“ENVISIONING DOWNTOWN WELLFLEET 2016”
WNRTA PUBLIC MEETING JULY 31, 2006
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Moderated by Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director John Lipman
1. More practical stores/services
Hardware store (needles and thread)
News agent
Pharmacy
2. Pharmacy/practical stores Don t need another art gallery/seasonal store
Senior center at 335 Main St. in addition to COA and library as a meeting place
3. 335 Main Street
Senior housing
Retail stores
Community center
4. Jewel of the town is the library. Look at it as a standard. Why is it so attractive?
5. Sidewalks need repair presently too dangerous
6. An art cinema would appeal all year round different offerings from present cinema
7. Number of buildable lots left in Wellfleet? Guess 200-500
Limitations due to
Septic….water
110 gal a day =10,000sq ft to handle
If water expanded:
$1 million for storage tank
$2 million for well in old boy scout camp
8. Inconsistent pedestrian network inconsistent signing and lighting
Shuttle bus/bike trail sidewalks make an excellent pedestrian system
One-way traffic system for Main St.
9. (Chief Rosenthal) One way system would have to be year round too confusing otherwise
10. Pharmacy or combined pharmacy/practical store
Shuttle busses key to get away from dependence on cars and having to provide parking
Busses for downtown and beaches
Flex is being used successfully
Chatham s experience with shuttles a success
Chose stops carefully
11. (Helen Purcell) Extend ideas to Historical Society location
Museum needs help
No parking
No water
No heat
Building needs care
No room for excellent collection
12. Chatham and Wellfleet
Sidewalks and Road Traffic
Wellfleet sidewalks not as walk able as Chatham s
Treescape exists to a greater degree in Chatham
Wellfleet needs sidewalks downtown but also to the pier
13. Wellfleet had a
Shoemaker
Dressmaker
Ice rink
Info at Historical Society
Where are past records of reports? (Answer- library)Many reports have been made and then abandoned
Don t just talk! Do something!
At 335 Main St. a pharmacy, a bandstand Are there wetlands at 335 Main?
Common issues for residents and non-residents Health Center. Could health center and pharmacy be connected? Response Outer Cape Health is seeking to expand and is considering adding a pharmacy as part of this plan
14. Suggestion on process
Look at all parts of the plan to come up with a comprehensive plan.
Cape Cod Commission knows how to do such meetings
Start with one project. Make it work. Go one to next project.
Always keeping in mind the vision for the town
15. Take past surveys/studies combine points then see what can be done (charrette)
Non-profit Eon Dev Comm. to help town
16. Bandstand at church property
Lots of land behind Main St. shops put parking there
Make it attractive trees etc.
Enter from back
Access to stores from back
Preferable to one-way system
17. The harbor When will it be dredged?
Town denied bank drive thru. Will bank stay on Main St? (Answer-yes)
18. Reminder that Wellfleet is part of a region. Specialty stores exist in each of the towns in the “region”. Egg. Orleans/Truro/ Ptown. Likes the “quietness” of Wellfleet. In winter having “regional” stores works for residents
19. Need for more- smaller commercial developments good invaluable places like Cumberland Farms to buy milk and newspapers takes pressure off Main St.
The Colony make a good art museum
Bicycle racks at the beaches
20. John Lipman What does audience think about affordable housing? Chamber of Commerce is concerned
Responses: Is it reasonable to site such housing downtown?
Don t want to see it as “Get out of jail free” card. Or a way to change zoning laws
Do you need to call it “affordable” housing? What of teachers in town?
What happens if the people get wealthier? Do you move them out?
21. There is room for affordable housing downtown
22. Affordable housing for workers, teachers, firemen/not for everybody or the non-deserving
23. Historical Society at 335 Main Museum renovated for affordable housing
24. 335 Main not suitable for Historical Society elevator too expensive. Would like to expand the present building and have a proper flush toilet but not enough land for a well
25. John Lipman Action Process
$250,000 to create 3 apartments in former Church unrealistic. What are other solutions?
What would one-way traffic pattern, sidewalks etc. look like to discourage traffic, encourage walking/biking?
Talent exists in the audience to help create a plan.
When would be the best time to hold a charrette? Answer Summer. Now.
SUMMARY COMMENTS
…In general …people wanted downtown to have more practical shops, be more easily accessed by walkers and bikers, to have traffic downtown eased and find some attractive use for 335 Main St.
So, even though a shuttle and having more smaller mini- commercial centers were mentioned only once, they were said in support of easing traffic.~ Also,
some of the comments were…about what to do with 335 Main St.~ Finally, since this was a "thinking out of the box" meeting, people did not discourage
ideas, but it seems as if water is one of the issues keeping some things from happening.
…here is the list [of audience comments]:
More practical stores - 4
Pharmacy -5
Sidewalks and/or repair - 3
Art cinema - 1 (1other person made reference to it but not as their main point)
One way traffic - 3
Parking behind Main St buildings - 1
Bandstand - 1 (2 other people made reference to it but not as their main point)
Affordable; Housing - 3
[Respectfully submitted,
Alice Iacuessa & Mary VonKaesborg, WNRTA Board Members]
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