Neighbors scrutinize smaller library plan in Boxford - Boxford, MA - Tri-Town Transcript
Neighbors scrutinize smaller library plan in Boxford

Neighbors scrutinize smaller library plan in Boxford

Photos

Courtesy photo

Here is a first look at the proposed floor plan (first and second levels) as drawn up by Schwartz Silver architects. A large meeting room (maximum of 75 seats) juts out from the front end of the building, facing Elm Street. Courtesy photo

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By Kathryn O’Brien/tritown@wickedlocal.com
Posted Feb 05, 2013 @ 09:23 AM
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 Reactions were mixed when Elm Street neighbors had their first peek at the newly-revised library plan last week. While some said the smaller building is an improvement, others are still concerned about site placement, lighting and even a horse trail that would have to be rerouted.

As they prepare to make a presentation at the Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Boxford library officials first invited the neighborhood to a meeting in the Elm Street library to discuss the preliminary plan that has been drawn up by Architect Schwartz Silver, the same group that designed the rejected 18,000 square foot plan.

        The new rendering shows a 15,000 square foot building, detached from the Cummings Center and set much further back on the lot to reduce the “heavy massing” appearance from Elm Street that killed the first plan when both the Historic District Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals opposed it.

    About two dozen people assembled in the library meeting room (formerly the foyer and two parlors of the historic property) on the night of January 26, listening intently to Library Trustees Pauline Jenson and Chair Heidi Ellard describe the plan along with Barbara Jessel, chairman of the Library Advisory Committee.

    A moment of surprise came when equestrienne Pat Morris pointed out that there is a horse trail that passes right through the site where the new building has been placed on the nearly 4-acre lot. The library officials agreed to take the information about the trail back to the architect so it can be rerouted within the new plan.

   Calling the new plan “a compromise,” Jessel said, “ I think it has some advantages and addresses issues that had been brought up.”

     Stressing that the new library plan has a smaller footprint, that it is placed further back on lot and that it has less massing and a more efficient floor plan, Jessel reminded everyone that the site work (well/septic) has already been done so “this is the most efficient way to continue.”

    LAC member Holly Langer noted that the current library (built in 1974) can be occupied during construction of the new one, thus avoiding a temporary move to the West Village Library.

   It has yet to be determined whether the existing barn will be demolished or possibly replaced with the Little Red Schoolhouse, which currently sits unoccupied behind the Cole School.

   The future use of the Cummings House is also unknown. The Selectmen are looking for five volunteers willing to serve on a new committee that will explore the options for that property.


 Reactions were mixed when Elm Street neighbors had their first peek at the newly-revised library plan last week. While some said the smaller building is an improvement, others are still concerned about site placement, lighting and even a horse trail that would have to be rerouted.

As they prepare to make a presentation at the Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Boxford library officials first invited the neighborhood to a meeting in the Elm Street library to discuss the preliminary plan that has been drawn up by Architect Schwartz Silver, the same group that designed the rejected 18,000 square foot plan.

        The new rendering shows a 15,000 square foot building, detached from the Cummings Center and set much further back on the lot to reduce the “heavy massing” appearance from Elm Street that killed the first plan when both the Historic District Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals opposed it.

    About two dozen people assembled in the library meeting room (formerly the foyer and two parlors of the historic property) on the night of January 26, listening intently to Library Trustees Pauline Jenson and Chair Heidi Ellard describe the plan along with Barbara Jessel, chairman of the Library Advisory Committee.

    A moment of surprise came when equestrienne Pat Morris pointed out that there is a horse trail that passes right through the site where the new building has been placed on the nearly 4-acre lot. The library officials agreed to take the information about the trail back to the architect so it can be rerouted within the new plan.

   Calling the new plan “a compromise,” Jessel said, “ I think it has some advantages and addresses issues that had been brought up.”

     Stressing that the new library plan has a smaller footprint, that it is placed further back on lot and that it has less massing and a more efficient floor plan, Jessel reminded everyone that the site work (well/septic) has already been done so “this is the most efficient way to continue.”

