There is also a large stormwater infrastructure project planned for Fireman’s Park scheduled for construction in the fall of 2025 that will remove an underground 48-inch pipe that restricts the flow of stormwater. Removing it will create an open channel to convey stormwater, increase flood storage, improve water quality and beautify the park.
Other city projects this next year include reconstruction of Brookside Lane beginning at Avalon Road and ending at its termination. Amundson said the Department of Transportation will also be resurfacing Park Avenue/Ludington Steet from Faith Drive to Middleton Street during the summer.
Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or call 920-356-6760
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