Town Common debate rolls on, next stop Board of Selectmen
Published on October 6th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - While praise for the hard work and dedication of the Town Common Committee was abundant, support for the plan it presented on Wednesday night was decidedly split.
In a public hearing called for by the Board of Selectmen, the committee presented its proposal for Phase II of the Town Common and Parking Project. Phase I, the construction of a 90+ space parking lot in Stoneham Square, is nearly complete and now open to the public.
Committee Chairman Mark Vaughan provided a brief history of recent activity on the common project. He explained that at a public hearing in June, the committee proposed a design calling for the creation of an expansive common, with green space stretching from Main Street to Town Hall. This design required the closing of Central Street to all vehicular traffic with the exception of one-way access for emergency vehicles.
"Reception for that was not especially positive," Vaughan recalled. "We were sensitive to that...and went back to the drawing board for a viable proposal."
Based on public input, revisions were made. Following discussion with the Board of Selectmen, it was decided to again conduct a public hearing to discuss the merits of the revised plan.
The design presented last week calls for opening Central Street to two-way traffic but eliminating parking on the roadway from Emerson Street to Church Street. Central Street parking is provided for, however, in front of the Congregational Church and the police station.
Church Street is proposed as open to one-way traffic with approximately 19 angled parking spaces on the church side of the street. Winter Street is shown realigned and converted to a parking area alongside the south side of the common with one-way access between Main and Central streets.
The committee listed the one-way direction of Church Street and the converted Winter Street on the design, but pointed out that it would defer to the Board of Selectmen, whose purview that determination falls under.
Vaughan also described special pavers along sections of Central Street for the purpose of traffic calming, "for people to recognize (this is) somewhat of a sacred area...(and to) entice them to slow down."
He pointed out that the common design presented yields about the same amount of parking that currently exists in the area.
Public opinion
"This is better than last time, but I don't think you're there," said Forest Street resident Ellen Pratt. "Keep Town Hall accessible...Leave Central Street parking for town business ... Leave Church and Winter Streets alone."
"I don't think the committee or the Board of Selectmen have listened carefully enough," stated Parker Chase Road resident Alice Del Rossi, agreeing with the prior speaker that parking in front of Town Hall should remain.
"This Town Hall is for the people...We should be able to come in the front door."
Brackett Avenue resident Dick Waite also agreed, stating "People use the front of Town Hall. How much footage of common will you lose? 20, 25 feet?"
While others agreed that Town Hall should remain accessible, solutions to the potential problem were offer-ed.
Project architect Gene Bolinger, from the firm of Levy, Eldredge and Wagner, stated that the committee considered the increased parking available in the new lot up the street as well as the recent addition of parking to the side of Town Hall, where the temporary police station currently sits, when proposing no parking along this section of Central Street.
Committee member Daniel Moynihan also defended the proposed elimination of parking, stating that three professionals, the town's police chief, fire chief and the project architect, have agreed that public safety would be increased without parking, since the common will generate a larger volume of pedestrian traffic.
With regard to additional parking to the side of the building, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting stated that although the Town Hall has been desperately short of parking, the purpose of the lot was to accommodate the police during renovation of its building. The selectmen, he said, have not taken a position on keeping the lot for parking, or returning it to green space once the temporary police station is moved out.
Police Chief Eugene Passaro pointed out that a great advantage to this side lot is that it is closer to the building's handicap entrance and is therefore a safer alternative to parking out front.
In addition, he stated that he was happy to see Central Street opened to two-way traffic.
Selectman Chairman Albert Conti suggested that exceptions to the no parking in front of Town Hall could be made for elections and other special events. To this, Fire Chief Lawrence Lamey stated that in either case, the street must accommodate emergency vehicles.
Other concerns voiced included upkeep of the area, including maintenance of the special roadway pavers proposed and cost of the project.
"Can the town accomplish all this with the money appropriated in the (January 1997 Town Meeting warrant) article?" asked Del Rossi.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting stated that the funds available should be sufficient to develop the common without major reconstruction of surrounding roadways (with the exception of Winter Street realignment which has long been figured into the design), but stated "...it's close."
However, based on the anticipated costs of settling disputes the town is currently aware of, that have arisen from the property takings necessary for both phases of the project, he said the town may need another $150,000.
Design has primarily focused on the perimeter of the proposed common. Vaughan stated that the common's interior design has not yet been finalized since the committee feels that boundaries within which to work must first be established.
But that philosophy is precisely what some disagree with.
Isabella Street resident Jack Mahoney challenged the plan presented compared with that voted on two and half years ago.
He reminded the audience that fourteen hundred people showed up at Town Meeting on January 13, 1997 to vote on a town common.
"Everyone voted on the basis of what they saw," he said, and charged that the project has changed dramatically from that time.
"I have read and re-read the motions in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the January 13, 1997 Warrant and I find no authorization to close, restrict or reduce street width or eliminate parking on Central Street, nor have I seen the basis for changing travel direction and the travel calming method concept that has been offered. The only thing implicit was that Winter Street would be absorbed into the Common area," he said.
Franklin Street resident John DeGeorge described the hearing as a very constructive one. However, he too voiced concern as to the direction of the committee and stated the it's scope reached beyond what was voted for.
"The board should have told the committee what its parameters were before they got working."
He also pointed out that opening and closing streets, along with directing traffic flow, is the Board of Selectmen's responsibility. He suggested instead that the committee concentrate on the details of the common interior.
"Whether or not they have an extra three or four feet should make no difference in what you'd like to see in a common," DeGeorge told the Independent.
Former Selectman John Biggio, who chaired the Board of Selectmen at that 1997 Town Meeting, stated that the plan presented then was merely a rendering which he defined as more of an idea in a person's head than an actual engineered project.
"People of all ages... voted overwhelmingly...They wanted this thing badly...I still believe it was the greatest idea in the town."
West Street resident Bob Wellman called the proposal a great plan and stated, "The common will be the front lawn of our town."
When pressed for a date on which the selectmen would vote on the plan, Selectman Chairman Albert Conti stated that the process should not be rushed.
"This is a very important project...I don't want a quick decision...This process is right on," he said.
A vote is expected on the issu
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