The Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) is seeking additional information from Aquarion Water Company on its proposal to build an above-ground water pumping station at 12 Church Hill Road, the address where the Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company is now doing stormwater drainage work for the construction of a new firehouse.

BZC members opened a public hearing on the pumphouse application on April 8.

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 subterranean pumping station located near the police station at 3 Main Street, according to Aquarion. The proposed facility would be used to better control the water pressure in the Aquarion water supply system.

Before the April 8 public hearing on the Aquarion application started, the BZC held a public hearing on a regulatory proposal to allow a public utility firm to locate its facilities as a secondary use on an existing residential, commercial, or industrial lot which has a principal use. Such a secondary use would require a special permit from the BZC.

BZC members then approved that zoning rule change, setting the stage for the Aquarion application.

Mark Fois, representing Aquarion, said that under the pumphouse proposal, the water company would purchase an easement from the fire company.

Mr Fois told BZC members that creating a new pumping station “is vital for the health of the [water supply] system.”

A 12-inch diameter water line is positioned near the 12 Church Hill Road site, making that location a good place to build a pumphouse, according to Aquarion.

The firm proposes constructing the pumphouse as the firehouse is being constructed. The pumphouse would have an emergency generator.

Mr Fois showed BZC members renderings of a variety of pumphouses that Aquarion has built elsewhere, explaining that such structures can be designed to look like barns or like houses.

If desired, the water company could build a pumphouse that has the architectural detailing of the planned firehouse, Mr Fois said.

Jean St Jean, the borough zoning official, told Mr Fois that the planned appearance of the proposed pumphouse would require approval by the Borough of Newtown Historic District Commission.

BZC Chairman Douglas Nelson listed a variety of information that Aquarion must provide to the BZC before the BZC acts on the pumphouse application.

The BZC wants to review of a copy of the planned easement between Hook & Ladder and Aquarion. The BZC wants a document specifying the agreement between the two entities concerning the combined use of 12 Church Hill Road. Also, the BZC wants an architectural rendering of the proposed pumphouse. It also wants plans concerning site lighting, landscaping, and buffering.

BZC members plan to resume the Aquarion public hearing on May 13.