A More Welcoming Walkable Whately
A Master Plan for the Whately Center Historic District Prepared for the Town of Whately, Massachusetts Designed by Warren Lee and Susan Schen Spring 2016
Index of Sheets 1. Introduction 2. Goals 3. Existing Conditions 4. Habitat, Slopes, and Drainage 5. Stormwater System 6. Street Trees 7. Roads, Parking, and Lighting 8. Sidewalks and Views 9. Summary Analysis 10. Final Design Key Plan 11. Final Design: Zone I
The Conway School
12. Zone I: Town Hall Detail 13. Zone I: Library and Whately Inn Details 14. Final Design: Zone II 15. Zone II: Intersection Detail 16. Final Design: Zone III 17. Detail: Trees 18. Detail: Swales and Basins 19. Detail: Permeable Pavement 20. Precedents 21. Plant Palette 22. References
Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning + Design
332 South Deerfield Road
Conway, MA 01341
The Lay of the Land
Aerial view of the Whately Center Historic District from the southeast during fall (Come Celebrate with Us: Whately, Massachusetts Bicentennial, June 19-27th : Souvenir Program and Historical Brochure, 1971)
Whately Center Historic District Historic districts according to the Massachusetts Historic Commission are places that "enhance our quality of life" by helping "to establish our sense of place and to define the very character of our communities." Whately Center's Historic District, which consists of 52 parcels, was designated by the state and federal government in 2003. This designation helps to define the rural character of Whately but requires that any significant changes to the district be reviewed by the Massachusetts Historic Commission to ensure the historic character is maintained. Whately Center's district sits atop a ridge at the edge of foothills overlooking the Mill River and the Connecticut River floodplain beyond, from the intersection of Chestnut Plain Road and Christian Lane Road south to just north of Claverack Road. The district extends southward along Chestnut Plain Road from Christian Lane to just north of Claverack Road; it extends westward from the first bend in Haydenville Road to the edge of the Mill River. 501
Christian Lane Road
Cemetery
Ridge
Town Hall
295
Yellow Barn
Feet
118
Library
Hay
oad
le R
vil den
Connecticut River Floodplain
Center School
Affordable Housing
Whately Inn
Town Hall and Post Office
0 Miles
Historic District
Mill River
I-91
1
Connecticut River
2
3
The Town Hall sits in the middle of the Historic District on the ridge and the slope from the hills to the west down to the Connecticut River to the east.
Chest
Church
The land along the roads of the district is primarily residential, while the surrounding land is chiefly agricultural and forested. There are also a post office, one business, a church, and five municipal buildings at the center of the district. The five town-owned buildings include the publicly accessible Center School, library, and Town Hall, as well as a two-unit affordable housing building and the yellow barn next to the cemetery. The Center School was decommissioned in 1991 and currently houses the archives and artifacts of the Whately Historical Society. The library is still in use and hosts a variety of educational and social events. The post office is used consistently through the day as residents from all of Whately collect their mail here since there is no delivery service. The town offices have recently been moved to East Whately from the Town Hall and Center School buildings and a plan has been proposed to renovate Town Hall into a community center, potentially increasing the foot and vehicular traffic on site. There are no plans for renovating the Center School. The Whately Inn is the only business in the district, offering rooms and a restaurant. It is open five to ten p.m. Monday through Saturday, and one to ten p.m. on Sundays. Its popularity and limited parking result in overflow traffic and parking onto the Town Hall lot across the street. The only other non-residential building is the Second Congregational Church in the southern half of the district.
ai nut Pl n Roa d Claverack Road
Center School
The library as seen from the road.
Introduction 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
The Town Hall and post office.
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
1/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Land and Building Use
The Needs and the Plan “A more walkable, attractive, and functional place” In the spring of 2016, the Town enlisted the help of the Conway School to design a master plan for the district, with the aim of creating a more walkable, attractive, and functional place for residents and visitors while maintaining its historic character. To do this, the Conway project team has worked with a committee assembled by the town's historical commission to identify the key goals below.
Undulations and cracks in the existing sidewalk.
Erosion along Chestnut Plain Road.
Pedestrian Safety
Green Stormwater Management
The Town Hall parking lot lacks lines and has little capacity.
Sugar maple trees along Chestnut Plain Road.
Parking Capacity and Safety
Vegetation
The parking lots lack the capacity to meet the district’s needs. Parking spaces are unlined, causing confusion and occasional accidents. Some lots have issues with water pooling and ice build-up. The plan will include proposals to: • Expand parking capacity. • Delineate spaces. • Reduce water and ice accumulation.
The giant milk bottle in front of Center School.
The soil along the roads is subject to erosion by storm runoff and the runoff is discharged untreated into local streams and rivers. The plan will include methods to: • Increase infiltration. • Reduce discharge of pollutants into streams. • Reduce erosion. • Reduce pooling on paved surfaces.
