Study makes case for new Lombard police station

Lombard leaders are eyeing a new police station at the municipal complex along Wilson Avenue based on a recent study of village buildings.

Dean Roberts, architect with the municipal facilities planning firm PSA-Dewberry, pitched the idea for the new police station -- and other recommendations -- during Thursday's board meeting.

"The police department is lacking -- lacking facilities," Village President William Mueller said.

The report suggests the Lombard Police Department needs a facility more than twice the size of its existing 23,400-square-foot station.

A new police station could be built on the site of the existing public works facility, which would move off-site, possibly to village-owned land along Garfield Street.

If a new one is built, the existing 30-year-old police station could be remodeled to house emergency medical services, including one or more ambulances and the fire department's administrative offices.

Trustee said an EMS building could be an alternative to constructing a third fire station.

However, Fire Chief George Seagraves said nothing has changed since a 2000 report suggested a new fire station a few blocks from village hall could lower response times to areas along Westmore Avenue.

"We have recommended and continue to recommend a full third fire station," Seagraves said Friday.

Lombard has one fire station along St. Charles Road, near Main Street. The second station is along Highland Avenue, near 22nd Street.

The PSA-Dewberry report recommends either a third station or making the Highland Avenue fire station substantially larger.

Meanwhile, the consultants suggest the public works department needs another 8,000 square feet, and village hall needs another 11,800 square feet.

Of course, all the findings in the report are preliminary. The study also doesn't provide any cost estimates.

"This is fluid … just like a strategic plan," Trustee Greg Gron said. "We've got a long way to go."

Trustee Richard Tross said some of the recommendations conjured visions of utopia. He suggested the board consider other options.

The space allocations cited in the report are based on staff interviews and industry standards. The consultants also assume that Lombard eventually will annex roughly 1,280 adjoining acres and grow to a population of 50,600 residents by 2030.

"Even if the population doesn't grow, we know our needs are going to grow," Mueller said. "We're looking at a plan for the future."

The consultants will develop at least three alternative plans, including estimated costs, and determine a possible timeline to implement solutions in phases.

That information will be presented during a future board meeting for additional discussion.