NEW GLOUCESTER – A concept plan for a new Lower Gloucester municipal campus and the town garage in Upper Gloucester was unveiled to selectmen on Monday.

The plan carries a conservative cost projection of roughly $3.3 million and calls for extensive improvements to the buildings and grounds.

Site work at the Town Hall is projected to cost $224,029. Probable site construction costs at the Town Hall site total $161,500 and would include pavement, storm drainage, landscaping and lighting.

The renovations at the Town Hall total $1,115,413.

The Public Works garage total projected cost is $1,559,935.

Renovations for the Conference Center at the former Fire Station would total $525,020.

Noel D. Smith of Smith Reuter Lull Architects of Lewiston prepared a design plan that would reconfigure the Town Hall interior, renovate the first and second floors, install an elevator and stairwell and change the century-old building’s public access to the rear.

Expanded parking is offered through the parcel, which also includes the town library and meetinghouse.

The property was listed in 1974 in the National Register of Historic Places. It spans a portion of Route 231, sections of the Cobb’s Bridge and Gloucester Hill Roads in Lower Gloucester.

The design plan concept is a proposal based on staff input with Selectmen Steve Libby and Dale Maschino.

“These plans are conceptual and not cast in stone,” said Smith. “The plans are a way of solving needs and may change. For planning purposes, you can do what you want and have the space to do them. The intent is to improve everything,” he said.

Smith told the board that the complex is a “tremendous asset for the community.”

The board was told the project could be done in stages once funding is raised and priorities are set.

Board Chairman Steve Libby said he will get an estimate for construction of a new town hall and conference center to use in a comparison.

Voters several years ago said they preferred to keep the existing complex intact for the future. Extensive funds have been spent to upgrade both the interior and exterior of the Town Hall and Meeting Room buildings in recent years.

The first floor of the Town Hall would serve the public and offices the deputy clerk, deputy treasurer, administrative assistant and town manager. A conference room would be included in the first floor along with a mailroom.

The second floor would be accessed by stairs and an elevator at the rear of the building. The code enforcement officer, assessor, planner and records storage would use the second-floor office space. A conference room and staff break room are planned.

The exterior of the Town Hall would not be altered, except for installing the elevator addition.

However, extensive landscaping would replace the existing parking area in front of the town hall and pedestrian pathways would connect the town hall and the meetinghouse.

The access road into the municipal campus would change to the roadway between the town hall and the library.

New parking lots would be located behind what is now the fire station.

The concept plan also includes converting the Lower Gloucester Fire Station into a conference center with three meeting rooms.

The Lower Gloucester Fire Station is slated to eventually move to a 25-acre parcel on Route 100 when funding allows. No date has been determined for construction.

A generic Public Works building concept includes 12 bay sites, lockers, an office and a washroom.

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