Sudbury Center Meeting Draws Large Crowd
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On May 31 the Sudbury Center Improvement Advisory Committee (SCIAC) hosted an open public meeting with the Town’s consultants, the Cecil Group, SEA Consultants and Public Archaeology Lab to engage the public on ideas for improving the historic town center. Over 90 people attended the meeting in Town Hall and participated in a workshop to identify their concerns and recommendations for improvements.
The meeting was officiated by Selectman Larry O’Brien, who answered questions on the project, the process and the Town’s next steps. After receiving the input from this meeting, the consultants will prepare an Interim Report and design sketches, which will be reviewed by the SCIAC over the summer. A second public meeting will be held in September to receive public comments on the design alternatives. The preferred alternative that emerges from the public meeting will be further refined and costs to construct will be calculated. At this point, the Selectmen will decide whether to advance the project to preliminary design or if further study is needed. Any proposal for project funding will go before a Town Meeting vote.
The consultant gave a Powerpoint presentation on the work they had completed to date, including preliminary historic research of the area, traffic counts and interviews with stakeholders. A workshop session followed where residents were asked for their individual input on the committee’s stated goals and objectives for the project, which were organized into the following 5 categories. The predominant percentage of comments follows each category:
Heritage/Preservation – Preserve rural character; Protect historic assets and space should be given high priority when assessing roadway alignment alternatives
- Open Space – Create linked open space system connected by pedestrian walks
- Circulation – Recommend roadway alignment and cross-section improvements to improve traffic movement, but no traffic speed
- Pedestrian Safety – Improve convenience and safety for pedestrians through better sidewalks and more visible crosswalks
- Visual Character – Preserve the spatial character and simple landscape design of an early 19th century agricultural community
To view the presentation given at the visioning session CLICK HERE.
Residents will have an opportunity to attend a fall meeting to view and discuss the design alternatives. That meeting will be advertised locally and on the town’s website.
To visit the SCIAC website CLICK HERE.
To email the committee, CLICK HERE.