    LAC member Holly Langer noted that the current library (built in 1974) can be occupied during construction of the new one, thus avoiding a temporary move to the West Village Library.

   It has yet to be determined whether the existing barn will be demolished or possibly replaced with the Little Red Schoolhouse, which currently sits unoccupied behind the Cole School.

   The future use of the Cummings House is also unknown. The Selectmen are looking for five volunteers willing to serve on a new committee that will explore the options for that property.

New design      

  A 75-person  meeting room located at the front of the new design is a key feature, allowing access to visitors while the main library building closes at night.

    Noting that that a young adult meeting room has been cut from the plan, Ellard explained, “We are doing double duty with one meeting room, we eliminated the other one in favor of reducing overall size …This will be a shared meeting room.”

    Ten parking spaces have been eliminated, but an overflow grassy area would be set aside for 10 more spaces in addition to 30 paved spaces. All parking (except staff parking to the side of the lot) is proposed for the front of building, eliminating issues with headlights that would have disturbed people on Sayward and Cross roads.

    “Under the new design, the outside utility equipment has been moved away from the neighboring house on Elm Street and tucked into a hidden alcove.

    The children’s area of the new library is 55 feet from the property line and the remaining rear building is 70 feet back from the property line.

     An elevator and stairs will give patrons access to the second floor where the adult collection and reference area will be housed along with small areas for quiet space and tutoring, and equipment for making copies. The adult, reference and teen areas are all on the second floor. One important consideration is for staff to see well throughout library. We don’t want chunks not visible to staff,” she said.

Ruling out other sites

    One of the most divisive issues surrounding the library has been where to put it.

While many in town say that the area between the Town Hall driveway and Spofford School would be ideal, Jessel said site has been investigated and found to contain the endangered blue-spotted salamander. “To use that site, you must go through a process with National Heritage. You’d need to spend time and effort and provide mitigating factors – such as reforesting part of Spofford Pond parking lot.

      “ It could be addressed, but it’s an issue,” said Jessel who mentioned that the Board of Health has  also indentified concerns with the site.

Community input

Questioning the height of the new design, neighbors were told that the new library would be 36-feet high, about the same height as the Community Center (located across the street).

    Next-door neighbor Carl Peterson observed that if the building is located to the back, “it can be tall without offending the Cummings House. I feel back there it can be appropriate for the space. This one’s OK.”

But Peterson cautioned, “Just work closely together before you get to the final one. It wasn’t done the last time.”

     Former chair of the Permanent Building Committee Chuck Adam urged the LAC get in touch with the fire chief and building inspector to make sure all code requirements are met, and Board of Health Chair Louise Kress indicated that there only needs to be one septic system and one well water supply, but she clarified that all uses of the Cummings House must be incorporated in the main building design plans.

    Neighbors also learned that [historic] Community Preservation funds may be used for renovating the Cummings House.

   When Anna Plucinska noted that the town already has plenty of meeting places, Jessel explained, “I think the library officials feel strongly that they need one meeting room for a variety of programs, adult and children. The Trustees consider that an integral part of having a library.”

    After expressing concern about the parking plan, neighbor Nancy Rohlfs of Cross Road said, “I feel it’s too big, I think it’s a wash, not an improvement.”  Her husband Randy Kennedy brought up the placement of building-mounted lights at the rear of the new building. “For those of us who live in the back, this changes the neighborhood very much, in my point of view.”

Frank Quackenbush of Cross Road, and member of the Permanent Building Committee, explained that small, downward-facing perimeter lighting would be needed at the rear of the building.

    Jessel responded that the backside of the library will close earlier with meetings held in the new front room, and she told Kennedy, “There is a significant amount of woods between the building and your house.

      “I’d like to the see Little Red schoolhouse included … the 3 buildings would make a wonderful campus,” said Cross Road neighbor Nancy Merrill.

   “We are interested in hearing questions and comments,” said Jessel who urged residents to contact any of the LAC members including Holly Langer, Pauline Jenkins, Heidi Ellard, Charlie Killam Barbara Jessel and Peter Bernardin.

   The full length of this meeting can be viewed on Bcatv, accessed through the Boxford Town website.

 

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