ROCKLAND — Site plans for a proposed Public Services garage that would replace and relocate the current structure was approved by the Planning Board during the Board’s March 3, 2026 meeting.

Replacing the current structure located on Burrows Street, a proposed 17,500 sq ft Public Services garage will be constructed at 6 Public Services Way, which is the rear side of a 62-acre City-owned property at 400 Limerock Street housing the Transfer Station. At the time of the application, submitted by Gartley and Dorsky Engineers, construction costs were estimated at $3.4 million, with a completion estimate of Autumn 2026. The building will be considered a headquarters with some office space, as well as a storage facility for equipment.

A driveway called Public Services Way runs through the Transfer Station property from Limerock Street to Pleasant Street near its junction with Park Street. A gate will remain at this rear location. However, with the new structure, Public Services employees intend to use the Park/Pleasant entrance as their primary conduit, thus limiting interaction with residents doing business on the Transfer Station end, according to Public Services Director Todd Philbrook during the March 3 meeting.

“Generally, any type of service that we do on vehicles we do during the day, in business hours. We (also) do a lot of work at night, even in the summer time when the paint crew, and what not, is coming and going,” said Philbrook.

Planning Board Chair Clair Stanton suggested adding a note to the approved application stating that the existence of this new use on the dump property is actually a better fit for that work than the current Burrows location off of Pleasant Street.

Said Philbrook, “There’s probably less busy-ness there than there is in our current location because we’re kind of in a residential area. So up there (at the Transfer Station) will be more quiet for the neighbors than we currently are now.”

The proposed lot is split across two zones: Industrial and Business Park. The proposed development is located in the industrial area of the lot, which is the same zoning as the Burrows Street location. The category is community or civic structure, which is a permitted use in that area.

“It has all the same zoning regulations as the previous site, but is also a better fit because of the surrounding uses,” said Rockland City Planner Elias Kann.

As for stormwater drainage, the proposed development includes peak flow controls – detention ponds – that will maintain the post-development peak flow at a rate less than the pre-development conditions for the 25 year storm.

“The applicant has provided a drainage study as supporting documentation for this determination. Because this project is outside the Lindsey Brook watershed, staff recommends that Board require peak-flow control only up to the 25 year storm,” Stanton read from her notes.

Kann provided clarification as the Planning Board reviewed and clarified the distinctions associated with this property.

“The previous standard was not codified,” he said. “Did not require a certain storm. The Board has always interpreted that as meaning up to the 100 year storm. The new standard codifies the 100 year storm as a requirement within the Lindsey Brook watershed, and the 25 year storm as a requirement outside the Lindsey Brook watershed. Given that in the current version of the ordinance it’s entirely up to the Boards’ determination, the Board can use their discretion to waive that requirement. Or waive the previous interpretation of standard down to the 25 year where the development would not be subject to the higher requirement for the new ordinance.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com