Harwich Center Improvements Planned

HARWICH – It has been more than 25 years since the Harwich Center Initiative investigated boosting the economic vitality in the historic village. Since then, a number of improvements have been made toward that goal, and more are coming.

 On Monday night, Environmental Design Research (EDR), a community planning group, together with Department of Public Works Director Lincoln Hooper made a presentation to the select board on Harwich Center transportation improvements. 

 Russell Kleekamp of EDR said the consultants will be looking at all things to do with transportation. The corridor to be examined extends from Sisson Road to Oak Street, focusing primarily on Main Street (Route 39). 

 Kleekamp said his firm has performed a review of existing conditions, met with the Cape Cod Commission — which will have an active role in the project — and is conducting land surveys.

 The conceptual design approach will include establishing a framework and confirming right-of-way limits through a field survey with the goal of building a connected, accessible pedestrian network, including continuous Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks from Oak Street to Sisson Road. 

The study will evaluate options for parallel parking on both sides of the street and providing sidewalks and bicycle accommodations. In an effort to enhance the village streetscape, the consultants will consider incorporating lighting, benches, landscape planters and additional amenities to strengthen the visual identity of the village. Improvements will also be made to stormwater management, collection and treatment, said Kleekamp.

Several studies have been done since the Ceil Group looked at improving economic vitality to the historic center through a state technical assistance grant in 2000, said Hooper. A Cape Cod Commission technical assistance study was conducted in 2009 and a state Downtown Initiative Grant looked at revitalizing Harwich Center in 2012.

Parking has long been an issue in the village. In 2010, Surveying and Mapping Consultants did a $50,000 assessment looking at improvements to roadways and a community parking lot. None of those projects generated any major improvements. 

In 2018, the selectmen re-established the Harwich Center Initiative Ad Hoc Committee to look at improving economic vitality and creating a walkable, sustainable, vibrant and cohesive village. That initiative never got off the ground.

Kleekamp said his company will create two conceptual design options for the “Reimagine Main Street” project. He was before the board seeking direction in mapping a vision for the design, raising questions about what access and mobility issues should be prioritized. He wanted to know what areas are most important to the board. 

Select board member Jeffrey Handler said he wanted to see turning lanes added once again to the Bank Street and Pleasant Lake Avenue intersections with Main Street. He also wanted to see improvements made to Exchange Park and took issue with the use of construction barrels to mark crosswalks.

Funding will be sought through the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) administered by the Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization with support through the Cape Cod Commission. Hooper said the conceptual designs would have to adhere to Massachusetts Department of Transportation standards and be consistent with the Complete Streets Program, which requires that the designs support walking, biking and transit while strengthening connections to community destinations, according to MassDOT.

 Select board member Mark Kelleher said he’d like to see more shade trees added to reflect the history of the village. Handler also advocated for saving existing trees.

 “Whatever we do, we have to maintain whatever trees are left,” he said.

A 10-foot wide bike trail/sidewalk is being considered, said Kleekamp. Hooper added that the right-of-way is 60 feet and it isn’t known what will fit within it at this time. 

Select board Chair Donald Howell said Masonic lodge members are willing to give up five feet of sidewalk for additional parking in front of their location to serve the two shops in the building.

There was discussion about the types of sidewalks that would be installed. Kleekamp indicated that there is an interest in brick, but asphalt or concrete could be used.

Select board member Peter Piekarski took issue with the use of brick, questioning the durability of the material. Kleekamp said a concrete base is now used to support brick sidewalks.

Piekarski wanted to know who initiated the project. Hooper said aspects came from a former town administrator.

Kleekamp said he could not provide an accurate cost estimate until conceptual designs were finalized, but he added that it would be somewhere between $1 million and $5 million. Design and engineering would be in the 10 to 15 percent range of construction costs, he added. The town would be responsible for the design and engineering costs along with any easements required, Hooper said, adding that the TIP funding would cover construction costs. There is the potential to obtain a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant, which Provincetown received for design and engineering for a similar project, Kleekamp said. 

 The goal is for the design work and final option to be ready in time to file an application before the 2027 TIP deadline. Hooper said it could take up to five years before funding is available. But he added that if large projects in the funding queue are not ready, smaller projects such as this can get funded earlier.