In a meeting that lasted just over an hour, Thursday evening, April 14, members of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission (SHPMC) heard from Gary Sorge, vice president of Stantec Consulting Services in New Haven, on alternatives for access to a proposed permanent memorial to 12/14 at the High Meadow at Fairfield Hills. The commission also received input from Newtown Land Use Di-rector George Benson, regarding restrictions to that piece of property.conducted of the High and East Meadows at Fairfield Hills and the proposed memorial site, Stantec developed six options for creating access to the memorial, should a High Meadow site proposal be approved.Six Options To Consider

Based on a March 21 site walk Mr Sorge, Tom Hammerberg, also of Stantec, and members of the SHPMC

After surveying first responders, family members of 12/14 victims, and residents over the past 2½Ã‚ years, as well as researching various sites in town, the SHPMC has selected a section of the High Meadow as the best option for a future memorial to 12/14. How visitors to a memorial would have ac-cess is one of the challenges the commission has encountered, along with opposition from local conservation-minded citizens who decry any alterations to the High Meadow open space. Stantec, which has worked with Newtown Parks and Recreation to develop a trails system at Fairfield Hills, was approached to determine the feasibility of accessing the proposed site.

The April 14 meeting opened with a moment of silence, what SHPMC Chairman Kyle Lyddy said will be a regular practice at future meetings of the commission.

"We need to remember the reason our work is being put forth," said Mr Lyddy.

Public comment included remarks from Ann Astarita, Holly Kocet, and Mary Wilson. Ms Astarita asked that committee members review the restrictive covenant for the High Meadow to perpetually preserve the open space, and reminded members that numerous organizations in town have spoken up in protection of that open space.

"Use it to educate, not eradicate, open land," said Ms Astarita, and requested that the commission stop the development of High Meadow.

"I think the commission has to ask one question," said Ms Kocet. "Is your plan for a memorial in the High Meadow for everyone in town?"

A number of clubs and organizations in town have actually voted to keep the High Meadow undeveloped, Ms Wilson pointed out to commission members.

"People are not opposed to a memorial - just don't put it in the High Meadow. Please take that into consideration," Ms Wilson said.

Introducing Mr Sorge to the commission and members of the public present, Mr Lyddy explained that the presentation would show what alternatives the commission has to consider for access to the proposed memorial. He acknowledged that there has been contention due to perceived disruption to the property.

Mr Sorge clarified the diagrams as slides of the six options were shown.

Option A showed access via a vehicle road extending from the cul de sac found at the end of Keating Farms Avenue at Fairfield Hills. The road would sweep to the East Meadow side of a bank of trees separating the two meadows, culminating in a small parking lot. From there, a pedestrian trail would zigzag to the approximately 0.88 acres at the east edge of the High Meadow, where the commission would like to place a memorial. The vehicle access would be 1,100 feet, said Mr Sorge, plus the additional walking trail.

Option B utilizes the current paved walking trail leading up from the cul de sac to the High Meadow as a vehicle access, with a small parking area and "a simple path" crossing the High Meadow to connect to the memorial site. The meadow pathway could be a granular packed surface, Mr Sorge said. This option would be the simplest option, and least intrusive, he said.

The old farm road leading from the end of the cul de sac, and hugging the woodline on the High Meadow side, was Option C. The meandering path would be a long but accessible route to the memorial, he noted.

"The meandering would begin the memorial experience," said Mr Sorge, with parking available at the cul de sac.

With Option D/D1, Mr Sorge suggested reconsidering the purpose of the walking path currently leading up to the High Meadow. This option would retire that path and create a new trail beginning where the current pedestrian sidewalk leading toward the cul de sac now ends. From there it would follow a large switchback incorporating points of visual interest, again eventually cutting across the High Meadow to the memorial.

Using the old farm road, zigzagging through the wooded area could create an accessible route to the memorial site, said Mr Sorge, in discussing Option E, a length of about 2,500 feet. This route would provide visual interest, he said, and allows easier navigation of the changing grades.

"It keeps the trail in the woodland," he said, and is completely different from current trails at Fairfield Hills.

Option F would be a completely accessible path in place of the current pedestrian path, cutting to the west of the cul de sac and current pathway, and then rejoining the current path leading up from Glander Field, to a new path leading across the High Meadow to a memorial. This option does not allow vehicular access beyond the cul de sac, but the wandering route incorporates old foundations and historical artifacts, according to Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold, who weighed in, in response to a question from committee member Steffan Burns regarding the deep curves in the proposed path.

"It's all about grades and trying to get under five percent grade in this area," added Mr Sorge.

New vehicular roads would most likely be paved, said Mr Sorge, suggesting that a granular surface would not be desirable on sloped areas.

Invited to speak, George Benson then reminded commission members of an earlier memo regarding restrictions to the desired site.

"It's very restrictive what you can do up here," he said, with the memo providing the minimum criteria of what would be allowed. The High Meadow is considered a passive recreation open space.

Mr Benson also reminded members that even if his suggestions are followed it is not certain that the commission would be granted access to the High Meadow for a permanent memorial.

"I'm not here to tell you how to design [the memorial]. Just what you might be able to do," he said, noting that no buildings of any kind would be allowed; any structure (under six feet only) would have to fit into the landscaping and not be obtrusive to the site; no lighting outside of police emergency lighting that could be activated upon need; be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible; and have a minimal amount of impact. Mr Benson also said that he would prefer there not be any driveway.

a meadow management plan for the High Meadow is being developed, and that if the committee is granted permission to place a permanent memorial there, "We have to coordinate it all together for a management plan."

"There are a lot of different combinations to look at. It's a good beginning with these plans, but look to minimize the impact," Mr Benson cautioned. He also noted that

Mr Burns, serving on a subcommittee of the SHPMC charged with creating design guidelines for the memorial, said that the group is "getting closer" to finalizing the guidelines.

"Do we need to select one of these options?" he asked, as designers will want to know where the memorial experience starts. The committee also needs to have a survey done, said Mr Burns, so that designers can understand the topography of the site. Reformatting the survey results is also necessary, as that information would be useful for designers, he said. Until the path design is selected and the survey is done, the guidelines will not be completed, Mr Burns said.

Members of the commission plan to meet with Mr Sorge and Mr Benson to evaluate the options, as well as understand how any option might fit into the final phase of the Parks and Recreation trails.

In closing, Mr Lyddy said, "We're not trying to battle. I hope this is a conversation that evolves."

Resident Joe Hovious spoke out as the meeting adjourned, asking that commission members "Talk to people who use the trail."