Adams Capital Planning Weighs Future Parking Improvements
 The Capital Planning Committee is in the process of ranking future capital projects. |
ADAMS, Mass. — There isn't much need yet but the Community Development Department is already looking at places to eventually improve and increase parking.
On Tuesday, Community Development Director Donna Cesan brought three parking projects to the Capital Planning Committee. Two of them would improve already utilized lots and another would create a new one.
"We're just trying to be proactive. The lot at the Visitors Center is busier than it has ever been and it isn't even summer," Cesan said. "We're just trying to think ahead."
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is expected to be extended, the Berkshire Scenic Railway will be running train rides from the center to North Adams and more and more festivals are utilizing that parking lot. Local promotional group Pro Adams has organized two festivals there and a half-marathon used it as the finish, and all three are being considered as annual events. The Council on Aging has also moved into the Visitors Center.
The center's parking lot needs work, which the Capital Planning Committee fully supported; but eventually, the town will need more.
The cost is estimated at $100,000 to repave, fix curbing and remove and replants trees that have been cracking the pavement at the Visitors Center lot. The committee gave it a high score in its prioritization of capital projects the town will be looking to do in the coming years.
"A lot of people go there and this is really used a whole lot," said member Michael Mach. "I think this is a real focal part of the town."
As that project develops, Cesan said kiosks for visitors to pay for parking could be installed to offset the cost of the lot's upkeep.
"A lot of people who will be visiting and using this parking are used to paying," Cesan said.
However, that complicates parking in the 40 spots reserved — but not clearly marked — for the next-door Adams Internist, and for town employees at the Fire District across the street.
"If the lot got filled up, I don't know how we will deal with it," said George Haddad about the 40 spots reserved for the doctor's offices.
The lot hold 120 cars but Cesan expects that won't be enough in the future. She put forth another project that would create parking on town-owned land on Winter Street because that is close to downtown attractions.
The plan would mean turning the end of the street into a cul de sac and installing head-in parking and meters. Creating the new lot would cost a "ballpark" estimate of $400,000, a total the Capital Planning Committee wasn't ready to support.
"I don't want to spend a half million doing that," said Michael Ouellette.
For Haddad, that land could be used for much more. Recently, students from Conway performed a study and developed multiple options such as a park. Many of those ideas included altering the flood chutes, which Cesan said isn't possible, but the ideas were "big."
"I don't agree with this as a parking lot. I think there is greater potential down the road," Haddad said.
Mach, however, said the area was "rundown" and parking there would be a benefit for those who walk the "Polish mile." He also cited Ramblefest last October, when vendors used some of the spots in the Visitors Center lot leaving a lack of parking for the more than 2,000 people who attended.
In the end, the committee gave it a low ranking but told Cesan they would revisit it if the scenic rail and other events prove that the need is there.
"Before you leap, you need to make sure you are grounded," Haddad said.
On Summer Street, Cesan proposed improvements to a vacant, dirt area that is currently being used for parking. The project is estimated between $40,000 to $75,000 depending on how "fancy" the town wants, Cesan said.
At the lower cost, the town could simply regrade, create a swale to contain water runoff and fence off the area. But, the town could add landscaping and even parking meters there, she said.
"I would love to put all of the decorative things but at what cost?" Ouellette said.
The committee also voiced concern about the upkeep cost of that lot and suggested selling stickers to residents to park there. That would also help residents find parking during the winter, when the town implements a no-parking order on the street.
But the primary focus would be to make parking available for tourists and shoppers, not create a parking lot for neighborhood residents to store cars.
The Capital Planning Committee also gave a plan to bring the Registry of Deeds into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act compliant a high ranking because of the legal requirement.
The committee is only a few meetings away from scoring dozens of capital projects the town hopes to accomplish in the coming years. It will make recommendations toward the annual budget process to help direct spending toward desired goals.
Tags: capital projects, parking,
