Planning commission OKs proposed 4th Canton Township Fire station

Plans for a fourth fire station in the township were approved by members of the Canton Planning Commission during a May 6 meeting.The new structure planned for the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and South Lilley Road is in the planning states but will incorporate alternative energy sources for an energy net-zero building, according to plans. Costs for the building have not as yet been determined but will be a factor in the construction, officials said. Plans for a fourth station have been discussed for some time by township officials as about 25 percent of calls come from the southeastern quadrant of the township where the new station is planned. Officials noted that the new station would reduce response time significantly in that area. Officials said currently those response time were at 12 to 13 minutes in that southeast area of the township. Fire officials said the optimum time should be 5 to 7 minutes. Plans submitted show the station as nearly identical to Fire Station No. 2 on Warren Road which was constructed in 2021. It is about 13,400 square feet with three firetruck bays, officials said. Funding for the project will be supplied by a $7 million grant from the state and a $1.7 million federal grant. Fire officials credited the efforts of state Rep. Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, in securing the funding for the new 
building.