Hinesburg Village Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes – August 11, 2008
Present: Donna Constantineau, George Dameron, Rolf Kielman, Aaron Kimball, Karl Munson, Dona Walker
The Committee began our meeting in the Town Hall and reviewed the text of our suggestions to the Selectboard and Planning Commission. Modest revisions were proposed and Rolf was directed to forward the document to Jeanne Wilson for review by the Selectboard. George suggested the Rolf attend an upcoming SB meeting to review our suggestions in person.
As per plan, the committee then embarked on a walking tour of the Village area to view first hand the character of the pedestrian environment and to observe various spaces and buildings in the Village. Discussion ensued during the walk and various observations were made that should be highlighted:
The space to the west of the firehall/police station is too small for a Village Green and might be better utilized as a small recreation space adjacent to a future community center on the site of the present police station. Consolidation of the Police and Fire functions in the area of the current Firehall should also be considered.
Sidewalks on the east side of 116 between Mechanicsville Road and Commerce street should remain on the to-do list. The sidewalk section to the west of the new bank should also remain on this list.
The Commerce Park open space area still seems to be a good candidate for a Village Green/Common and would have a long term and positive impact on the quality and character of adjacent sites and buildings.The new bank building is well positioned along the street and speaks to the good potential of future development in this area.
The sidewalk along the east side of 116 is in poor condition and could benefit from curbing and landscape improvements.
The proposed west sidewalk from Charlotte Road to Silver Street is a design opportunity and needs to be well planned and designed.
Lighting and improvements for the monument should be considered.
Difficulty of completing the sidewalk opposite the Community School.
notes from attending committee members:
- Crosswalk not marked yet in front of The United Church
- The need for better street lighting on Main Street
- Five house identified as in need of some work done to (at minimum) bring them into visual parity with the rest of the village
- site visit to the future (?) town park spaces behind the Police/Fire stations and at Commerce Park
- slow down traffic on Mechanicsville Road and Main Street
- Improve the crosswalk on Mechanicsville Road
- better sidewalk drainage. standing water after a storm at entrance to Esty's parking lot and along the East side of lower Main Street
- talked about improvements at the Veterans Monument need to be followed up with
- U.S. Flag at the Veterans Monument and Town Hall not lit up at night
- the completion of ALL of the village sidewalks
- There is inadequate lighting in the village (east side of 116, Town Hall, war memorial)
- Benches: we could use more benches on the pedestrian path along Mechanicsville Road and at the war memorial
- The village needs signs at its various gateways
- Certain houses and buildings are not well maintained and are shabby looking
- Sidewalks are needed to complete sidewalk infrastructure:
Commerce Street (from Estey shopping complex to new bank)
West side of 116
Along 116 at southern gateway to village
Along both sides of Mechanicsville Road to CVU stop
- Walkway on 116 in front of Mead’s (near Papa Nick’s) still very dangerous, and visibility for motorists exiting Papa Nick’s by turning right onto 116 is poor
- Drainage is poor on sidewalk on east side of 116 between Brian Busier’s and Russell’s
- Use of airbrakes or engine brakes by trucks in village needs to be discouraged
- Town roads in village: speed limits should be reduced and speed bumps built
- Town Green: ideal location still seems to be Commerce Park
- Pedestrian crossing at United Church needs to be complete
- War Memorial Monument: improvement needed (benches, lighting/solar?); if no light there, flag should be lowered in the evening