Waitsfield is issuing a formal request for proposals (RFP) for plans to replace its highway garage on Tremblay Road, with town officials issuing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for conceptual design and cost estimating services this week.
Road commissioner Charlie Goodman and road foreman Josh Rogers worked with town administrator York Haverkamp to develop a draft RFP, which was presented to the town select board at its August 11 meeting. The draft RFP seeks qualified firms or individuals to provide early-stage design services for a new town garage, including a professional conceptual layout and a preliminary construction cost estimate.
The existing facility at 761 Tremblay Road is aging and lacks many modern features, and the town has been aware of the need to address the town garage since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A preliminary hand sketch of a potential building layout has already been prepared, envisioning a steel-frame garage measuring approximately 146 by 60 feet – or about 8,760 square feet in total. The concept includes eight front-facing equipment bays, a side wash bay, interior storage for equipment, and space for a shop, office, and breakroom.
The proposed structure will include heated slab flooring, foam insulation, and a new septic system. The site is currently served by municipal water.
The RFP represents the first formal step in moving toward a new garage. Current thinking is conceptual, to a degree, but is expected to help advance the work.
According to the draft, the selected consultant will be responsible for translating the sketch into a scaled, professional layout suitable for public presentations. The scope of work also includes developing a cost estimate based on current local labor and materials, along with optional pricing for features such as radiant heating, insulation alternatives, and wash bay installation.
A brief summary report will also be required, including the conceptual layout, total and optional cost estimates, design considerations, and a high-level construction timeline.
RFP responses are due September 26. The board anticipates using the information gathered to better understand the financial and logistical requirements of the project before advancing to full architectural design or permitting.
In Warren, the town’s plans for a new town garage, at a new location, are well advanced and voters will be asked to approve a bond that is just under $10 million at a vote in November. Warren will build its new town garage on land the town owns off Vaughn Brown Road. Fayston also considered a new town garage for several years in 2018 and 2019, but plans have not progressed.
In other Waitsfield news, the board discussed next steps for managing short-term rentals in town. Following a previous work planning session, board members agreed to ask the Waitsfield Planning Commission to begin developing a regulatory process for a short-term rental ordinance. Warren has recently completed a short-term rental ordinance.
In Waitsfield, the issue of short-term rentals has come up at multiple recent meetings, with residents and officials noting both the economic benefits and challenges associated with the growth of short-term lodging. By tasking the Planning Commission with exploring potential approaches, the board signaled its intent to take a measured and community-focused path forward.
More information on the RFP and future updates will be available on the town’s website at www.waitsfieldvt.gov. Questions regarding the garage project can be directed to the town administrator at