A historical double row of maple trees lines Chestnut Plain Road, the main road through the district. Some of these trees are in decline or have died. There is also desire for more attractive vegetation around the library and Town Hall. This plan will include guides for: • Care and replacement of the historic street trees. • Plant selection for public building landscapes.
A tobacco barn and view of the mountains across the Connecticut River.
The historical Whately Town Hall.
Historic Character
The historic district is home to numerous historical homes, barns, and public buildings; an iconic example of a New England tree-lined main street; and numerous views of an agricultural landscape that goes back to the eighteenth century. This plan aims to honor this history by: • Improving access to public historical buildings. • Preserving access to views of the historical landscape.
Goals 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
2/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Speeding traffic, narrow uneven sidewalks, ice accumulation on pavement, and a lack of nighttime lighting make pedestrian travel within the district unsafe. The plan will suggest ways to: • Improve sidewalk surfaces. • Reduce water and ice accumulation. • Improve lighting. • Reduce traffic speed.
The District Today North Road
Chestnut Plain Road
Running from north to south through the district, Chestnut Plain Road bisects the 130-foot-wide right-of-way between the parcels on either side. Though the road is narrow, at only 22 feet wide, it is classified as a rural major collector and serves semi truck traffic as well as passenger cars. The view down the tree-lined road is one of the defining features of the district.
Christian Lane
Center School 1
1
Chestnut Plain Road
A
A' Library
Looking south down maple-lined Chestnut Plain Road.
2
Whately Inn
The Double Allée
An intermittent double row of mature and aging sugar maples and narrow asphalt sidewalks form the allée on each side of the street from Center School in the north to the Second Congregational Church in the south. There are gaps in the rows, caused by the removal of dead or dying trees; only some of these gaps have been filled by newly planted saplings. The sidewalks are narrow and unsafe; the asphalt is cracked and uneven, with many areas collecting water and ice during inclement weather.
Post Office Town Hall Haydenville Road
Lighting
B
The only street lights in the district are on four power poles outside the Whately Inn and on the two power poles in front of Center School. The lights do not illuminate the sidewalks and some shine into neighboring residents’ windows.
B'
Utilities
Power lines, storm drainage pipes, and a water main run along the roads in the district as shown in the photos and sections below. Buildings have individual septic systems. Power lines are about 15 feet off the ground, precluding the planting of tall trees beneath them. The storm drainage pipe runs along the west side of Chestnut Plain Road except for the length in front of Town Hall and the library, where it is on the east. Storm drains are opposite each other and are placed approximately every 200 feet along the road. The water main is buried 5 feet below the surface; any digging for infiltration basins or grading must avoid the area above this pipe.
Second Congregational Church
2
s
ine
L er
w
Po
ste
m
N
Sy
ain
rm
500 feet
0
Sto
0
Wate rM
50
Power Lines
Water Main
0
25
Sidewalk
feet Section A-A': Library
Road Storm System
Library
Sidewalk
Gazebo
Power Lines
Water Main
0
Road
25
feet Section B-B': Second Congregational Church
Sidewalk
Storm System
Sidewalk
Existing Conditions 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
Residence
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
Barn
3/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Approximate utility locations north of the Town Hall along the east side of Chestnut Plain Road.
The District's Place in the Watershed Water and Habitat Watersheds, Soils, and Aquifers
The district sits in the Mill River watershed. There are also aquifer recharge areas identified in the town’s zoning map. The subdivision bylaws encourage detention basins for groundwater recharge in these zones when appropriate. The soils in the district, as characterized by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, are classified as either well-drained or excessively drained, making them suitable for infiltration. There have been reports of some areas of clay in the district, so any areas considered for infiltration basins should be tested for acceptable drainage before construction.
Mill River Watershed r t Rive ecticu Conn
Mill River
Critical Habitat
ver
l Ri
Mil
The brook to the north of the district and the Mill River to the east are part of a core habitat area as designated by Biomap2. This core habitat consists of river, wetland, and riparian areas important to a number of rare or endangered species. Some of the species that live here are shown in the table below. Soils suitable for infiltration offer opportunities for minimizing discharge of polluted runoff and sediment into nearby waterways. This is important to preserve the health of these waterways and the species that live there. Species
Status
Habitat
Dwarf Wedgemussel
Endangered
Streams, rivers
Whately Center Historic District
Mill River Watershed
Winged Monkey Flower
Endangered
Riparian, floodplain
Aquifer Recharge Zone
Biomap2 Core Habitat
Wood Turtle
Species of Special Concern
Slow streams, wetlands
Slopes and Drainage Slopes
ve l Ri Mil
Drainage
r
Haydenville Road
Chestnut Plain Road
Water in the district generally flows from the eastern half of the ridge down to the Mill River and from the western half of the ridge into the valleys north and south of the saddle. Impervious surfaces (roads, driveways, and parking lots) prevent infiltration, resulting in an increase in runoff, and provide a smooth path on which water picks up speed. Chestnut Plain Road collects much of this runoff. It collects runoff from areas on the east side of the street north of Haydenville Road and from the west side of the street south of Haydenville Road. This water either flows off the side of the road and infiltrates into the grass and woodlands, or is collected by the storm drainage system and channeled to its outlets detailed on the next page.
