The Town of Clayton is sharing renderings for its new Southwest Public Safety Center, a 24,000-square-foot facility that will combine fire and police operations under one roof. Located near West Clayton Church of God at Veterans Parkway and Short Johnson Road, the center is designed to enhance public safety and meet the growing needs of the community. 

The facility will feature three apparatus bays for fire vehicles, on-site training areas for rope and ladder rescue operations, and a training room that will also serve as the Town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). These resources will allow fire and police staff to reach emergencies faster, helping protect residents and their property. 

“It is exciting to see the Southwest Public Safety Complex taking shape,” said Clayton Fire Chief David Ranes. “Not every day do you get to build a fire station or a public safety facility. We have long needed a public safety facility in this part of Clayton, and this new center will allow us to improve service and better meet the needs of our citizens.” 

The center will also address long-standing space challenges. “This station is designed to be a 75-year facility,” Ranes explained. “Clayton is growing, and this location allows us to meet the demands of today and prepare for the future. We will also add an engine company with 12 new employees, which will reduce response times and increase reliability in this area.” 

Last year, the Clayton Fire Department responded to a record-breaking 3,500 calls, a number expected to rise as the Town continues to expand. The new center will allow both fire and police staff to provide faster, more effective service in a modern, purpose-built facility. 

Clayton Police Chief Greg Tart highlighted the broader impact on the community, stating, “We began a plan of decentralizing police services shortly after I became Chief of Police in 2020. The new public safety center will give us the ability to move those services out into the community rather than offering them from one location as we currently have. It will also help to reduce response times and increase the level of service we currently provide by making our facilities more accessible to the public.” 

Beyond improving immediate response, the center will help both departments position resources more strategically. With a permanent presence in southwest Clayton, fire and police staff can reduce travel times to emergencies, maintain reliability during peak call periods, and better anticipate future growth in the area. 

“It is necessary to expand our current operation to keep up with the rapid growth we are experiencing in population and calls for service,” added Tart. Co-locating fire and police services in this part of Clayton will create a stronger, more responsive public safety presence for years to come, according to Town officials. 

The Southwest Public Safety Center is expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028. Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the project through a Community Engagement Meeting planned for Thursday, January 22, 2026, where they can view renderings, ask questions, and provide feedback. Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information, visit townofclaytonnc.org/swpsc. 

Additionally, the Town is planning a second public safety center on an eight-acre property near Riverwood at Covered Bridge Road and Loop Road. That site is currently in the assessment phase with design expected to begin within the next year.