Submitted by Christina Volkwein in response to LTE from by Alan Gunzburg and Stephanie Cowie, chair and vice chair of the First Selectman’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities (Gunzburg & Cowie: ADA TOG Liability Due to Inaction on Municipal Improvement at Arch & Grigg Streets Dec 10, 2022)
Italics are Volkwein’s responses to the Gunzburg/Cowie letter (bold):
- The projects adds 2000 Square feet of greenspace New greenspaces are in small pockets, not usable as park
- There is no impact to any trees (Dr. Kramer Tree Warden is involved) There is no written statement on this and no attendance by Dr. Kramer at RTM meetings.
- The sidewalk is planned for a five (5) foot width Five feet is narrower than code of 6 feet, and new sidewalk directly abuts road vs. now there is a 2 foot safety buffer of grass.
- The plan proposes no retaining walls This is a deficiency of the plan and budget since one will be required due to 4′ grade at a minimum, possibly more. Filling creates an even bigger problem because the crossing will be on a big slant toward Restoration Hardware corner. . .
- There is no impact to the monuments or monumental trees. There is none planned, but impact will almost certainly hit Bolling grove trees, red maple, and Bolling tree is shown removed on Sept P&Z plan!
- The Historic District Sign will be relocated in coordination with the Historic Preservation Group that was instrumental in the original installation Do they not grasp the irony of planning a road that mows down the sign? Wouldn’t the sign have been placed where it currently is with care and foresight? What was rationale for the current location of the sign?
- All parking spaces meet State/Town standards He said she said. They look narrower than standard, in order to fit max number.
- The two crosswalks are separated by a refuge island. Each crosswalk shortens the time pedestrians are required to cross the roadway but this doubles the number of crossings and forces people to stand in middle of road with several oncoming lanes of traffic
- The slip lane is stop controlled and designed to meet the needs of the trucks and other emergency vehicles that use these roadways The slip lane is wide enough for two vehicles; what happens to a small car to the right of a turning truck in that slip lane? CONFUSION!
- New Parking is designated to be consistent with Greenwich Avenue and a total of 12 new stalls are being added AGAIN, but parking is being taken from Avenue. It’s at most a 1-2 space net gain, not 12!!!!!! But probably it’s a loss, because they won’t be able to fit 12 spots at RH without taking out the tree at Bolling Place. So dangerous to start this project, with all these open questions and concerns! Once they start, it will just mushroom and destroy as they go
The First Selectman’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities stand in support of the Muncipal Improvement for the completion of the Greenwich Avenue Intersection Improvements at Arch and Grigg Streets. These are a few people, less than 10. A majority of residents do not support THIS design. Perhaps a more acceptable plan could be made, but THIS IS NOT IT.