0
50
Chestnut Plain Road watershed
Slope:
0-5%
5-10%
10-15%
Whately Center Historic District Saddle Ridge Line
15-20%
>25%
Roads Drainage Contour interval = 2 feet
The gentle slopes along Chestnut Plain Road minimize constraints on the layout of sidewalks and parking, both of which should have a grade less than 5%. Gentle slopes also simplify stormwater management since the water doesn’t build up speed as quickly as on steep slopes and has more time to infiltrate into the soil.
Habitat, Slopes, and Drainage 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
4/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
k
oo
Br
The district sits on a ridge at the edge of the foothills. Most of the slopes near the top of the ridge along Chestnut Plain Road are very gentle—5% or less. There are moderate slopes (5 to 10%) from the ridge down to the Mill River to the east and up into the foothills to the west. Steeper slopes can be found along the unnamed brook at the north end of the district.
Chestnut Plain Road Stormwater Flow Northern outlet into brook
1
2
Center School 1
Center School Library
3
4
Chestnut Plain Road
2
Town Hall
Library
5
Whately Inn
3
Directional Water Flow
Town Hall
4
Whately Inn
Erosion
5
Haydenville Road
Asphalt added to direct water to catch basin.
Water bypasses the
catch basin and flows along the grass edge, causing erosion.
Directing Water
N 0
0
50
250
feet
Southern outlet into culvert to Mill River
Storm Drainage Pipe Catch basin Catch basin watersheds Biomap2 Core Habitat Unnamed Brook
A system of catch basins and pipes collects runoff from the watersheds along Chestnut Plain Road. Each catch basin, shown as a blue square, receives runoff from its own watershed, outlined in red. The catch basins feed into the storm drain pipes which take the water to an outlet—the northern outlet discharges into an unnamed brook which feeds into the Mill River; the southern outlet empties into a drainage culvert leading to the Mill River. These waterways are part of Biomap2 Core Habitat 2943G, detailed on sheet 4. Road and parking lot runoff contains petrochemicals, salt, sediment and other pollutants from erosion, as well as very warm water during summer storms, which degrade water quality in streams and wetlands; endangered species like the dwarf wedgemussel require clean fresh water to thrive. The paved lots outside of the Whately Inn, Town Hall, library and Center School are not able to infiltrate water and therefore drain most of their stormwater into catch basins and contribute to erosion where the water moves from pavement to grass. The eastern half of the library lot drains to the east, away from any catch basin but still contributes to erosion. The unpaved parking lots behind the Whately Inn and church are able to infiltrate stormwater and are outside of any basin watershed and therefore contribute little to the load seen by the stormwater system. There are few features in the system to promote infiltration and little filtering is done before flow is released into the waterways. Some of the catch basins are not capturing all of the runoff, as shown in the photo above, resulting in erosion. This is a result of the basins being at the level of the road surface rather than below in an asphalt channel. Asphalt added to the grass edge, as shown in the photo above, is only partially effective in directing water to the basin.
Impervious Surfaces Roof Pavement
Increased infiltration could reduce the amount of runoff entering the stormwater system and thus reduce unfiltered discharge into streams. The area around the Whately Inn and Town Hall has the most impervious surfaces and it will be the highest priority for infiltration improvements.
Semi-Impervious Surface Gravel Driveway
Stormwater System 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
5/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Church
Taking Note of the Trees Historic Row of Sugar Maples
The view as you enter the historic district on Chestnut Plain Road from north or south is of an iconic allĂŠe of trees, most of which are sugar maple. Historically there has been a double row of trees, but over time trees have died, resulting in places where only one row of trees persist or there is a gap in the rows. Center School 1
1
Library
2 Looking south down Chestnut Plain Road the rows of trees can be seen on either side.
Town Hall Post Office
Whately Inn
Haydenville R
2
3
oad
Gaps are present where trees have not been planted to replace ones that have died or been taken out.
Power lines occupy the space where a second row of trees might otherwise grow.
Tree Analysis
3
Example of a tree in good health.
N
Example of a tree in fair health.
Example of a tree in poor health.
