Above: Blue and red stakes show how much the stone wall along the town common might move under various Main Street redesign options
At their meeting tonight, selectmen will once again take up the issue of how to redesign Main Street west of Route 85. At issue is whether and how to accommodate parking on the narrow section of street.
The board last discussed the design options in April, but deferred their decision until the Planning Board had a chance to weigh in on the designs.
The existing roadway is not wide enough to accommodate parking spots, so if the board decides parking is a requirement, they’ll need to figure out where to take additional land. The options are to move the historic stone wall that lines the common — an option the Historical Commission opposes — or to take land from private property on the south side of the street — an option many residents oppose.
The debate about this small section of Main Street is part of a larger project to revamp the roadway from Deerfoot Road on the west to Park Street on the east. The project will be funded by the state, so any design accepted tonight by selectmen will need to be approved by MassHighway.
The Main Street discussion is expected to begin tonight at 7:15 pm in the Hearing Room on the second floor of the Town House. The meeting is open to the public.
For more background on the Main Street project, click here. Design options and other supporting docs are posted on the town website.
