Revamped Historic Green Bombs

Long-range plans to change Branford’s historic Green met with rousing disapproval from a crowd of about 100 people who attended a public forum last week.

Objections centered primarily on creating a roundabout and taking down some trees.

“I think if my Yankee ancestors were here, they’d say: ​“If it ain’t broken, why fix it?” said Faith Tingley.

The problem is that the Green no longer looks the way it did back when Tingley’s ancestors walked through it. The town fathers are trying to restore some of the charm lost to the asphalt that bisects the Green.

Nancy Lynch, who was a member of the Branford Center planning committee in 1978, elicited laughter when she said: ​“I can’t believe how many consultants we paid over the years to come up with essentially the same plans nobody likes.”

David Sousa, an engineer with the nationally known firm of Clough Harbour and Associates, assured everyone that plans are still on the drawing board.

“There’s nothing cast in stone,” he said. ​“This is a working plan.”

Sousa presented the newest site concept plan which aims to correct parking and safety problems while restoring ​“some of the lost charm” of the Green. He estimated costs ranging up to $3 million.

First Selectman Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos, who took center stage to discuss the plan, said the proposal would remove large expanses of asphalt at the intersection of South Main and Town Hall Drive.

“This is an opportunity to look into the future,” DaRos said, adding that the project is at least 10 years away. ​“If you want to save the Green, then you’re going to have to start planning.”

Town Planner Shirley Rasmussen said talks to renew the Green and correct some of the deficiencies have been ongoing for decades.

“What we see now is a good plan, not a complete plan,” said Otty Norwood, chair of the Town Center Revitalization Review Board. ​“There is still a lot to do before it is finalized.” He urged people to have patience. ​“Let us know what you’re thinking and we’ll listen.”

According to the proposal outlined by Sousa at Tuesday’s forum: Town Hall Drive would remain one-way, connecting Main and Montowese streets; Taintor Street and Blackstone Avenue would still be one-way, but would run in the opposite direction than they currently do; and oval spaces would be created in front of Town Hall and the churches to provide access for fire equipment.

South Main Street would be widened and parking spaces would be added, which would necessitate cutting about 4 feet into the Green in some areas. A parking lot would be created in the vacant lot at the corner of South Main and Montowese streets.

A separate project calls for a roundabout to be constructed on the western end to relieve traffic flow at the intersections of Laurel, Main and South Main streets.

“Roundabouts are very modern and very logical,” Sousa said. ​“They create safety for pedestrians and automobiles.”

Sousa said the project would result in 10 less parking spaces on the Green, but 16 new spaces would be added on the streets, resulting in a net change of 6 more parking spaces. The existing paved area of the Green, which is about 21 percent, would increase to 23 percent, mostly due to additional sidewalks.

Two trees — a spruce and a white pine — would have to be removed from the Green and four trees would be taken to make room for the roundabout.

John Herzan, who is a member of the Scenic Roads Advisory Committee, read a letter from the committee opposing changes to South Main Street. That street, which is also known as Route 146, is part of the State Scenic Highway between Branford and Guilford.

Herzan said that building a roundabout would eliminate the existing ​“gateway” to the scenic road. ​“We appeal to the town’s sense of aesthetics,” he said.

Bill Hitchcock, who owns a trucking business on Meadow Street, said the roundabout was a bad idea. ​“You’re going to have a nightmare there,” he said in regard to commercial trucks trying to navigate the circle.

Arthur Howe said ​“I believe the proposal creates more problems than it solves.” It is not needed, particularly in this economic climate. If any funds are to be spent, they should go toward drainage for the Green and for the parking lot at South Main and Montowese streets.”

Earl Lind, who represents the First Congregational Church during talks about the Green, said he was concerned about changes to Taintor Drive. He said removing parking spaces near the church would make access difficult for older parishioners.

“Our Church supports all of the objectives that are listed but we do have some concerns about the details,” Lind said.

“We’ve got to start thinking outside the box,” said Jim MacBride. ​“We have to have parking downtown, but not on the Green.

The current study is an outgrowth of the 1983 Town Center Revitalization Plan, the 2007 Yale Urban Design Workshop Study, and the 2008 Main Street Gateway Study. ###