Cramerton advances multi‑phase downtown parking and streetscape plan; commissioners split on shade sails

The Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners on Sept. 1 heard a detailed presentation from interim town staff and LaBella consultants on a multi‑phase downtown parking lot resurfacing and streetscape project funded in part with ARPA money, and voted 4–1 to proceed with Phase 2 as scoped, including shade sails as part of the package.

Interim Town Manager Josh Watkins said Phase 1 — the parking lot pervious pavers and stormwater improvements identified in the town’s Stormwater Master Plan — is under contract. Watkins said the original paving-only estimate was $140,000, but the current contract sum for the parking lot work stands at $822,737.34. He told the board ARPA funding for downtown work was $1.4 million and that the town has already accounted for Phase 1, a street sweeper purchase ($235,000) and estimates for Phase 2 items.

Consultants and staff outlined five phases: Phase 1 (under construction: parking lot and drainage); Phase 2 (shade sails, stamped concrete walkway, utilities and storm sewer lining; staff estimated the Phase 2 contract could be under $500,000 and done via informal bid); Phase 3 (Center Street streetscape with planter boxes, retaining walls and ADA ramp); Phase 4 (regrading the Centennial Center green — sod vs. artificial turf and potential environmental assessment); and Phase 5 (final paving and striping on Eighth and Ninth avenues).

Commissioners debated whether to remove the shade sails from Phase 2 to avoid triggering a formal bid process or to bid shade sails as an add‑alternate and to install electrical pedestals that could later serve food trucks or shade sail poles. Commissioner Atkinson advocated removing the shade sails and using budget for streetscape work, saying it could help downtown businesses recover losses during construction; Atkinson also proposed electrical pedestals that would permit future vendor hookups.

Consultant Bonnie Fisher and engineer Danny Watson told the board the shade sail contractor typically bids the work as a turnkey package and that changes to sealed bid drawings would require a redesign and several weeks for redrawing. Commissioner Helms moved to proceed with Phase 2 as currently scoped, including the shade sails; the motion passed 4–1 with Commissioner Atkinson voting no. Mayor Wills said he wanted the project to show visible progress by the town’s Christmas parade but staff cautioned that some elements dependent on utility relocation and sealed drawings could not be completed that quickly.

The board instructed staff to proceed with Phase 1 work and to put Phase 2 to bid consistent with the approved scope; staff will return with additional budget detail at the October workshop and from the finance director.