TOWN CENTER PLANS

It should be noted that the images presented at the Town Center Forum (See post below) are based on a rough conceptual plan drafted by the Town Planner for the properties at 27 and 29 North Main Street. The purpose of the conceptual plan was to determine whether a "sense of place" and a village atmosphere could be established in the Town Center without a major expansion or dramatic changes. This is in accord with the General Plan goal to "Create a visual signature for the Town Center to enhance a sense of place or identity."

The conceptual plan proposes only to replace a single building and add a second new building to an existing adjacent property. It utilizes an existing driveway (next to C&L Frosty) from North Main Street (and upgrades its status) and access to Powderhouse Lane to create two new village blocks. The first new building would face the existing driveway with a sidewalk in front of it and storefronts facing the sidewalk. The second building would be positioned at the end of the driveway where it would be visible from North Main Street to serve as a vista that draw in visitors. While the existing building housing the Post Office, liquor store, bank, and cleaners would remain, the main entrances would be moved to what is now the rear of the building to face a park-like setting.

Most parking is pushed to the back of the buildings closer to the railroad tracks. The plan does include parking to the side of one of the new buildings up to North Main Street, but it is screened with a decorative fence and plantings to enhance the pedestrian atmosphere. There also is a passageway through the new building to facilitate access from that parking lot to the two new village blocks that are created.

Two versions of the plan were created. One plan would include a vehicular access out to Powderhouse Lane between the Post Office building and the building at 5 Powderhouse Lane as well as a second access at the end of Powderhouse Lane by the tracks. The alternative would include only the access by the tracks while the area between the Post Office Building and 5 Powderhouse Lane would be incorporated into the park that is proposed behind 5 Powderhouse Lane. Both versions can be seen on the Planning Board web site.

This plan was created prior to the visualization exercise conducted by MAPC. However, once the favored buildings were selected in June, two of those favorites were plugged into what are simply footprints on the plan and the 3D model was created (See Planning Board web site).

The conceptual plan proposes approximately 12,200 square feet of new space in two 2-story buildings. One building with about 3200 square feet would be replaced for a net gain of 9000 square feet.