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Date: 9/27/2022
HATFIELD – Mark Gelotte, a member of the Open Space Committee, on Sept. 22, opened the meeting about a proposed bike path that would create an unbroken travel corridor for riders from Elm Court through to Northampton.
For some residents – that’s the problem. The bike path will also increase access to town for outsiders.
“Going forward, I would like to see the crime incidents in the other towns with a bike path,” said Hatfield resident Dick Abbott. “You give an inch and they’ll take a mile…The next thing I see is a push all the way to Whately.”
Kim Baker, a resident of North Hatfield Road, voiced similar fears of visitors.
“We have a little slice of heaven here,” Baker said. “People coming into town, they do not treat the town the way we do.”
“I am not in support of the bike path,” said Kathy Deveroux, a Main Street resident. “I don’t want more people coming from Northampton…There are people living on the bike path. There are people dealing drugs on the bike path.”
About a dozen residents spoke against the proposed 1.35 mile addition to the bike path system already in place. Diana Szynal, chair of the Select Board, requested information on criminal activities at River Run Apartments, where the path will join with existing bikeways. Concerns were voiced for the general disruption for those who live on and around Elm Court, including the wildlife.
“Fifteen wild turkeys live in there, one moose, rabbits, foxes, every kind of wildlife,” said Tom Patrick, an Elm Court resident for five decades. “Fifty deer live in there. If you put that bike trail in there all that wildlife will scatter…We should be ashamed of ourselves, as taxpayers. Who is gonna take care of this?”
Maintenance of the bike path was another bone of contention. Gelotte and Wayne Feiden, former director of sustainability for the city of Northampton and project manager for the proposed path, sought to reassure residents the town will see very little out of pocket costs for either construction or maintenance.
“Hatfield would be responsible for maintenance of the path in Hatfield,” Feiden said. “We’re not talking big maintenance costs. In Northampton, it’s mostly mowing.”
The information posted on the town’s website and distributed at the meeting clarified, as did Feiden, the project has been in development for 14 years, since 2008, when Northampton first received funding for its pieces of the Connecticut River Greenway, the official name of the bike path system. The city purchased three properties in 2011 and 2013. This year, Northampton hired design firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin to do a feasibility study and related documents showing the proposed course along the Connecticut River.
A big piece of the puzzle also fell into place this year with a $300,000 grant for design services, included in the legislature’s Acts of 2022. There is no guarantee Gov. Charlie Baker will release those funds, which is still required, but the commonwealth currently has a significant budget surplus. Those monies will pay for design services through next year.
Construction costs were not addressed much. According to Feiden, federal grant funding will pay for 80 percent of the construction, with the other 20 percent contributed by the state. Design services are already funded. According to Feiden, Hatfield will have to buy the land from Northampton, which the city purchased some years ago.
The Open Space Committee was already aware of strong support for the project. Gelotte said members of the committee visited every house on Elm Court to ask for residents’ opinions. The committee fielded a survey which yielded 100 votes in favor of the bike path project and 45 against it.
“I’ve heard from everybody about traffic,” Gelotte said. “I’ve heard concerns about parking. Those are the major concerns of the residents…and we want to take care of you as much as possible.”
The town is not committed to the project yet, in any way, and provisions for parking and signage will be decided in the future. Many residents came, however, to voice fervent hopes the bike path will go forward and connect Hatfield to other areas.
Main Street resident Paul Dostal commented that residents voiced fears about marijuana cultivation and sales in town, though the police department and town committees saw no causes for concern. Dostal observed there has been no increase in crime or robberies since several cannabis businesses opened, an implication those fears were baseless.
“I don’t see any difference between this project and the marijuana,” Dostal said.
“My wife and I chose this town to raise our family,” said Shawn Miner, an Elm Street resident. “Ever since we moved here…we wished there was some way to get to other areas (and) it’s part of what will help us choose to stay in this community.”
Cheryl Walker, King Street resident said, “This is a dream come true for me, and I know it is for other people who are bicyclists. I think this is a wonderful thing for the town. The impact would be minimal.”
Elizabeth Denny, another King Street resident said, “I’m terrified of riding on Rt. 5.” Denny voiced concern for the wildlife, but said of a bike path, “It’s a treasure. I think it’s a great thing to have.”
Ben Heckscher, a train enthusiast, offered information about the safety of a bike path adjacent to railroad tracks. According to the Cronin Hill Road resident, there’s an 18-foot separation between the center of the railroad track and the setback for the rail trail. There will also be a fence separating each corridor.
“There’s absolutely no chance anybody can be hit by a train,” Heckscher said, “especially if you’re standing behind the fence. If you climb over the fence that won’t be addressed by the project.” Heckscher summarized the feeling of those who support the trail and continued planning for it. “I’m in favor of this project because it provides a friendly and a safe way to travel between Hatfield and Northampton.”
No decisions or commitments to the project were made at the meeting hosted in the Smith Academy gymnasium. After the many comments by interested residents, the meeting ran late.