WASHINGTON PLANNING BOARD

Town Center Vision Subcommittee – Working Meeting Minutes

September 1, 2020

Members Present:  Jim Crandall, Ron Jager, Bert Bodner, Kevin Provencher and Nan Schwartz

Public attending: None

Crandall opened the meeting at 10AM. He said that Lolly Gilbert was the chair but has moved from town so he called a meeting. We haven’t met as a committee since March because of Covid-19 but small groups have met to keep working on certain topics.

1. Parking/Access issues – Crandall said that he and Provencher have met a few times with Ed Thayer and Shawn Atkins to talk about access around the town buildings. They both recommended a two-way entrance/exit from Rte. 31 for better access (20’ wide road). The state also wanted a simplified entrance from 31 and he feels this plan satisfies all issues. He gave the Planning Board some concept drawings and Schwartz refined them using one of Chidester’s drone shots. We reviewed the new plan. He says that this plan actually adds 10K sq. ft. of grass area to the front, though we do lose some grass in the back. Provencher commented that this new access road has been in discussion for years and we are recapturing green space. Crandall commented that in order to park more cars in the rear parking lot we can cut back the raised area and put a retaining wall and move back the basketball hoop. The Selectmen are eliminating several poles and moving the utilities underground. Crandall said we should update the plan that is on the easel in Town Hall. Schwartz said we have a Planning Board meeting tonight so they can review the latest plan. Jager said that the road in front of the buildings gets muddy and should be improved. He wants the stairway from the parking area to be esthetically pleasing with wider flare-out on the top and bottom to make it more welcoming and pleasing.

2. Town Pound – Bodner said that Barbara Rouse is trying to get in touch with Ed Thayer to talk about what more can be done to expose the front wall of the Pound. Bodner has edited Ron’s words for the sign a bit.

3. Walking Tour – Bodner said that the Historical Society took over the booklet and it is finished and printed. They focused on the center of town. They are selling the booklet at the Farmer’s Market. Jager said there are some mistakes in it; he will let Bodner know what they are so when it is reprinted they can edit it. Jager thinks that Wayside Park should have been included as it is important. Bodner said they kept it to the historic aspects and the park is new. He said they want to do a short version of the booklet for a handout.

4. Other Issues – Provencher wants us to keep the welcome signs at both ends of town in the plans. Schwartz said that the Police chief was also very much in favor of the traffic sign. She has the information/costs on both.

Adjourned at 10:45AM

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Planning Board Secretary