Town of Lenox
Planning Board
August 8, 2017
Landuse Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Pam Kueber, (PK); Tom Delasco, (TD); Kate McNulty-Vaughan, (KMV); Kameron Spaulding, (KS)
Member absent with notification: Deborah Rimmler, (DR)
Staff present: Gwen Miller, Land Use Director/Town Planner, (GM); Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, (PA)
Also present: Selectman Ken Fowler (KF) and Mark Smith
The meeting was opened at 6:05 PM.
Documents presented for this meeting:
- Lenox Planning Board -Village Parking Review -August 8, 2017
- July 25, 2017 minutes
Minutes-Review and vote on meeting minutes for July 25, 2017. KMV made a motion to approve with a minor edit. KS seconded the motion and the Board voted to approve 4-0.
Recreational Marijuana-BRPC has confirmed a countywide information session for 6 p.m. August 31st at Lenox Town Hall. Online registration is required.
There was a brief review on the Town’s stand with regards to this issue. Voters passed by a large majority the use of recreational marijuana, but regulations would have to be approved at a Town Meeting. KS suggested that the Board not get into any further discussion until after the briefing by BRPC.
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Walking tour of Lenox Village to review and discuss parking plan improvements- Continuing the discussion and review from July 11 and July 25, take a walking tour of Lenox Village to look at:
(1) Proposed interior walking path
(2) Proposed “master lot”
(3) View and discuss other potential sites for more parking.
The Board held a brief orientation prior to the walking tour by going thru the Village Parking Review, which included, but was not limited to, the three BETA maps. The tour commenced at 6:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
Note: The following is an initial summary of discussions during the walking tour were provided by PK. The Board will add to or edit this list in subsequent meetings.
Items discussed during “parking tour” of Lenox Village:
On Main Street – (1) wrapping Curtis and (2) Monument traffic flow idea:
- Recognition that “green space” drawn in front of Curtis looks like it could encroach on entry/egress into Curtis
- Concern about hard left turn in proposed new layout around Monument
- Mixed support for Monument proposal
- Mixed support for bermed parking on Main Street proposal
- Should we really even focus on this moving forward?
Walkway:
- KS explained recommended changes to 2008 plan as we went along
- At “top” near Town Hall, concern about encroaching on privacy of residents at Curtiss
- Need to assess residential privacy issues all along the walk
- Discussion of adding pocket park near “bottom” behind Frankies et.al.
- Expectation that 2008-plan proposed “greenspace” between Church Street café and MacKimmie Co. would go away in favor of maintaining existing parking
- In general: Unanimous support of the idea:
- Added appeal to visitors
- Added utility to residents
- Could encourage further beautification
- Cost
- Execution challenges
- Resident support for such investments
- Walkway plan is in the Complete Streets plan that will be finalized by Sept. Cost would be about $800,000, with asphalt paving, 5’ wide. Complete Streets plan lays the groundwork to apply for federal funding.
“Master” lot and parking in general:
- Discussion of possibly moving Post Office loading dock to service drive behind the Post Office with entrance via drive next to Frankie’s
- In general: Unanimous support of the idea:
- Increased number of parking spaces available
- Improved driving/parking ease
- Better stormwater and snow management
- Cost
- Cost-per-space added
- Execution challenges
- Resident support for such investments
- Need to marry 2008-plan walkway design with 2017-proposed Master Lot design
- Need to get actual count of spaces behind Frankie’s
- Opportunities to consolidate drives on east side of Church Street
- We did not have time to discuss other possible longer-term parking solutions behind business on east side of Church Street
Next steps – next meeting:
- Discuss at next meeting and consolidate comments for next steps to Beta or otherwise.
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