DUMMERSTON — The Selectboard want more information from the state and the joint Putney/Dummerston Design Review Board on the reasoning behind certain features of the Park-and-Ride on track for construction at the town line.
Selectboard member Joe Cook raised the issue at a Sept. 4 meeting, saying he took issue with the facility's planned 82 parking spots and the fact that it includes lighting and is paved.
“Don't get me wrong: I'm all for Park-and-Rides; they make more and more sense down the road as energy prices go up, but I see how many people use the Park-and-Ride at the Covered Bridge, for instance, and I just can't imagine we'd have anything approaching 82 vehicles using this Park-and-Ride for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Cook said he thought a Park-and-Ride at that location offering 30 spots would make more sense, though he speculated there might only be “two cars” using the facility.
“I think it would behoove us, and I make the motion, that the board express its concerns over the scope of this project – I understand it will be lighted; it will produce some visual pollution, I would think our Energy Committee would have something to say about that,” he said.
He also said of the paving, “I really don't understand the need for that. This is a rural community and I would think our Conservation Committee would have something to say about that.”
Selectboard member Steve Glabach said he would not support a motion to seek reasoning for these design decisions.
“I think it should be lit and should be paved, and I think if you're going do it you need to do it at a scale big enough so that you're not going back in two years,” he said.
He also noted that “gravel is a maintenance nightmare, particularly with rainfall like we had the other day where you get 2{1/2} inches of rain in two hours. Your maintenance costs could be ridiculous.”
Glabach added: “It would be nice to see some type of preliminary information as to the need for this, I guess, but it's pretty conveniently located with the exit to the freeway, with the Current buses going by. I won't support [the motion],” he said.
Board member Bill Holiday seconded the motion, but stressed that he did so only to get answers on design and environmental impact - “not to negate [the project] at this time.”
The measure passed 4-1, and Cook will write a letter to the DRB seeking design rationale.