Summary of last week's town meetings

During the week of February 1st, three meetings were held at Town Hall to give residents a chance to review the preliminary concepts that Project for Public Spaces are working on in preparation for their upcoming DRAFT presentation of a Hamlet Design and Development Plan on March 6 at 2 PM at Mount Washington House.
A total of 21 residents came to the meetings.

In general, all participants saw the need to upgrade the look and feel of the Hamlet and the need for economic development. All favored the installation of sidewalks, lighting, seating, bike racks, trash receptacles and new “way finding” and merchant signage. They encouraged the possible development of walking pathways between shops or any areas where it would be possible to walk instead of drive.

All were also in favor of traffic calming strategies, including a reduction in speed limits entering the Hamlet and some physical changes to the roadway and its edges that would give visual cues for traffic to slow. It was clear to all that the intersection of 22 and 23 was a critical problem. Of the two solutions proposed by PPS—a roundabout or a tightening of the intersection with crosswalks—more were in favor of the "tightening" approach. There was general agreement that the top end of Maple Street next to Cobble Pond should be closed and that a solution (off of 22 south) to allow emergency vehicles to access the lower end of Maple Street needs to be found.

All felt that convenient parking within the Hamlet is sorely lacking, though where it should be located was also recognized as an issue that needs to be overcome.
Concerning public gathering places, many felt that somewhere around the new Town Hall would be a good place and that the Hamlet Park should be developed to include attractive seating and other features that would make it welcoming.

All felt that new development should be encouraged, including a possible Arts area on Anthony Street and moderate income housing for seniors and working Town residents. All expressed strong support for the development of the Rail Trail.
There was general agreement that all new development should maintain the rural character of the Hamlet, and that new development design should be in keeping with the current character of the houses that already exist in the Hamlet.

Following are some additional ideas that attendees presented:

* There should be no big building or big scale development;
* Sidewalks on 22 are needed for safety of residents and visitors -- it is too much of a high speed roadway;
* If there is room for on street parking, the parking spaces should be clearly outlined;
* Hamlet Park should have smaller, more intimate game locations for horse shoes and bocce;
* A water feature in the park would be very welcoming;
* An exit from the supermarket on Anthony Street would be very convenient.