The final drawings are completed for the proposed changes to the new Bethel Police Station.  They are preparing to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission this month.  A public hearing will be scheduled in early February.  First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says he is expecting no problems getting through the approval process because the contractor and Building Committee are working closely with the town's Land Use Department.  He says the project will be ready for a March ground breaking.  He gave his compliments to members of the Police Department working on this project. 

The estimates for the new building came in $1.5 million over budget so they had to go back to the drawing board. Residents approved spending $13.5 million during a referendum last year. The current police station was constructed in 1974.  Bethel Police officials say it's too small for the current size of the force and floods.

The driveway for the new facility would be on Judd Avenue with an emergency entrance on Route 302.

Construction of a new building, more than double the size of the current police station on Plumtrees Road, will include a bigger lobby, a shooting range, a community room, and a training room.  The two story building plans also call for locker rooms, a physical therapy room, six holding cells and rooms for processing arrestees. The main floor could include the dispatch center, records department, a classroom and offices.