Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Park topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westerly council approves Beta Group master-plan contract for Bradford School site
Summary
Beta Group presented a public-input master plan for the Bradford School site, estimating full implementation at about $5.55 million; the council approved a $105,650 contract to move the project into Phase 1 (grading, parking, playground) and confirmed the plan complies with conservation restrictions.
Consultants from Beta Group presented a master plan for the former Bradford School property, describing a public process with about 300 survey responses, site constraints (wetlands and significant elevation changes) and three initial concept plans narrowed to a preferred option that preserves a buildable northwest corner for potential future development.
Beta Group described next steps: a phased implementation starting with parking and playground improvements and grading work engineered to reuse on-site soils to raise low-lying courts. The consultants said their opinion of probable cost for implementing the full master plan is approximately $5,550,000, which includes grading, drainage and amenities.
Town staff reported the plan was reviewed with the state DEM and found to be feasible in public-recreation areas and compliant with the Land and Water Conservation Fund dedication that limits development across most of the parcel. After discussion, the council suspended rules and approved a resolution to contract with Beta Group for $105,650 to complete Phase 1 work and initial engineering.
Randy Collins, landscape architect with Beta Group, explained features such as a pump track (for bicyclists) and a skate-park element and answered council questions about the turf/contour solutions for tennis courts. Council members thanked the consultants for public engagement and asked that the final cost documents be circulated to the council and made available to the public.
The contract was funded from a mix of sources noted in the meeting, including $53,500 in ARPA funds with remaining funding from the project's allocated budget. Councilors noted the need to sequence work carefully so temporary features are not installed in grades that later require rework.
