Police Commission Endorses Sandy Hook Center Beautification Project

By Andrew Gorosko

After reviewing the details of a beautification project planned for Sandy Hook Center, Police Commission members have endorsed the public safety aspects of the plan, which is intended to make the compact business district a more appealing retail and dining destination.

On February 1, Police Commission members, acting as the town’s traffic authority, specifically endorsed a proposal to create a new crosswalk across Church Hill Road at the Sandy Hook Diner. Commission members also backed a proposal to eliminate several pockets of perpendicular parking situated along a section of Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center.

The Sandy Hook Center Streetscape Project’s steering committee had sought the Police Commission’s endorsement for the improvements. The streetscape group also has gained Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and Economic Development Commission (EDC) endorsements for the work.

Construction of the Church Hill Road improvements is expected to start by midyear.

Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker told Police Commission members that besides a crosswalk extending across Church Hill Road at its intersection with Dayton Street, the plans call for a new midblock crosswalk on Church Hill Road in front of the Sandy Hook Diner.

Although a crosswalk in front of the diner would stimulate pedestrian traffic in that area, the state Department of Transportation (DOT), which reviews such improvement projects, is less inclined to approve such a midblock crosswalk than a crosswalk at a street intersection, Ms Stocker said. Church Hill Road is a state road.

A midblock crosswalk would encourage increased pedestrian flow in the area, said landscape architect Jane Didona, who designed the project. Pedestrians now jaywalk in that area, which has no crosswalk.

The streetscape panel will soon submit its improvement plans for DOT review.

Police Commission member Duane Giannini said the proposed midblock crosswalk “makes perfect sense” in the context of the Sandy Hook Center improvement project.

The project also will provide paint striping on Church Hill Road indicating the location of parking spaces to better manage parking there, Ms Stocker said. Currently, the parallel parking in the area is casual.

Police Commission member Richard Simon said of the streetscape project, “I’m really happy about this. I think it’s terrific.” Such improvements would benefit the area, he said.

The overall $1.25 million Sandy Hook Center beautification project is intended to economically revitalize the district that centers on the intersection Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road. Project planning has been underway for several years.

The project includes the design and installation of new concrete sidewalks, which simulate red bricks; granite curbing; decorative street lighting; and crosswalks, plus landscaping elements. The work is keyed to improving pedestrian mobility and safety, as well as improving the area’s appearance and functioning, with the goal of revitalizing and economically stimulating the commercial hamlet.

Phased Project

The first phase of the work, which is slated to begin midyear and continue through the summer, would occur on the section of Church Hill Road lying between the Church Hill Road bridge crossing above the Pootatuck River and Church Hill Road’s intersection with Dayton Street.

Additional construction work would occur in the future on the sections of Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road, all of which extend outward from the four-way intersection.

The $1.25 million multiphased project would be jointly paid for by federal, state, and town funds. The federal share for the work would be $620,000; the state would cover $475,000 of the costs; and the town would assume the remaining $155,000.

A $475,000 state grant will cover the Church Hill Road section of the project, as well as the design work for the improvements to be made to sections of the three other streets.

The project will include a decorative sign bearing the legend “Welcome to Sandy Hook” positioned near the intersection of Church Hill Road and Dayton Street to greet motorists traveling eastward on Church Hill Road.

Town officials had investigated the cost of burying existing overhead utility lines as part of the beautification work, but deemed that work to be prohibitively expensive.

The streetscape project is designed to create a positive image for the area and to help increase the value of properties there. The work is intended to attract residents and visitors to the area by enhancing its village ambience. The streetscape project is intended to improve pedestrian mobility, encourage economic growth, improve the area’s appearance, and reduce traffic congestion.

During the past several years, private property owners have made a range of physical improvements at their Sandy Hook Center real estate. Both new development and redevelopment have occurred.

In 2002, the town extended United Water’s public water supply to Sandy Hook Center. In 1997, the town extended sanitary sewers there.

In 1995, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) created Sandy Hook Design District (SHDD) zoning to permit mixed land uses and to foster the creation of pedestrian amenities and adequate parking.