Design of ADA Path at Munson Memorial Library Hinges on Rhododendron
The planning board debated at their 6/4 meeting whether this rhododendron should be spared in the construction of a ramp walkway for the south entrance of the Munson Library. Photo: amherstma.gov
By Maura Keene
This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.
Present
Doug Marshall (Chair), Johanna Neumann, Bruce Coldham, Fred Hartwell, Jesse Mager, and Karin Winter.
Staff: Nate Malloy (Senior Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant).
Town Obtains Grant for Accessible Ramp and Walkway at Munson Memorial Library
Planner Nate Malloy and Building Commissioner Rob Morra presented a design for a ramp and walkway from the south entrance of the Munson Memorial Library that conforms to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The existing south door exits from the community room. It has two steps and exits onto grass, which is not ADA compliant. The plan presented shows a zero-step entry with a cement landing, a ramp with railings and handrails, and a cement walkway parallel to the building that joins the main sidewalk at the front of the building. Automatic door openers will be installed on the existing double doors.
The design features a walkway and ramp that are 15 inches from the side of the building with natural stone fill between the walkway and building for drainage and minimal maintenance. Because the plan has the sidewalk so close to the building, it involves removing the mature rhododendron next to the brick wall at the front of the building. Malloy estimated that moving the walkway farther from the building to preserve the rhododendron would cost an additional $10,000 to $12,000. The town obtained a grant for $105,000 for the work, which is estimated to cost $120,000. The conditions of the grant are that the work should be “substantially completed” by the end of June.
Several Planning Board Members Want to Preserve Rhododendron
Planning Board members Bruce Coldham, Karin Winter, and Fred Hartwell visited the site. Coldham and Winter strongly advocated for a curved walkway that allowed the rhododendron to remain. Coldham said that the cost of curving the sidewalk around the plant would be comparable or even less than removing and possibly replanting the bush. Winter noted that older buildings often have curved walkways and a curve would be “more beautiful” than a straight path.
Johanna Neumann disagreed. She thought the rectilinear path looked better, since it paralleled the wall of the building. She also thought that the board should be sensitive to the town budget. She stated, “I want to make sure we don’t get in the habit of not trusting the expertise of our town staff. I’m looking forward to hearing budget numbers, and I’d be inclined to trust the budget numbers as presented. That feels like why we have staff.”
Public Comment Supports Retaining Rhododendron
Both Maria Kopicki and Hetty Startup spoke in favor of having the sidewalk curving around the plant. Both noted that people usually take more of a curved path rather than a right angle around the corner of a building. Startup said that since the town did not present a landscape plan with more plantings for the project, she preferred to leave the existing plants in place.
Steve Mabee, representing the South Congregational Church immediately to the south of the library said that the church had no problems with the proposed design. He noted that the town had previously removed the overgrown forsythia bushes that were between the two properties and that the church had allowed library patrons to park along the church driveway since a 1975 agreement.
Decision on Walkway Delayed Until June 18 Meeting
In a straw poll, Coldham, Hartwell, and Winter preferred a curved path preserving the rhododendron. Chair Doug Marshall and Neumann preferred the rectilinear design. Jesse Mager did not express a preference. The board decided to discuss the plans again on June 18.
Malloy said that he and Morra anticipated that there might be disagreement about the fate of the rhododendron. He said that planning for work on the landing and ramp could begin soon, so that the deadline of the grant would be met.
Hearing on Proposed Archipelago Project at Atkins Corner Postponed
Most of the 19 members of the Zoom audience were present in anticipation of discussion about the 140-unit mixed-use building project proposed for Gould Way and Lannon Lane in South Amherst. Kyle Wilson of Archipelago Investments, however, notified Malloy that the project was still being reviewed by the Conservation Commission and requested that the Planning Board hearing be postponed to June 18. No discussion of the project occurred at this meeting. Click here for coverage of the May 14 meeting of the Conservation Commission during which this project was discussed.
It was disappointing that there was no acknowledgment at the Planning Board (PB) hearing that the Conservation Commission has met twice since the last (PB) meeting and both times indicated serious concerns about the proposed destruction of a large amount of wetland areas and the absence of any genuine mitigation measures. It is a bit disingenuous for Archipelago to say that it wanted a continuance with no discussion because the project is still being reviewed by the ConCom. That review was always going to take several meetings as the variance of the wetlands bylaw is only one of the issues, the other being a complicated stormwater management plan. In any case, the ConCom met a week ago and will meet again June 11; it would have been more respectful of both the Planning Board member’s and the concerned public’s time to have given more advanced notice of a request to postpone further Planning Board discussion.
It is unclear whether members of the PB and ConCom are kept appraised of the deliberations and findings of the other. Wetlands have not been mentioned at any of the three PB meetings where this project has been on the agenda.
Why don’t they move the rhododendron? They are very shallow rooted so this isn’t that difficult, except you will have to keep it wet all summer (water daily) — that’s a garden hose and someone willing to do it.
The caveat is that this is about as cold an environment they can live in — they do not like cold winter winds and they’ll curl up their leaves attempting to reduce moisture loss. My guess is that the plant likes that brick wall, both as a windbreak and source of heat at night.
Plant one up against a building, under a downspout (as long as it doesn’t wash it out), it’d be very happy….
People in wheelchairs cannot make right angle turns on the narrow ramp. The walkway should be curved at the corner to make it accessible, and the rhododendron could then be saved.
Wheelchairs are quite able to make 90 degree turns, this is extremely common on sidewalks and inside buildings. This is actually very easy to do and low effort as they’re designed to turn in place. Navigating a curve can be more work in a wheelchair as you have to frequently reorient. The sidewalk is proposed at 5′ wide which is plenty of room.
The rhododendron needs to be moved, the roots will interfere with the sidewalk leading to cracking or lifting and the foliage will interfere with wheelchair users on the path. These plants do not have a maximum size and a curve built today just puts off the inevitable encroachment. These are very common plants, if it’s expensive to move, plant some new ones in a better location.
Moving the rhododendron would cost $10-12K? Seriously?