The Land Use Working Group was charged by the Select Board to analyze future municipal needs, particularly concerning the inadequate Public Works and Public Safety facilities and potential administrative consolidation, while also considering Concord's broader goals for commercial development, diverse housing, and recreation/open space. For Phase I of their work, the Working Group split into three Subcommittees, Municipal Office Consolidation, Public Safety, and Public Works, to further investigate these needs. You can view the report of each Subcommittee by clicking on its corresponding heading below. The consolidated report of the full Working Group for Phase I can be viewed here. 

As a reminder, these recommendations will be considered further by the Select Board. No final decisions have been made, and no immediate changes are planned.

Municipal Office Consolidation

The Municipal Office Consolidation Subcommittee presented their key findings and recommendations at the Friday, February 20, 2026 meeting of the Land Use Working Group. You can view the meeting meeting recording here.

Five options were identified, including: 

1. No Consolidation and Sell the Peabody School
2. Renovate Peabody School
3. New Building at the Peabody School Site
4. New Building at the Ripley School Site
5. Buy and Renovate an Existing Office Building in Concord

The options were then considered based on the following criteria: 

• Financial Benefits
• Staff Collaboration/Efficiency and Satisfaction
• Convenience for Residents
• Sustainability

The Subcommittee recommended Option 5: Buy and Renovate an Existing Office Building in Concord.

Public Safety

The Public Safety Subcommittee presented their key findings and recommendations at the Friday, February 6 and Friday, February 20, 2026 meetings of the Land Use Working Group. You can view the meeting recordings here.

The priority of needs for new public safety facilities are:

1. A new Fire Station Headquarters in West Concord
2. A new Police Station Headquarters somewhere in Concord
3. A new Fire Substation in Concord Center

The following options have been recommended for more detailed review:

• Construction of a new Fire Headquarters in West Concord, with first consideration given to the existing Main Street site, provided that adjacent parcels can be acquired in a cost- and time-efficient manner, or at an alternate West Concord site.
• Construction of a new Police Headquarters, with consideration given to the existing Walden Street site, in conjunction with a new Fire Headquarters in West Concord, at an alternate site, or in combination with another facility.
• Construction of a new Fire Substation in Concord Center, at the existing Walden Street site, at an alternate site, or in combination with another facility.

Public Works

The Public Works Subcommittee presented their key findings and recommendations at the Friday, February 6, 2026 meeting of the Land Use Working Group. You can view the meeting recording here.

Key findings are:

• Facilities at 133 and 135 Keyes Road are inadequate for efficient operations and do not meet current safety, security, or service standards.
• These sites do not align with Town objectives for sustainability, economic vitality, and fiscal responsibility.
• Growing service demands, particularly in West Concord, underscore the need for updated infrastructure.
• Comparative analysis with peer municipalities highlights the need for modernization, increased functionality, and improved interfaces with residents and businesses.

Potential locations for future Public Works facilities have been grouped into three categories based on suitability: