Politics & Government

Greenway Phase II Project Could Be Back on Track

Approval glitch seems solved for the pedestrian walkway and bike lane from Main Street next to the DeLuca softball field connecting to the finished portion of the Greenway along Housatonic River.

The Stratford’s Greenway Phase II project is "just about back on track," the town planner said Thursday.

One more approval from the Planning Committee next week  remains for Phase II of the Greenway shoreline access and improvement project get to the next level -- bidding and award.

Bids could go out as soon as March and awarded in time for the Spring construction season and perhaps a grand opening in time for summer season is an optimistic track after all town approvals are secured.

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Last week, members of the Greenway Committee were told by town engineer John Casey that "best case" scenario would see the opening of the Phase II access to the public as soon as soon June "or as early as the grass takes."

Phase II work includes the construction of an archway entrance on Main Street next to the DeLuca softball field complex and completion of the bikeway and walking trail accessway. It would connect to the already completed Phase I part of the Greenway project located along the Housatonic River.

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Officially called the “Housatonic River Greenway Bike/Pedestrian Trail Phase II,” the architectural and site plan drawings were prepared by Milone & MacBroom landscape architects of Cheshire. The plans were favorably reviewed and unanimously adopted at the Greenway Committee’s Feb. 3 meeting. But a temporarily glitch arose this week when town officials were told that coastal area management approval was not in place, a matter town officials thought was part of the Phase I approval process and work in 2010.

Phase II comes on the heels of the completion of Phase I in 2010 in which a Greenway walkway was completed along the Housatonic River.

However, as Town Planner David Killeen explained to the Waterfront and Harbor Management Commission on Wednesday night, the consultant had failed to notify the town of that missing coastal site plan approval piece.

Town officials were not pleased.

However, that matter seems moot after the Planning Commission meets Tuesday.

At Wednesday's Waterfront commission meeting, Chairman Bill Rock and members were reluctant to completely pass on their regulatory responsibility without reviewing the actual coastal site plan, but agreed with Killeen that the matter was more technical than environmental as Phase I lands were at least as sensitive, probably more so and voted that Phase II is compatible with their associated plans of development. Site cleanup and remediation includes the planting of flowers , beach grass and shrubs. Invasive species will also be removed.

Phase II Greenway Details

In addition to the clearing of various existing debris along the planned access and removal of invasive plant species, Phase II includes the construction of an archway entrance (see diagram) directly facing Main Street. This includes the reconstruction of the sidewalk along Main Street as well as the landscaping of the entire route with salt-tolerant grasses and a wildflower seed mix. 

Highlights of the access corridor itself include a 6’ wide dedicated pedestrian right-of-way and a 9’ designated bike path. An aggregate stone roadway will also be installed, not for regular vehicular access but for emergency purposes. “The goal is to have people walk and bike it, not drive it,” Casey told Greenway members last week. 

As far as the timetable for completion of Phase II, Casey said the town is up against the planting season for the Spring that ends about June 15, sometimes earlier depending upon the weather.

The winning bidder will have April, May and June to get the work done. 

“If everything goes well, then we can do it,” Casey said, referring to the June completion date and public opening.

And maybe even part of the 4th of July fireworks.


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