Patterns 0
100
feet
Chestnut Plain Road
Tree in Good Health
Power Lines
Tree in Fair Health
Gaps in Row
Tree in Poor Health
Directional Water Flow
Single Row of Trees
Directional View
There are places where the historic double row of trees has become a single row. Many of these coincide with the placement of power lines, which limit where large trees can grow. North of Haydenville Road the water flows off Chestnut Plain Road to the northwest and south of Haydenville Road it runs off to the east. Many of the trees that are in poor or fair health are located on the downhill side of the street's slope. This may indicate over-saturation and/or an intolerance to the salt used on the roads that is flushed their way; further study is needed. Some of these gaps have been filled with saplings planted by residents, while others remain open. Many of the street trees in the district are sugar maple. Many researchers, including those at Cornell University, have conducted studies that show a decline in sugar maples in the Northeast. If street trees are planted at any point in the future and the decline of sugar maples continues to be a concern, the planning board should explore different species that may be better suited than sugar maples. Some of these species are listed in the planting palette on sheet 22. It may not be possible to have a double row of trees throughout the district due to the location of the power lines. Where space will permit the healthy growth of large street trees, species that are salt tolerant and suited to the roadsides may be planted.
Street Trees 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
6/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
A preliminary survey of tree health was conducted for all of the street tress by a member of the Conway project team who has experience as an arborist, but is not a certified professional. A certified arborist should be consulted to comprehensively determine the health of the trees and causes of their decline. Trees marked here as being in good health have full crowns with no visible open wounds or dying branches. Trees in fair health have a few dying branches and some visible open wounds. Those trees marked in poor health have entire large branches or sections of the tree that are dying, and/or have many open wounds or sores.
Church
A Hard Place to Navigate Christian Lane
Roads North to Route 5/10 and I-91
Center School
Library
To Route 9 Williamsburg
Town Hall, Post Office
Whately Inn
Haydenville Road
Traffic calming methods such as crosswalks, raised speed tables, street parking, one-way traffic, tighter turns onto roads, and speed limit signs with nontypical numbers (24, 32, 18) have all been used individually and together to slow traffic in other towns, and may help do so in the Historic District, making the district a more pedestrian-friendly place. Since the roads cannot legally get any narrower, it may be possible to make them appear smaller by planting street trees and other vegetation close to the road. Creating swales next to roads would help prevent erosion, decreasing maintenance needs for the roads and stormwater infrastructure. Chestnut Plain R
Church
Routes 5 & 10
Whately sits between two of the larger metropolitan towns in the area, Greenfield eleven miles to the north, and Northampton nine miles to the south, and is adjacent to small towns such as Deerfield, Sunderland, and Williamsburg. Because of its location, the roads through Whately provide an alternate route to Route 5 /10 or I-91, for those traveling north and south. People also use the roads through town to get to Route 9 and Williamsburg to the southwest. Christian Lane turns into Chestnut Plain Road (CPR) as it curves into the district in the north. CPR is the local road that runs north and south through the district, and Haydenville Road bisects CPR just south of the Whately Inn. The posted speed limit as you enter town from the north and south is 30 miles an hour, while the posted speed is 35 coming from the west; residents report that vehicles often speed through all parts of the district. The length of road comprising Christian Lane, Chestnut Plain Road down to Haydenville Road, and Haydenville Road as it exits the district is classified by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as a “rural major collector." Major collector roads have to accommodate trucks and don't allow certain traffic-calming interventions such as small-radius corners or speed bumps. The rest of CPR is considered a “rural minor collector” road and has fewer restrictions on such alterations. North Road, which intersects CPR in the north, is also a rural minor collector. The roads through town are all 22 feet wide, which is the minimum a road can legally be in the U.S. Lawns often meet the road edge at higher elevation than the road surface. This channels rainwater, causing erosion which degrades the stability of the pavement by undercutting soil structure and contributes sediment to the sensitive habitat to the north while clogging the stormwater infrastructure.
I-91
Greenfield
Route 116
Whately
Deerfield Sunderland
Route 9
Williamsburg Northampton
Whately sits between two larger towns and many smaller ones.
Some of the erosion that can be seen along Chestnut Plain Road throughout the district.
Parking
oad
There are three public parking lots: at the Center School, the library, and in front of Town Hall and the post office. The Whately Inn has two private parking lots, but even so the restaurant parking often overflows into the public parking at the Town Hall and post office. The Congregational Church also has its own parking lot. Along the paved parking lots, where asphalt meets lawn, evidence of erosion can be seen similar to what is seen along the roads. The lots also experience pooling in low spots creating ice in the winter. Re-grading paved parking lots could eliminate low spots and cut down on instances of pooling, making them safer in the winter. Re-paving with permeable pavement would lessen the amount of runoff from the lots, reducing erosion.
Chestnut Plain Road measuring 22 feet wide.
