Town Common Revitalization

Town Common Updates:

November 19, 2019
The Town of Manchester held a Special Fall Town Meeting on November 19th where voters agreed to fund an additional $225,000 for the Town Common Revitalization project. The Town Common Improvements project will commence with minor preparatory work over the winter and fully commence in the spring of 2020. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2020.

September 5, 2019:
Continued meeting of the Historic District Commission
Members Present: Chair John Round, Donald Halgren, Joseph Sabella, & Rosemary Costello.  
Members Not Present:  Tracy Gothie & Richard Smith.
Guests:  Mr. Toby Wolf, Project Landscape Architect and Mr. Thomas Henderson, Manchester-by-the-Sea Tree Warden.

After lengthy discussions the Historic District Commission (“HDC”) board members decided in favor of the proposed Town Common Project, involving the proposed benches, lighting plan, and tree selection.

Mr. Halgren made a motion to approve the application of Town of Manchester Town Common, for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to remove and replace existing walkways and construct new walkways, remove five (5) trees based on poor condition, protection and pruning of remaining trees, new plantings and landscaping, grading changes for the proposed Honor Roll, new site lighting, relocation of existing teak benches, which will be cleaned and the addition of three (3) new teak benches—all benches will be secured to concrete pads, as well as safety and access improvements to the Town Common, at 10 Central Street, Assessor’s Map No. 45, Lot No. 23, in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on August 14, 2019.  This decision is based upon the proposed project to proceed according to the revised plans submitted this evening and the addition of a spigot for irrigation.  Also based upon the decision that there be five (5) or six (6), if necessary, light poles, no higher than 12 feet in height (originally specified for 4 light poles at 16 feet in height).

Mr. Sabella seconded the motion.  Vote:  Mr. Round, Mr. Halgren, Mr. Sabella, Ms. Costello, and Mr. Coppola voted unanimously in favor of approving this application.

August 22, 2019:
The Town Common Project goes before the Historic District Commission (HDC).

Members Present: John Round, Tracy Gothie, Donald Halgren, Richard Smith, Joseph Sabella, and Rosemary Costello
Applicants Present: Susan Brown, Town Planner and Nate Desrosiers, DPW Project Manager
Guests: Thomas Henderson, Tree Warden

At the conclusion of the Town Common Project application portion of the meeting, the HDC decided to continue the application to Thursday, September 5th. The HDC and applicants agreed that (1) the choice of lighting for the Common needs to be changed to something more historic looking. (2) Toby Wolf, the landscape architect, will work with Thomas Henderson to ensure the selection of trees to be planted are native and pertinent.

July 9, 2019:
Following a presentation at the July 8 Tree Removal Hearing by Landscape Architect Toby Wolf and testimony and questions by residents, with answers from Mr. Wolf, the Board of Selectmen voted to save the large Elm near the center of the Common and the mature Linden near the Police Station. While saving the Elm will have a small impact on the design, creating a divot in the otherwise gentle slope to Town Hall steps, Board members agreed that the benefits provided by the tree were worth the modification.

June 25, 2019:
The Board of Selectmen opened a public hearing on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 6:45pm to discuss the removal of trees on the Town Common. This Public Hearing was continued to the Selectmen's July 8th meeting.

The Town Common revitalization plan is prepared to replace the trees as noted in the files below. Any questions please contact Town Planner Sue Brown at 978-525-6436.