Windsor may develop five acres

Published 9:14 am Wednesday, June 20, 2012

WINDSOR—The Windsor Town Council during a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, may hire a consultant to help plan the construction of a new police station and town hall.

“We need to determine what the needs are now and for the future,” said Town Manager Michael Stallings. “We want to build a facility that will last the town some years into the future.”

Three consulting companies submitted bids ranging from $12,500 to $15,400.

The Town Council in February bought 5.2 acres at Shirley Drive and Route 460 for the police station, town hall and possibly a library. Farmers Bank sold the land for $1 million, which was 15 percent below its appraised value.

Construction on a new police station is expected to be done first and could begin in about a year, Stallings said. No time frame has been set for the town hall.

The land was purchased due to the town’s anticipated growth. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is opening a production and distribution facility in the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park outside town. It’s expected to create 800 new jobs.

Windsor expects related businesses to move in nearby.

In addition, Gov. Bob McDonnell has made the construction of the new Route 460 a priority, which should trigger growth in Windsor. The town’s population nearly tripled from 2000 to 2010, jumping from 916 to 2,626. The population is expected to increase to 3,500 with the construction of 320 homes in two developments.

The Town Council on Thursday will review bids submitted by Steward-Cooper-Newell in Gastonia, N.C., who offered to do the consulting work for $12,500 plus expenses; Lyall Designs of Norfolk, $15,400 plus expenses; and Wiley-Wilson of Richmond, $11,836 to $13,136, which covers expenses.

Town officials are considering constructing one building for the police station and town hall, Stallings said.

The Council also during its recent meeting:

n Learned the police department responded to 24 criminal offenses in May, including four domestic assaults, three disorderly conducts and two thefts. Police also made 473 patrol and business checks, and 188 traffic stops.

n Learned the Planning and Zoning Office issued building permits for two homes and an addition for a new restaurant.

n Learned there were 10 zoning violations in May, including two for junk vehicles and seen for tall grass.