Lighting
N
South to Northampton 0
100
There are currently six street lights in town, four in front of the Whately Inn and Town Hall and two in front of Center School. None of them provides adequate lighting for the sidewalks, as they are focused on the Town Hall and Whately Inn parking lots and the triangle intersection in front of Center School. They do not illuminate any other parking lots, and the glare from the lights reportedly shines into neighboring homes at night, making it hard to sleep. Some of the glare also comes from the light shining on the U.S. flag in front of the post office as seen in the picture below. Town Hall
feet Post Office
Public Parking Private Parking Major Collector Roads Minor Roads Lights
The street lights in front of Town Hall and glare from the post office lights.
Lights with covers that direct the light toward an intended target could provide light for those using parking lots while eliminating unwanted glare. Lights along sidewalks beyond the Whately Inn and Town Hall/post office would also provide a safer environment for pedestrians at night.
Roads, Parking, and Lighting 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
7/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
North Road
Walking and Views 1 Center School 2
A panoramic view behind the library.
3
Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility
1
4
Chestnut Plain Road
5
There are sidewalks on both the east and west sides of Chestnut Plain Road, from Center School in the north down to the Second Congregational Church in the south. The sidewalks are three feet wide. Five feet would provide enough room for wheelchairs and pedestrians to use the sidewalk at the same time. There are also no crosswalks in the district to mark safe places to cross the road. Many pedestrians cross in front of the library and between the Whately Inn and Town Hall parking lots. These crossings are unsafe because there are no cues for drivers that people may be crossing. Sidewalks are degraded throughout the district, making it hard to navigate or remove snow in the winter. This degradation leads to areas that take on water and collect sediment, making them even harder to navigate. Widening the sidewalk and maintaining slopes of 5% or less would improve wheelchair accessibility. On slopes steeper than five percent, it is difficult for wheelchair users to push up or maintain control going downhill. More evenly graded sidewalks would also allow plowing, making the sidewalks more usable yearround. Crosswalks could create safer crossing paths for pedestrians by alerting drivers to watch for them.
2
The view as you enter the historic district from the north.
3
Looking west to the foothills, just south of the cemetery.
4
Sediment build up around cracked and degrading sidewalk. This condition can be seen throughout the district.
Sidewalk Placement
6
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, large trees should be separated from sidewalks by a minimum of eight feet. At this distance, their roots should be small enough to pass under sidewalks without displacing the pavement, and the sidewalks should not inhibit the health of the tree by infringing on the roots’ ability to spread. There are many places in the historic district where the sidewalk falls within eight feet of tree trunks, which has contributed to the upheaval of pavement and could be impacting tree health. Siting sidewalks at least eight feet from trees will help keep the trees healthy by preventing interference with the roots' ability to spread. It will also help reduce sidewalk upheaval from tree roots, providing a more navigable surface that can be easily plowed and maintained.
N
Looking west through a gap in the trees, just north of the Whately Inn.
5
Looking east from under the trees just south of the Town Hall.
6 0
100
feet
Sidewalk 8-foot setback from center of trees
An example of a sidewalk that is too close to a tree. This condition is found throughout the district and causes upheaval of sidewalks due to roots below.
Sidewalks and Views 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
Looking east over the Connecticut River floodplain as you enter the district from the south.
8/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Second Congregational Church
Bringing it Together â—„ Parking, Drainage, and Habitat
Current parking capacity at the library and Town Hall is not able to serve the demand during times of high use. These often occur during events at the library and evenings when functions are being hosted at Town Hall. The problem is exacerbated because patrons of the Whately Inn restaurant park in the Town Hall lot on a nightly basis, which takes away spots for those coming to the events at the Town Hall. Making the problem worse for all of the lots is the fact that spaces are not delineated, so despite there being space for nine cars at the library and fifteen at Town Hall, depending on how people park those numbers of cars don't always fit. If the Town Hall is repurposed as a community center with a proposed 75-person auditorium, zoning bylaws mandate 25 parking spaces. The library would benefit from ten additional parking spaces to accommodate the occasional overflow. Paving these surfaces with impervious material could generate additional stormwater runoff, which would result in additional stress on an already ineffective stormwater drainage system and increase direct discharge of runoff into critical habitat. Using permeable pavement or other porous surfaces for these lots would promote infiltration and minimize the impact on local stream and wetland habitats. Vegetated infiltration basins and swales can help divert runoff from the stormwater system and recharge aquifers. They can also provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Town Hall
Whately Inn Haydenville R
Walkability, Views, and Trees â–ş
Traffic moves too quickly through the district, threatening the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. However, the portions of Chestnut Plain Road and Haydenville Road which carry truck traffic and are designated as rural major collectors do not allow many of the traditional traffic-slowing measures like small-radius corners or speed hump/bumps. In addition, the existing double rows of trees have gaps and are too far from the road to make the road appear smaller and thereby slow traffic. The current sidewalks are too narrow for universal access, too close to the maple trees in places, cracked and uneven, and often accumulate water and ice. There are also no marked crosswalks for pedestrians crossing Chestnut Plain Road or Haydenville Road. The sidewalks do, however, follow a shaded route that offers pleasant views of the historical buildings and the surrounding countryside. Traffic calming measures, such as crosswalks and additional street trees, along with resurfacing sidewalks and rerouting them to avoid tree roots could significantly improve pedestrian safety while preserving or even improving access to desirable views.
