The Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) is continuing its review of Aquarion Water Company’s proposal to build an above-ground water pumping station at 12 Church Hill Road, the address where the Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company plans to construct a new firehouse.

BZC members held a second public hearing on the pumphouse application on May 13.

The volunteer fire company plans to construct an approximately 16,000-square-foot firehouse at the 3.16-acre site on the south side of Church Hill Road. The facility would replace the antiquated town-owned firehouse at 45 Main Street that is now used by the fire company.

Aquarion wants to construct an 1,100-square-foot pumphouse adjacent to the planned firehouse. The proposed water pumping station would replace an existing small, antiquated underground pumping station located near the police station at 3 Main Street. The proposed pumping facility would be used to better control the water pressure in the Aquarion water supply system.

Mark Fois, who represented Aquarion at the May 13 session, told the borough zoners that lighting for the pumphouse would amount to two lights, one above each of the pumphouse’s two doors, according to BZC records. Those lights would face downward.

Also, Mr Fois presented two different architectural renderings of how the pumphouse might look. Those renderings have been submitted by Aquarion to the Borough of Newtown Historic District Commission for review, according to BZC records.

 Mr Fois said that an easement which would allow Aquarion to use Hook & Ladder’s property for a pumphouse is being formulated, according to BZC records.

BZC Chairman Doug Nelson said that the commission requires additional information from Aquarion for its review of the pumphouse proposal.

Those requirements include: a copy of the easement between Hook & Ladder and Aquarion through which Hook & Ladder would allow Aquarion to use its property for a pumphouse for a fee; a document stating that the Historic District Commission has endorsed the appearance of the proposed pumphouse; a landscaping plan; and a document containing the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) comments on the pumphouse proposal. The P&Z is the borough’s planning agency.

BZC member Michael Guman asked whether Aquarion had considered installing its pumping station underground, in that he would prefer that such facilities not be visible, according to BZC records.

Mr Fois responded that placing such facilities underground creates certain safety issues for workers, and also presents issues stemming from the presence of moisture and dust.

BZC members agreed to have a third public hearing on the Aquarion pumphouse application on June 10.