Meredith beautification plan gets mixed reviews

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL

LACONIA DAILY SUN

MEREDITH — Bricks and trees emerged as major points of contention during a workshop presentation earlier this week on a beautification plan for Meredith village.

Most people attending the Monday-night meeting agreed that the Greater Meredith Program’s conceptual plans for the area of the Meredith Town Docks offer welcome improvements to the town, but some speakers questioned the wisdom of installing a brick crosswalk in New Hampshire, where snowplows and extreme weather conditions can cause such materials to deteriorate rapidly.

The Greater Meredith Program is offering to pay for its recommended enhancements to the state Department of Transportation’s proposal to improve traffic patterns on routes 3 and 25 in the area of the Meredith Town Docks. The DOT would fund its work, but upgrades such as using bricks for a 12-foot-wide pedestrian crosswalk and the planting of trees alongside the sidewalks and along the docks would be the responsibility of the GMP.

Since the meeting, Town Manager Philip Warren has been contacting other communities that share our climate for their experience with brick crosswalks, in preparation for the next selectmen’s meeting, on June 15, when they are to vote on the updated proposal.

Warren said he has found only two communities in New Hampshire — Concord and Plymouth — and one in Portland, Maine, that have installed brick crosswalks. The first two have not had the sidewalks in place long enough to be able to offer an opinion, and Warren had not heard back from Portland.

Public Works Director Michael Faller said during the workshop that Plymouth’s previous experience with brick crosswalks has not been positive.

“The concrete will heave up and, over time, you get a difference in elevation, and plows can catch on that,” he said.

Plymouth has redone its crosswalks with a deeper concrete base, but cannot yet say how durable they are.

Also questioned at the meeting was the planting of trees, particularly along the water’s edge.

The waterfront improvements are long-range goals and are not part of the current project because of the need to stabilize the seawall, which Warren said already is compromised and could not support the extra weight. Seawall improvements are a responsibility of the town and Warren said the town also will be considering dock replacement. Any solution could be years away.

As part of the current project, the Greater Meredith Program wants to plant trees and shrubs along the village side of Route 3 and along the guardrail separating traffic from the parking area. It also proposes upgrading the standard guardrail in the DOT plan to a white wooden rail with flowers planted alongside it.

Selectman Michael Pelczar said he opposes any planting of trees along the docks because it would obscure the view of the lake, and he worried that leaves falling from the trees along the state right of way would require extra work by town employees.

“We’re talking about a major beautification project,” Selectman Bev Lapham responded. “I can’t believe we’re talking about the cost of raking the leaves.”

Warren said, “The reality is, when we have incremental increases — if we take on additional duties and responsibility — that means [budget] increases. My concern is that, when we roll into September and October, I don’t want to rob from Peter to pay Paul.”

GMP spokesman Rusty McLear said, “I think it’s fair to say to the taxpayers that they shouldn’t be burdened with any of this. The Greater Meredith Program has the money to do this, and if it takes our money to maintain it, we’ll do that.”

He added that some work might be done more economically by the town, and the group is willing to reimburse the town. He also noted that his Mill Falls enterprise maintains that side of the highway.

Some of the residents attending the meeting came forward to express their concerns about losing the lake views.

Dennis Finnerty worried about the liability from wet leaves in the parking area and said, “To me, I don’t want anything else blocking my view of the lake. I’m tired of the GMP dictating what we think is beautiful. The [sculpture] walk is a success, but, to me, I walk along the lake to see the lake.”

Karen Sticht agreed, saying, “Every time I drive down, I look at the lake and think, how beautiful! I really don’t think trees are necessary. If you drive around, you can see a few trees. We’ve got lots of trees.”

Meredith Fire Chief Ken Jones said he likes the appearance of trees but his concerns have to do with parking and safety.

“Going to one crosswalk, you’re going to see a lot of jaywalkers,” he said, “and if you plant trees that might obscure drivers’ views, safety is a concern.”

Jones said he also has concerns about the ability of fire trucks to make the turns.

The impetus for the Greater Meredith Program’s proposals is the state highway agency’s plans to upgrade the intersection of routes 3 and 25 while resurfacing the road. Plans call for eliminating one of the northbound lanes on Route 3 to allow for wider left-turn lanes coming from Route 25. The signal at the intersection will be replaced with one that includes cameras and detection devices to optimize its operation.

The plan also would eliminate the two crosswalks at Dover and Lake streets and replace them with one 12-foot-wide crosswalk in the middle of those two intersections, with ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

There also will be new curbing with raised islands, either paved or grassy.

Adjustments to the parking lot would eliminate some spaces and add others, and there was confusion at the meeting on whether there would be a net gain or a net loss of parking capacity.

The department plans to issue bids this summer and have work begin this fall. All work would occur off-season so it would not impact summer traffic.

An artist's representation shows the proposed changes at Route 3 in the area of the Meredith Town Docks.

There are currently two crosswalks crossing Route 3 in Meredith near the town docks. Plans call for replacing them with a single crosswalk. (Adam Drapcho/Laconia Daily Sun)