oad
Chestnut Plain Road
Church
N 0
Chestnut Plain Road
Library
Center School
Library
Town Hall
Whately Inn Haydenville R
oad
Church
N 0
250
0
50
feet
Storm Drainage Pipe
Parking
Catch basin
Catch basin watersheds
Biomap2 Core
feet
Minor Collector Road Major Collector Road Sidewalk too Close to Trees Views from Sidewalk Good Fair Trees: Health Health
Summary Analysis 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
250
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
Poor Health
9/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Center School
Final Design Overview The final design has been separated into three zones based on frequency of use.
Zone I - The District Center
Zone I lies at the center of the district, running from just north of the library to the first driveway south of Haydenville Road. This is the zone that sees the highest use as it houses the Whately post office (which is used by residents throughout Whately), the Town Hall, the library, the Whately Inn (which also serves as a restaurant) and residences.
Center School
Zone II - Northern Entry
Zone II Northern Entry
Zone II is the northern section of the district, running from just north of the Chestnut Plain Road and North Road intersection to just north of the library. The cemetery and Center School are located in this zone which, combined with the triangle intersection, make it the second most-used zone.
Zone III - Southern Entry
Zone III has no public buildings, and it is no longer on the major collector road that runs through the first two zones, which makes it the zone of least use. This is the longest zone, but other than the Second Congregational Church it is all residential.
Common Design Features
Library
The design is broken into three zones; some recommendations apply to all of them. Permeable pavement, specifically permeable asphalt, is the recommended material for all proposed sidewalks in the plan because it will fit in with the existing aesthetic of Whately. Permeable asphalt is also the recommendation for new parking areas, or where re-paving is recommended. The ability of the permeable pavement to infiltrate water will lessen the amount of stormwater runoff and minimize the amount of unfiltered water that reaches sensitive habitat in the surrounding area.
Zone I District Center Whately Inn
Town Hall
Haydenville Roa
d
Chestnut Plain Road
Sidewalks are eight feet away from all trees to provide adequate space for healthy root systems and minimize the risk of heave from tree roots. Proposed trees are placed ten feet from the road, giving roots room to grow.
Church
Traffic calming is accomplished throughout the district by narrowing sightlines with trees, vegetation, parallel parked cars, and lights. Crosswalks and speed limit signs are also used in each zone. Where legally possible, turns around street corners are tightened to reduce the speed at which vehicles drive through intersections.
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Vegetated swales and infiltration basins are added along the road and next to parking lots to reduce erosion and allow for the infiltration of water before it enters the stormwater catchment system.
Zone III Southern Entry
N 0
250 feet
Final Design Key Plan 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
10/22
Zone I: District Center The design of Zone I focuses on expanding parking capacity, safety for pedestrians, traffic calming, and stormwater infiltration.
Library Crosswalk
Library Parking
A crosswalk in front of the library provides safer street crossing for pedestrians. The crosswalk also serves as a visual cue for drivers to slow down as they enter the busiest area of the district.
The parking lot at the library is extended east allowing for three additional parking spots. A vegetated infiltration basin east of the parking lot catches stormwater runoff from the pavement.
Parallel Parking
Veterans Memorial
Parallel parking in front of the library provides seven spaces for overflow parking during events.
A'
Library
A
The Veterans Memorial has been relocated to south of the library to provide more space for people to gather during Memorial Day ceremonies.
Vegetated Swales
Vegetated swales to the west of the road infiltrate stormwater runoff from the roads before directing overflow into existing storm drains.
Infiltration System
An infiltration basin south of the parallel parking in front of the library catches stormwater runoff from the road and receives overflow from a basin in front of Town Hall via a culvert.
Stormwater Basins
Infiltration basins to the north and south of the Whately Inn parking lot capture, clean, and infiltrate stormwater.
New Parking for Town Hall
The affordable housing building has been relocated so that this lot, which the town owns, can be used for Town Hall parking.
Town Hall
Whately Inn Parking
Parking in the Whately Inn's front lot has been reduced to twelve spots plus one universally accessible space. The parking in the back has expanded by five feet to the east and west, providing twenty-five spaces.
Infiltration Basin
Whately Inn
Re-designed Parking Lot
oad
Parking in front of Town Hall is lined and reduced to a single row, creating a safer parking lot. There is a parallel space on the western side of the lot for trucks with trailers.
Central Crosswalks
The crosswalks are within visual sight of each other to alert drivers of an area of high use.
Where power lines permit, additional street trees have been planted closer to the road in order to continue the historical row of street trees. These trees also narrow the visual space, which may help calm traffic.
