Essex parking lot to get facelift

ESSEX | The town is planning on improving the look and functionality of the municipal parking lot across from the ferry dock. "It really started when the tree fell into the Belden Noble Memorial Library in September 2023, and it got me thinking about what we can do to improve the parking lot," Supervisor Ken Hughes said. "It definitely could use a facelift." The town hired Distinctive Landscaping, Inc., of Charlotte, Vt., to draw up plans to improve the parking lot, with the hopes of maximizing parking spaces while also making it appealing to the eye. Once complete, the town posted a survey to garner public feedback, in which 25 responses were received. Earlier this month, Hughes presented the proposal and survey results to the rest of the board, and then they discussed modifications. "There were ideas presented in here for future consideration that would not fit into this," Hughes said during the meeting. Those ideas included adding signage for RVs, garbage cans, solar lights, seating, and a water fountain. "They're great ideas, love all of them, but they're not necessary in terms of how we want to landscape the property. These are all things we could add." Necessities include adding downcast lighting and finding ways to ensure that surface drainage goes into the rain gardens. For instance, the proposal called for grassy areas, but feedback suggested that a better solution would be to add more native plants and flowers — a beautification effort that doesn't require a lot of extra maintenance. Adding trees was also a possibility, just so long as they wouldn't take away potential parking spaces, interfere with the underground utilities, and block views of the library. Discussion also took place about whether or not to make the parking surface gravel or asphalt. "Most of the respondents said they do not want asphalt there; they want to keep it a gravel parking lot, but others said they wanted asphalt because they don't like the potholes that are created there," Hughes said. "I think that's just going to be a judgment call every year." If the town decides to keep the asphalt, parking blocks could be added to distinguish spaces, Hughes said, in which the town is also hoping to work with the designer to add a third handicap parking spot. "With all this feedback, now I'm going to go to the landscape designer and let them know what modifications we want," Hughes said. "Then they'll redraw and update their draft for the town board to approve, hopefully in October." Funding for this project will come from the monies raised by the community when they purchased the parking lot from ECHO (Essex Community Heritage Organization). "They wanted to sell it to the town, and it made sense for the town to purchase it, but we didn't have the budgeted money to do that in the moment, so the community stepped in to help, and they actually raised about $12,000 more than what was needed," said Hughes. "But if we do go over budget, we always can use our economic development monies to help facilitate any funding gap there is." Regardless, the town is looking forward to adding a more aesthetically pleasing parking option for residents and visitors alike. "Right now, it doesn't look great," Hughes said. "But with this plan, we can make it just as beautiful as the rest of the town." For more information or updates, visit essexny.com.

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Essex parking lot to get facelift

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