AbbottLibraryBuilding CommitteePage 1 of 3
Meeting Notes No. 11September 25, 2007
JOINT MEETING WITH OLD TOWN HALL COMMITTEE
ALBC Members Present:Rhonda Gurney,Peter White, Barbara Chalmers, Lisa Bozogan,Lisa Meehan, Faith Reney
ALBC Members Absent:John Walden
OTH Members Present: Kevin Richard, Betsy Webb, Betty Tatlock, Betsy Katz, Ron Garceaum Mike Durfer, Dana Ramspott, Tony Bergeron
Meeting Attendees:Chris Lizotte of SMPA, Bruce Jennings, Stephen Nilsen, Peter Urbach
From:Barbara Chalmers
On the above date, those noted above met at the Town Hall. The following is a brief summary of the discussion that took place:
LibraryBuilding Committee Minutes fromSeptember 12 will be reviewed for acceptance at the next regular meeting on Oct 10.
1. Rhonda noted that the Library Building Committee site search is now focusing on the OTH / Riverway site. 14 sites have been considered, analysed in detail and determined not feasible for a variety of reasons. The Building Committee engaged Chris Lizotte of Scheerr McCrystal Pahlson Architects, to study this site and determine its feasiblity for the library. Chris was instructed to study 3 approaches:
Library addition to OldTown Hall that has some library program space within the old building.
New free standing library east of OldTown Hall.
New library in place of OldTown Hall.
- Chris Lizotte reported that observing zoning street and river setbacks will not be possible for the site, since this leaves little space to work with, but he noted that government entities are usually exempted from such compliance. If a proposal for this site is pursued, it would be reviewed with the Planning Board. He has assumed a new Riverway property boundary at the grade change / tree line west of Marrazelli’s parking lot.
Concept 1 - Addition to OldTown Hall on the south east side of the building: This preserves head-in parking off Main Street and an on-site parking lot in the area of the current LSPA parking lot. Approximately 26 parking spaces are on site, with new construction footprint of 6400 sf on 2 stories. Some of the library program would be within OldTown Hall, including the meeting room and children’s program spaces. Future expansion on the west side of OTH is possible at the street edge.
Concept 2 - New 2 story library in place of OldTown Hall: Replicates the volume and physical presence of the old building, provides the most open space and on-site parking potential.
Concept 3 - Separate library structure south east of OldTown Hall on the Harbor Riverway property: Library would not connected to OldTown Hall. Fewer parking spaces are possible under this scenario.
This study shows that all 3 approaches to a library on this site can work, if on-site parking count criteria is reduced in consideration of the extensive amount of off-site parking potential in the harbor area with development of the one-way traffic flow and additional LSPA Knowlton House parking lot.
- General Discussion:
• Kevin noted that the OTH Committee is just starting to explore grant and other funding sources to save the OldTown Hall and get it listed on the Historic Register. While the library is a possible user of the building and/or site, it is one of many the OTH Committee will be considering.
• Mike Durfor reported that Harbor Riverway shareholders are supportive of efforts to bring the library to this site. He also noted that the Knowlton House meeting room would continue to be available for public use.
•Many commented that the head-in parking should be eliminated and any new construction be located nearer Main Street. On-site parking should be kept to the minimum necessary to maximize green and pedestrian space.
• Kevin noted that a public meeting room was high on the list of uses for the OTH from the Charrette and that the Committees should work together to coordinate planning for such space, since the Library has also idenitifed the need for a meeting room.
• Ron Garceau commented that the OTH committee really likes the Charrette proposals for public outdoor space (patios, green space, connecting pedestrian bridge) for the site and that such amenities should be part of any development for the site. He likes the concept of a separate library building next to OTH.
• Pedestrian bridge represented on the concept sketches should be moved closer to the OTH, rather than connecting to a parking lot.
• Peter White commented that there will be little left of the OTH after renovation given that new foundations, roofing, siding, windows, interior finishes, electrical system, mechanical system and extensive structural frame upgrade will be required. He strongly questions the expense of renovating instead of demolishing and reconstructing it, saving the key historic features such as the clock tower and horse ramp for inclusion in the new building.
• Tony Bergeron noted that the Selectmen have directed him to look into how the one way traffic flow and increased on-street parking proposed by the Charrette could be implemented. He noted that a phased in approach was possible, but that it was too soon to know if there would be an article on the March Town Warrant to begin to fund such changes.
• Barbara noted that to keep momentum up for a new library, the Library Building Committee is working toward enabling warrant articles in March 2008. Our projected planning schedule has the Committee making its site recommendation to the Library Trustees by the end of September, to leave time for building planning and budgeting tasks before the end of the year. The Old Town Hall Committee is not on a time line and their work has not yet progressed to the point of determining whether or not facilitating the library at this site is the direction they wish to go.
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4. OTH Committee will meet next on Oct 9 and the Library Building Committee will be meeting on Oct 10 at the Library. The Library Trustees meet on Oct 16. The 2 Committees will meet again soon after they have individually met.
End Meeting Notes.
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