Chestnut Plain Road
New Trees
N 0
Existing Conditions
50
Town Center Park
A park south of Town Hall, provides benches, picnic tables, and a path through the trees and bushes.
100 Feet
Removed Tree
Existing Tree
Added Tree
Road Sidewalk
0
25
Swale
feet
Library Sidewalk
Sidewalk
Parallel Parking
Veterans Memorial
Gazebo
Section A-A': Swale, parallel parking, new sidewalks, and veteran's memorial at the library.
Final Design: Zone I 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
11/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Haydenville R
A vegetated infiltration basin in front of Town Hall collects stormwater runoff from the front parking lot.
District Center: Town Hall Detail Chestnut Plain Road
Infiltrating Stormwater Runoff
Lighting the Lot
An LED light shines from the telephone pole onto the lot.
The water that is not absorbed through the permeable pavement of the new parking lot is directed to a one-footdeep infiltration basin along the north and west sides of the lot. Overflow from large storm events exits the basin via a culvert that is connected to the basin south of the parallel parking in front of the library.
Post Office
A New Parking Lot Infiltration Island
To make room for the 25 parking spaces required for the proposed renovations to Town Hall, the affordable housing has been moved, and a section of the neighbors' property has been purchased.
Town Hall
The island in front of Town Hall is a one-foot-deep vegetated basin that cleans and infiltrates stormwater runoff and continues the row of green space along the road.
A Park
The new park south of Town Hall has benches and picnic tables. The park is protected from the road by bushes. A side path of traprock gravel leads pedestrians through the park. The park is lit by eight-foot lamp posts along the path.
Crosswalks
A crosswalk connects the Town Hall parking lot to the Whately Inn. Another crosswalk connects the sidewalks south of the Haydenville intersection, providing further access to the park, the post office, and Town Hall.
A Separate Path
A path connects the back parking lot of Town Hall to the park, running past views of the valley to the east.
Haydenville Road
N 0
50 feet
Existing Conditions
The final design proposes relocation of the Veteran's Memorial and affordable housing in order to maximize parking close to the Town Hall. Since there is significant resident interest in keeping the memorial near its current location and there are challenges to relocating the affordable housing, an alternative proposal is illustrated below. Parking is expanded to the south and a dedicated space is made for the memorial and its expansion in the park.
Cons
• Parking south of Town Hall reduces space for the park. • Reduced roadside vegetation makes parking more visible from the road. • The 19 parking spaces falls short of the 25 needed for the proposed renovations to Town Hall.
Affordable Housing
Town Hall
Pros
• Affordable housing units stay. • No purchase of additional land is needed. • The veterans memorial stays near Town Hall.
Parking
Spaces are added behind and south of Town Hall.
Veteran's Memorial New location allows increased gathering space in front .
N 0
Zone I: Town Hall Detail 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
50
feet
12/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Town Hall Parking Alternative
District Center: Library Detail New Sidewalks
Parallel Parking
The sidewalk arcs toward the library staying eight feet from tree trunks. The sidewalk runs along new parallel parking spaces in front of the library.
Parked cars will narrow the visual space of the street, which may help calm traffic.
Existing Conditions
Infiltration Basin
The infiltration basin to the east of the library parking has bushes that add color to the view east. The basin is constructed so that overflow continues to drain down the east slope.
Visual Barrier
Library
There are shrubs to the south of the parking lot to separate cars from people enjoying the outside space behind the library.
Chestnut Plain Road
N 0
50
feet
Lighting
The sidewalk between the library and Town Hall has one-foot-high ground lights that can be turned on when events at the library or Town Hall require the use of both parking lots.
Veterans Memorial
The new location of the memorial faces a larger open space than the previous location, allowing more people to gather and providing more space for future additions to the memorial.
New sidewalks, parallel parking, and an infiltration basin along Chestnut Plain Road in front of the library
The vegetated infiltration basin north of the Whately Inn parking lot is two feet deep and connected, via a culvert, to a swale that directs overflow to an existing drain. The vegetation near the road helps block views of the parking lot for people driving south on Chestnut Plain Road.
A Visual Buffer
The vegetation to the north of the parking lot buffers the view of parked cars from the street. The trees continue the row of street trees on Chestnut Plain Road.
Infiltration basins, crosswalk, and lights in front of Town Hall and the Whately Inn.
Whately Inn
Slowing Traffic
Lighting the Lot
The front lot is lit by three eight-foot lamp posts. Chestnut Plain Road
Haydenville Roa
d
Southern Infiltration
The infiltration basin south of the front parking lot is two feet deep and receives stormwater runoff from the parking lot, road, and planting basin. Overflow water in large storm events escapes through a drain that is just below grade.
