Main Street Project Committee
Mission Statement
Engage the community, consult with experts, research similar projects, and communicate with governing authorities and utility companies to establish project limits, design criteria, budget, phasing and schedule for the reconstruction of Main Street for consideration and approval by the Board of Selectmen and the community at large. Seek out and identify sources of funding. Assist the Board of Selectmen in managing the design and construction process by engaging with qualified design professionals and site contractors. Continue to keep the community informed throughout the entire process.
Members
Michael Joplin; Chair
Charlene Janecek
Edmund Meehan
Chuck Mueller
John Schroeder
Leslie Strauss
Jeremy Ziemann
The Selectmen have endeavored to include a diverse group of individuals with complementary skills and backgrounds, with any individual potentially fulfilling one or more of them. The following skills and backgrounds have been identified as vital to the makeup of the Committee, however the membership may be open to others with related skills, knowledge or backgrounds:
- A member of the Planning & Zoning Commission
• A member of the WPCA
• A Board of Selectmen representative
• An urban designer or landscape architect
• An architect
• A civil engineer
• A merchant
• A Main Street resident
• A person with road construction experience
• A person with fire safety experience
• An at-large member
Main Street Committee Charge
The Main Street Committee, serving at the pleasure of the Board of Selectmen, is charged to advise that Board in the development and implementation of a defined scope of work, schedule and budget for what has generally been referred to as the “reconstruction of Main Street”. Specific actions include but are not limited to:
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- Coordinate an assessment of visible infrastructure, including, but not limited to:
- Street surfaces
- Sidewalks and ADA compliance
- Lighting
- Landscaping
- Coordinate an assessment of sub-surface utilities and drainage
- Schedule public input forums for the town in general and those most directly impacted, paying particular attention to Grant and funding requirements
- Identify contractors / experts on germane topics and solicit input as needed
- Where appropriate determine materials / surfaces to be incorporated into projects.
- Provide point of contact for designers working on projects
- Report to the Board of Selectmen as directed by the board
- Other duties as determined by the Board of Selectmen
- Coordinate an assessment of visible infrastructure, including, but not limited to:
Main Street Project History
Main Street in Chester is a former State road that the town purchased for $1 from the State. Chester’s responsibility for maintenance begins on the village side of the Main Street Bridge and continues to the intersection of Main Street and Middlesex Avenue.
As the name implies, Main Street has been one of the primary locations for traffic, infrastructure and commerce since Chester’s inception. While under the State’s stewardship, Main Street was continually “overlaid” with paving material. There are no records of a complete reconstruction. As a result, some portions of the pavement exceed the height of the curb reveal creating significant drainage problems. Beneath the pavement exists ageing and abandoned infrastructure that includes, but is not limited to, water mains, trolley tracks, sewer lines, water lines, storm water drainage, and possible electric service.
The need to reconstruct the road surface and associated sidewalks and to inspect and replace the utilities that are under the roadway have been recognized for quite some time. In addition, connecting street improvements, resident and business use and fire safety related to any reconstruction must be considered. The Main Street Committee was formed initially in the 1980’s to review the conditions and make recommendations.
In June of 2013, the Main Street Committee completed the Chester Village and Center District Master Plan which was adopted at the July 23, 2013 Town Meeting. This comprehensive plan lays out design recommendations for seven project phases coordinated in conjunction with the replacement of the Main Street bridge begun in 2014. Adoption of the Master Plan set in motion the strategy for qualifying for State grant funds and the coordination of complex construction work within the commercial district. The goal of the Master Plan is to enhance the vitality of the Village while maintaining its unique and special character. Use this link to view the Chester Village Master Plan. Chester Master Plan 2013
A number of projects ancillary to the current Phase 3 Main Street project have been completed with Main Street Committee support and oversite. As of July 2011 the sewer project and the Middlesex Avenue bridge projects were completed. The Water Street bridge over Great Brook was completed in 2012. In the spring of 2015, the Phase 1 Main Street project was completed, encompassing 1,800 linear feet of Main Street from Laurel Hill Cemetery to Middlesex Avenue. The project, preceded by a new water main installation, addressed drainage, erosion issues, safer parking conditions, improved lighting, new sidewalks and paving. The Laurel Hill Cemetery parking was expanded to 19 spaces, paved and lighted. Phase 2, the replacement of the Main Street Bridge by the state, was completed in 2016.
