Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

space-needs-Edmond-Town-Hall

Full Text:

Parking May Be The Problem For A Town Hall Expansion

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Last week, the town's municipal space committee recommended the town construct

a 23,000-square-foot addition to the back of Edmond Town Hall. How big is

23,000 square feet?

The new addition to the Cyrenius Booth Library is 22,000 square feet and cost

$4.1 million. The town hall 23,000 square foot proposal has an estimated cost

of $10 million and would house all town offices, including the Board of

Education. The proposal calls for the new structure to wrap around the back of

town hall and alongside the northern section of the building.

"We are at the point that we can pass along our report to the Board of

Selectmen so the process can be accelerated," space needs committee chairman

Bill Brimmer said. He called the recommendation a win for the town as it

consolidates all town offices at one location, except the Parks & Recreation

Department, which would be located at the middle school.

The committee's recommendation is contingent upon whether or not enough

parking can be found behind the building. An addition of the size proposed

will require a space for each additional employee plus enough spots for the

public, including those using the movie theater, gymnasium and Alexandria

Room.

Currently, there are 191 existing spaces. A conceptual parking plan proposed

by Kaestle Boos Architects calls for 89 additional spaces. That brings the

total to 280, far below the 308-328 that would be required. However, the

parking shortfall of 58-78 spaces may only be felt during Tuesday afternoon

matinees, according to committee member Carole Ross.

Members of the municipal space needs committee are hoping more parking space

can be realized with the use of a parking deck in the lower parking area or by

paving over a small wetlands area behind the building.

Committee member Bob Hall said much of the wetland area's water comes from

state road drainage. No rivers or streams pass through the area in question.

"I'm in favor of using it. I would personally trade off a detention basin that

is used to trap sediment that goes directly into wetlands now for a little bit

of wetlands," Mr Hall said.

On Monday, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal instructed the town's land use

department to hire a soil consultant to study the wetland area. It is hoped

that portions of the area could be filled in to create more parking.

Parking garages are not permitted in the center of town, according to borough

zoning regulations. However, if the town proposes a less-obtrusive parking

deck in the lower-level parking area, a variance or change in the regulations

may be permitted, Mr Hall said. Mr Brimmer has asked Kaestle Boos to come up

with cost figures for the construction of a deck.

If the parking problem cannot be resolved, according to First Selectman Herb

Rosenthal, the space needs committee will have to re-think its recommendation.

One other alternative previously under consideration was a new municipal

facility off Main Street.

"This is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination," Mr Rosenthal

said.

The overall plan to address municipal space has an estimated cost of $18.3

million. In addition to the $10 million addition to town hall, the town is

also considering a $3.1 million new building for the Newtown Hook & Ladder

company and a $4.1 million renovation to Town Hall South for police.

Opponents to the town hall expansion option, including Legislative Council

members Pierre Rochman and Melissa Pilchard, have expressed their

disappointment in the space needs committee's recommendation. They had hoped

the town would consider building a new facility, which would have plenty of

parking, cause less traffic problems and provide room for expansion.

Mr Rochman said an addition to the rear of Edmond Town Hall could ruin the

rural quality of the building. He also said adding on to the existing building

forces the town to deal with everything at the same time, town employees will

have to find a temporary location, and the building is full of asbestos.

"There's no way they'll be able to stay there while construction is going on,"

Mr Rochman said. "Those costs have not been addressed."

Many residents are in favor of moving all town offices out of Edmond Town Hall

and retaining it as a community center.

Mr Hall points out, however, that Mrs Hawley's offer to the town was for a

building that would house town offices. A theater, gymnasium and other public

rooms was an afterthought -- her own personal choice.

"Town offices was the primary purpose of her gift," Mr Hall said.

Does the town even hold clear title to the building?

"I think it does," said Mr Hall. "I've never done a title search on the

building, but I'm almost sure it does."

Mr Brimmer said the estimated cost of $18.3 million may be a little high. He

does not expect a new Hook & Ladder building to cost as much as $3.1 million.

The firehouse could move to Fairfield Hills in a garage that was given to the

town by the state last year (see related story).

The municipal space needs committee's recommendation is expected to be

considered by the Board of Selectmen later this month. From there, a spending

proposal will be passed on to the Legislative Council. Eventually, Newtown's

taxpayers will have the final say at either a town meeting or referendum.

Mr Rosenthal hopes to resolve the town's longstanding need for more office

space issue before its lease at the state-owned Canaan House at Fairfield

Hills runs out two years from now. Some town employees have been working at

Canaan House for the past two years due to flooding and general deterioration

at Town Hall South.