Soil Analysis shows town meadow could be developed

By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

Economic Development Comission survey has located 330 potential parking spaces within walking distance of downtown.

The town of Norfolk’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) recently formed a subcommittee to address parking availability in the downtown area and the potential use of town meadow. The group completed a detailed parking analysis in anticipation of a shortage of parking spaces once Infinity Hall opens in the fall. EDC member Frank Bell and Norfolk architect Simon Aldridge conducted a physical inspection of all the parking spots in the downtown area. The two walked the area from Station Place to John J. Curtis Road, Route 44 from the Speckled Hen Pub to the Catholic Church, the area in front of the library, the perimeter of the Village Green and the lengths of Shepard Road and Maple Avenue. Bell and Aldridge determined that there are 141 marked parking places in the downtown area and an additional 105 spots that are regularly used, but not marked. They found another 84 spots that could potentially serve as parking spaces. How to take advantage of all 330 potential parking spaces downtown presents a number of possibilities. “The most interesting thing to emerge from the study was what a great village center we have,” says Aldridge. “A revamping of our pathways, signage and pedestrian crossings could get more visitors out of their cars and exploring the village on foot. The Village Green, town center, library and Yale are all great amenities within walking distance of one another. It’s only 1,000 feet from the Music Shed to the Village Green, the equivalent of three blocks in Manhattan.” Bell and Aldridge’s report to the EDC recommends re-examining posted speed limits, which were determined to be too high in some parts of the downtown area. The two also recommend that a professional evaluation of traffic patterns be undertaken in an effort to make accessing Station Place and John J. Curtis Road less dangerous. The EDC has also explored the idea of turning a portion of the town meadow into a parking area. Sean Hayden, a certified soil scientist with the Northwest Conservation District, recently performed a preliminary investigation of the soils in the town meadow, which consists of just under four acres. He determined that there is indeed an acre of wetlands in town meadow, but that the remaining three acres appear to be suitable for development. Hayden recommends hiring a soil scientist to delineate the wetland boundary more precisely. Aldridge notes that the meadow could then be broken into different use zones that could be used for landscaping, walkways and potential parking. Any such changes would need to be approved by various town agencies, including the Inland Wetlands Commission. The subcommittee has shared its report with the selectmen, the Planning and Zoning Commission, Town Planner Glen Chalder and the Emergency Services Building Committee.