Main Street Current Project 2019-2020
Phase 3 encompasses Main Street from Route 148 to Maple Street. Improvements to Spring Street and Maple Street as they connect to Main Street are also included in the scope of work. Design plans are attached to this web site, and are on display at the Town Hall. Stakeholders are invited to meet with the Selectmen and Committee to discuss specifics related to their properties. Work is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020.
Phase 3 Chester Parking Plaza_5SCALE
Chester Main Street Progress Drawing Set 9/2019
Chester Center Kiosk Proposed Design
Agendas/Minutes
February 25, 2020 Cancellation
February 11 2020 Cancellation Notice
January 28 2020 Agenda|Minutes
January 14, 2020 Agenda|Minutes
December 17 2019 Agenda|Cancellation
December 10 2019 Agenda|Minutes
Cancellation Notice November 12 2019
October 8, 2019 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
September 24 2019 Cancellation
|Reinstated Agenda September 10 2019 ROV|Minutes
August 27, 2019 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
July 9, 2019 Cancellation Notice
May 28 2019 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
May 21 2019 Agenda|Record of Vote|Minutes
May 14 2019 Public Informational Mtg.|Minutes
May 1, 2019 Special Meeting Agenda |Minutes
April 23 2019 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
April 9 2019 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
March 26 2019 Agenda|Record of Vote|Minutes
March 12 2019 Agenda|Record of Vote|Minutes
February 26 2019 Cancellation Notice
February 12 2019 Cancellation Notice
December 11, 2018 Cancellation
November 27, 2018 Cancellation
November 13, 2018 Cancellation
Special Meeting Agenda October 24 2018 ROV
October 9 2018 Agenda|Cancellation
October 2, 2018 Special Meeting Agenda|Minutes
September 25 2018 Cancellation
September 11 2018 Agenda Attachment – Parking Perspectives|Minutes
August 28, 2018 Agenda|Revised Agenda Revised Agenda #2|Revised Agenda (3)|Minutes
Cancellation Notice July 10 2018
March 20, 2018 Special Meeting Minutes JRs Edits
February 22 2018 Public Informational Meeting|Minutes
Dec 12 and 26 2017 Cancellation
October 24 2017 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
September 26 2017 Cancellation
September 12 2017 Cancellation
March 21 2017 Special Mtg. Agenda
February 28, 2017 Cancellation
February 14, 2017 Cancellation
2016
December 27, 2016 Cancellation
December 13, 2016 Cancellation
September 27, 2016 Cancellation
September 13, 2016 Agenda|Cancellation
August 23 2016 Cancellation
August 12 2016 Site Walk|Sitewalk
August 9 2016 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
July 26 2016 Cancellation
July 12 2016 Cancellation
June 28 2016 Agenda| MinutesROV
June 14 2016 Cancellation
May 24 2016 Cancellation
May 10 2016 Agenda|Minutes
April 26 2016 Cancellation
April 12 2016 Cancellation
March 22 2016 Cancellation
February 23 2016 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
February 9 2016 Agenda|ROV|Minutes
January 26 2016 Cancellation
January 12 2016 Agenda|Minutes
2015
December 22 2015 Cancellation, December 15 2015 Agenda|Minutes, December 8 2015 Cancellation, November 24 2015 Cancellation, November 10 2015 Cancellation, October 27 2015 Agenda, October 13 2015 Meeting Cancellation, ROV September 22 2015, September 8 2015 Cancellation, August 25 2015 Cancellation, August 11 2015 Cancellation, July 28 2015 Cancellation, July 14, 2015 Cancellation, June 23 2015 Cancellation, June 9 2015 Agenda|Minutes , May 26 2015 Cancellation, May 12 2015 Cancellation, April 28 2015 Agenda|Minutes, April 14 2015 Cancellation, March 24 2015 Agenda| Minutes, March 10 2015 Agenda|Minutes, February 10 and 24 2015 Cancellation, February 3 2015 Agenda|Minutes, January 27 2015 Cancellation, January 13 2015 Minutes, North Quarter Park Comm. January 12, 2015 Agenda|Minutes
