KEENE, NH – With the July 4th holiday now in the rearview mirror, folks around the Monadnock Region are back to work to finish out the week, including Keene’s elected officials who are gearing up for a third workshop to discuss the Downtown Infrastructure, Improvement, and Reconstruction project.
The council has held two workshops previously, the first was meant to allow the council to come together as a fully body for the first time and begin discussing the project and ask questions of city staff. The second, which only about half the council attended, was meant to get the answers to those questions and move forward.
After the second workshop, councilors in attendance voted to send the project to the Municipal Services, Facilities, and Infrastructure committee. The committee was tasked with coming up with and recommending a plan for the project.
The committee recommended a plan for the project that stated that Central Square would remain in its existing configuration with some improvements to things such as lane markings, crosswalks, and traffic lights. The recommendation also included maximizing sidewalks and parking, raised crosswalks at Gilbo Avenue and Railroad Street, evaluation and updates at other crossings, infrastructure for public bathrooms, turning improvements for connected side streets, that Gilbo Avenue remain two ways, and that protected bike lanes are not included in the final design.
The council didn’t get a chance to discuss that recommendation at their following full meeting, as At-Large Councilor Kate Bosely recommended that the council move the matter to a public workshop following the appearance of Urban Planner Jeff Speck, who was brought to the city by the Keene Downtown Group.
Speck held a presentation at Heberton Hall on June 12th and made some recommendations, including one that would make Main Street one lane each way, and make room for parking and a protected bike lane. He elaborated on his plans in an appearance following his presentation on WKBK. The full discussion is available here.
The Downtown workshop is set to follow the council’s regular meeting Thursday evening. The meeting will begin an hour earlier than normal at 6 pm to allow time for the workshop after that. Mayor George Hansel noted when he announced the workshop that it would likely not be open for public comment.
The agenda for the regular council meeting includes several reports and communications from members of the community regarding the project.
At the previous Finance, Organization, and Personnel committee meeting, Councilor Randy Filiault proposed placing a non-binding resolution on the ballot in November that would allow Keene voters to let the council know what they would like to see done with the project. The committee ultimately accepted the proposal and ensuing discussion as informational, as they felt there were too many moving parts to place it on the ballot.
In his monthly appearance on WKBK, Hansel said that what comes next is entirely up to the council. They have several different options including, but not limited to, voting on the project, sending it back to the MSFI committee, or scheduling another workshop.
The agenda for the workshop includes continued discussion amongst the councilors, along with design alternatives.
The council does break for their summer recess on July 26th. They’ll return on August 17th.
