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Date: 12/5/2023
BELCHERTOWN — The Planning Board approved a new parking lot to be added to the Chesnut Hill Community School recreation area at its Nov. 28 meeting.
Town Administrator Steve Williams presented a plan to expand the parking lot by the pickleball courts located by Chestnut Hill Community School behind the basketball courts across from the police station.
There are currently nine spaces, but the expansion will increase it to 41 parking spaces.
“We want to add 30 regular spaces and two ADA compliant spaces for a total of 32 new spaces,” Williams added. The approved plan will also add new picnic tables, plantings and a patio area.
The picnic tables that are at the location now were borrowed and new picnic tables will replace them.
Williams said, “Those were borrowed from the basketball court area where the concession stand is. Once this project is done those will go back and new ones will replace them. What we are hoping to do is have enough money in the project to add a little patio area by the pickleball courts.”
The access point for the parking lot will be from the Chestnut Hill Community School driveway as well as Lilac Drive.
The current pickleball courts and parking lots have lighting and Williams said that the proposed plan did not include adding more lightning but said that can be discussed if there are any complaints from people.
“If we need to add lighting, we will put it on the existing poles that are already there,” Williams added.
Now that the site plan is approved, Williams said all the plan needs a permit from the Stormwater Authority which is currently under review.
The estimated cost of the project is approximately $450,000 and construction is expected to begin in the spring.
DPW Director Linda Leduc added, “I support this project. My office will be overseeing and working with the engineer team in the spring. We are excited to add to this area that is kind of in need of parking and is popular.”
The only concern the Planning Board discussed was a potential increase in traffic to the access point and that there were no proposed bike racks.
Planning Board member Michael Holfer said, “Bicycle racks? That area is intended to attract children, we don’t have any bike racks there now and there aren’t any on your plan so I would like to see that addition to the scope.”
Williams agreed to add bike racks to the area when the construction begins and that he does not anticipate this project to generate any new traffic.
The Planning Board approved the site plan.