2014
December 23 2014 Cancellation, December 16 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, December 9 2014 Agenda|Minutes, November 25 2014 Agenda|ROV, November 18 2014 Agenda, October 28 2014 Agenda|Minutes, October 14 2014 Agenda| ROV |Minutes, September 23 2014 Agenda|Minutes|Al Bisacky Email , September 9, 2014 Site Walk, August 26 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, August 12 2014 Agenda|Minutes, NQPMPC Agenda July 9 2014|Minutes, CMSPC Cancellation July 8 2014, NQPMPC June 30 2014 Agenda|Minutes , NQPMPC June 16, 2014 Agenda|Minutes, NQPMPC June 3, 2014 Minutes, NQPMPC June 9 2014 Agenda|Minutes , May 27 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, NQPMPC Site Walk-Special Mtg May 20 2014|Minutes, May 13 2014 Agenda|Cancellation, NQPMPC May 12 2014 Site Walk|Minutes, NQPMPC May 7, 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, North Quarter Park Master Plan Cmte April 28, 2014 Agenda|ROV, April 22 2014 Agenda|Minutes, April 22 2014 Public Informational Mtg. Notice, April 8 2014 Agenda, March 25 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, March 11, 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, February 25, 2014 Agenda|Minutes|Chester Bridge Town Needs List, February 11, 2014 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, February 5, 2014 Agenda|Cancellation, Special Meeting Agenda January 29 2014|Minutes, Agenda January 28 2014|ROV|Minutes, Public Hearing Notice 01 29 2014|Minutes, Agenda 01 14 2014\NOV\Minutes
2013
December 17, 2013 Agenda\ Minutes , Agenda 12 10 2013, November 26, 2013 Agenda|Cancellation, November 12 2013 Agenda|Minutes Site Walk Notice 11 12 2013|Site Walk Minutes, October 22, 2013 Agenda|Minutes, October 8 2013 Cancellation, September 24 2013 Cancellation, September 17 2013 Agenda|ROV|Minutes, September 10 2013 Cancellation, August 27 2013 Agenda|ROV |Minutes , August 20 2013 Agenda|Minutes, August 13 2013 Cancellation, July 29 2013 Legal Notice, July 23 2013 Cancellation, July 16 2013 Cancellation, July 9 2013 Agenda ROV|Minutes , July 2 2013 Agenda|Cancellation , June 25 2013 Cancellation, June 11 2013 Agenda|Minutes , May 23 2013 Minutes, May 14 2013 Cancellation, April 23 2013 Cancellation, April 9 2013 Agenda|ROV |Overall Plan|CP-Sheet2|Bridge Layout |Minutes , March 26, 2013 Public Informational Mtg|Minutes, March 19 2013 Public Information Mtg|Minutes, March 12 2013 Agenda|ROV|Minutes , February 26 2013 Agenda|ROV |Minutes , February 12 2013 Cancellation, January 22 2013 Agenda|Minutes , January 8 2013 Agenda\Minutes
2012
December 18 2012 Agenda|Minutes, December 4 2012 Agenda|Minutes, November 27 2012 Agenda|Minutes, November 15 2012 Agenda|ROV |Minutes|Email Attachment to Minutes, November 7 2012 Agenda – CANCELLED, October 23 2012 Agenda|Minutes, Agenda October 9 2012|Minutes, Site Walk Notice October 6 2012, Agenda September 25 2012|Minutes, Agenda August 28 2012|ROV August 28 2012|Minutes |JS and VL Emails, Agenda | June 26, 2012, June 19, 2012|| Special Meeting Minutes June 19 2012, June 05, 2012, June 05, 2012 Record of Vote, May 17, 2012 Special Mtg, April 12, 2012, March 27, 2012 Special Mtg, February 16, 2012, February 16, 2012 Record of Vote
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