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06/05/2017 12:00 AMWith the planting of new trees, flowering shrubs, and bushes, the Town of Westbrook is putting the “park” into Town Center parking.
The new plantings surround the 27-space public parking lot built last month by contractor Xenelis Construction. Striping to mark the new spaces was applied last week, putting the finishing touches on the new paved lot. The new lot at the corner of Knothe Road and Route One will support patrons of Town Center businesses and provide extra parking for Town Green and Ted Lane Field events. Access to the new parking lot is from Knothe Road.
The lot is built on land the town purchased in two transactions, one in 2011 and another in 2016.
In 2011, the town bought the one-half acre parcel on Knothe Road and the Boston Post Road for $150,700 to use for public parking. The purchase price was offset at the time by a $250,000 Small-Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant the town received to buy it and clean-up the site for re-use. After the site remediation was completed, the town’s Department of Public Works graded the site and put down a layer of gravel to stabilize it. Since 2012, the site has been used by patrons and workers at Town Center businesses as an informal overflow parking area.
In 2013, the town sought grant funds to complete design drawings and construct the parking lot. This time the town was awarded a second $500,000 STEAP grant. At the time, the site concept accommodated a public parking lot of 18 to 20 spaces.
If the town could purchase additional land from the adjacent landowner, however, Town Planner Meg Parulis realized the town could build a bigger parking lot on the site, and so the town entered into negotiations with the adjacent owner, a bank.
An appraisal was done and terms agreed to and in spring 2016, the town meeting approved purchase of a sliver a land from First Niagara Bank (now Key Bank), for $30,000, to square off the site. With this extra land, the new site concept allowed for a public parking lot with 27 spaces. As part of the plan, the town also planned to install a culvert to channel the on-site brook that crossed one side of the property.
Funds from a $500,000 STEAP grant the town received in 2015 will offset the cost to the town of project engineering, permitting, construction, and oversight.
The landscaping design for the planting beds around the parking area was developed by Kathy Connolly of Speaking of Landscapes in Old Saybrook. Bushes, trees, shrubs, and decorative lighting were already installed on site by last week.
The construction contract’s current value is about $360,000. The winning bidder for the work, Xenelis Construction, late last week was on the Town Green executing a second major element, the elimination of the Town Green bump-outs on Westbrook Place. These bump-outs outline parking spaces on Westbrook Place next to the Town Green, but have proven problematic: They are more difficult to clear of snow in the winter and have proven difficult for some drivers to use.
Once the concrete and dirt peninsulas know as bump-outs are removed, granite curbing will be installed along the Town Green on the inside edge of the upgraded parallel parking row.
The town’s consulting engineer, Woodard and Curran, has been charged with overseeing the project, along with support from the town’s Department of Public Works.
The project is scheduled to conclude this month.