Thursday, July 26, 2007

Planning Board's Shain concerns multiply

The Birmingham Planning Board beefed up its recommendations on Shain Park Wedneday night, adding restrooms and a 14-foot wall across the south side of the park to its already-expressed concerns about the placement of the parking ramp.

Concern about oversight of the design process and the placement of exhaust fans also came up, but was not part of the resolution sent to the commission.

Shain Park was back on the board's agenda because its original hearing in April was improperly noticed. Several residents who live or own property adjacent to the park, who did not appear in April, showed up at the hearing to protest the wall, which is intended to shield them from noise.

But all four property owners told the board they would rather look at a parking lot or listen to loud music than be faced by an imposing brick wall.

The board is already on record favoring placement of the parking ramp entrance on Henrietta, rather than Bates. Community House President Shelley Roberts told the board Wednesday the Community House favors placing the parking entrance on Henrietta. The Planning Board resolution asks the commission to place the entrance on Henrietta, to minimize or eliminate the wall and to seek price quotes on bathrooms.