TOPSHAM — Topsham’s planning board could revisit plans for a proposed parking lot near Hillside recreation fields that has drawn some criticism from neighbors worried about crime, pedestrian safety and property values.
The Select Board voted 5-0 to bring the use of the lot back to the planning board, provided the town attorney confirms the town’s right to the unnamed “paper” street that connects Thomas Avenue with the athletic fields.
The select board heard from three residents who questioned whether the town has the right to build the lot along the paper road. The town’s attorney is working to confirm whether the town has the right to that road. The town’s board of appeals halted the project in September, questioning the right to that street.
“I am concerned that you’re bringing this back to the planning board before the town attorney has made a decision,” said Karen Murphy. “ I don’t know if your incipient use is going to override the fact that the path has been used by residents for years before the fields.”
Others expressed frustration with the process, arguing that they had not been properly notified about the parking lot plan. A notice was sent out to residents notifying them of the tree cutting. Town officials maintained the parking lot was not part of the original plan, but fills a need.
“No we did not clear the cut to build a parking lot, but it became pretty evident to us after we cleared it that it was an ideal situation for us, because we needed to use that field,” said Parks and Recreation Director Pam LeDuc. “We have growing numbers in baseball and softball.”
Board members said the process has been public and was addressed at meetings since the parking lot plan developed in the summer.
“This is government in general. It’s the budget process it’s all of it,” said Chairman David Douglass. “People don’t pay attention until they have to, but the town is always operating around you. Things are done in public, nothing is hidden.”
Town Manager Rich Roedner said he believes the town has maintained its rights to the unnamed access road by following the state mandate necessary to retain rights. Wording in town documents indicates the paper street was likely included when Thomas Avenue was accepted in 1972.
“The way the law is laid out we could determine that it is a new road and build it, or we could retain our rights to that road,” said Roedner.
The planning board first approved a gravel parking lot off Thomas Avenue in July. Town officials cited a long-standing need for parking and access to the rec fields. The narrow access road has been used for handicap parking in the past, but space was opened up after a planned tree cutting. Town officials have said the tree cutting opened up the potential for a new lot, but the need to clear dying trees led to the plans.
“The plan at the time was to go in and do the cutting as anticipated under the forestry plan. Extra cutting was done because of the condition,” said Roedner. “Once that was done, the thought was one of the issues we’ve had with these fields is accessibility.”
Accessibility has been an issue with the Hillside rec fields, with no ADA approved path from parking at the lower Foreside fields. Estimates the town has received for installing a path are around $45,000 with as much as $60,000 for engineering work. The lot off Thomas is expected to cost around $38,000.
One resident of Thomas Avenue spoke out in favor of the project. Krista Chase said her family has let patrons of the fields park in their driveway because of the lack of access.
“We know parents and grandparents need to be at those games,” said Krista Chase. “The grandparents and the parents should not have to navigate that hill and that is a big problem.”
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