The vegetation to the east of the front parking lot is planted directly across from shrubs at the park, narrowing sight lines and helping to slow traffic. The crosswalks on Chestnut Plain Road are within sight of each other, alerting drivers to an area of high pedestrian use, further helping to slow traffic.
Existing Conditions
N 0
50
feet
Zone I: Library and Whately Inn Details 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
13/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Northern Infiltration
Zone II: Northern Entry The design of Zone II focuses on traffic calming, parking expansion, and pedestrian safety.
Infiltration Basin
Road
A two-foot-deep basin vegetated with shrubs and herbaceous plants collects runoff from the parking lot.
North
New Vegetation
Cemetery Parking
Since the need for visibility across the triangle is reduced, trees and shrubs can be planted close to the road to help slow traffic.
Christian Lan
e
The stretch of Chestnut Plain Road previously forming the western side of the triangle is closed at the southern end and reserved for cemetery parking during funerals. The parking lot takes advantage of the existing pavement to reduce the amount of construction needed. Some existing vegetation is cleared to make room for the parking spaces themselves. Their surface is reinforced turf to avoid the addition of impermeable surface.
Intersection
A A' Center School
Cemetery
Crosswalk and Entry
The triangle intersection with multiple yields is reshaped into a “T” intersection with one stop sign. This slows traffic from North Road and eliminates the system of yield signs that were confusing to visitors. The route of Christian Lane onto Chestnut Plain Road is unchanged while the leg from North Road is rerouted slightly to make the intersection perpendicular. Some grading is necessary, as shown in the detail on sheet 16.
Parking at Center School
A crosswalk is added to connect the cemetery to the Center School parking and to link the sidewalks on either side of Chestnut Plain Road to form a walking loop. The crosswalk is coupled with street lamps and shrubs close to the street to slow traffic.
A portion of the area behind the Center School is made into a parking lot. There are 15 parking spaces which serve the school and cemetery. Sidewalks allow access to the school building and lawn. Culverts under the sidewalk guide parking lot runoff to infiltration basins whose vegetation screens the lot from the green space.
Views Maintained
Chestnut Plain Road
Gaps are left in the double row of trees to preserve access to the desirable westward views from the road and western sidewalk.
Double Allée
Additional trees are planted to fill in the gaps in the rows along the road and sidewalks.
Sidewalks Rerouted
The five-foot-wide, permeable asphalt sidewalks on the east side of Chestnut Plain Road are rerouted to avoid proximity to trees and private property lines.
Drainage Swales
N 0
100
feet
Removed Tree
Existing Tree
Added Tree
Existing Conditions
Basin
Sidewalk
Road
School
Parking
0
50
feet
Section A-A’: View of additional parking and vegetation.
Entrance to the district from the north with crosswalk, lights, and added trees.
Final Design: Zone II 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
14/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
A one-foot-deep infiltration basin and one-foot-deep swale vegetated with shrubs and herbaceous plants collect runoff for infiltration. The swale and basin are planted similarly with shrubs to offer symmetry and narrow the appearance of the roadway to slow traffic.
Northern Entry: Intersection Detail The redesigned intersection allows for traffic-calming vegetation and eliminates the complex system of yields for traffic control.
North
Road
Intersection Design Criteria
Cemetery Parking Access
Chestnut Plain Road is closed off at the southern end of the triangle and left open at the north end to allow access to the parking from North Road.
n
Christia
Lane
Cemetery Parking
Eleven parking spaces are available for parking during funerals.
Stop Sign
Traffic traveling south on North Road stops at the intersection with Christian Lane.
North
Road
Existing Conditions
C
hris
n
tia
e
Lan
Cemetery Center School
The intersection is designed to meet the requirements detailed in the MassDOT Project Development and Design Guide, 2006 edition. The following specific criteria are met: • Minimum inside turning radius of 28.3' for single-unit truck (recommended design vehicle for Major Collector). • Maximum allowable grade for short distances for a rural minor collector in rolling terrain is 12%. • Approach grade of 5% for minimum 40'. • Maximum grade break of 4% for 25mph approach road (North Road). • Stopping distance from Christian Lane to crosswalk of >215' for a 30mph road with up to 6% downgrade. • Clear sight lines for a 30mph intersection. • Speed limits: 25mph southbound North Road and westbound Christian Lane; 30mph northbound Chestnut Plain Road.
Crosswalk
Chestnut Plain Road
Cemetery
N 0
50
feet
Chestnut Plain Road
Center School
Increase road height by 1'.
9% grade.
0
50
Reduce road height by 1'.
feet
Grading Detail
Some grading is needed to allow for the North Road approach to Christian Lane to meet slope design guidelines. Increasing the height of North Road from where it crosses the stream and reducing the height of Christian Lane as it comes around the curve reduce the elevation difference from 9.5' to 7.5', allowing the grade of North Road to meet Christian Lane at a 5% grade.
Intersection Alternative
If the triangle intersection is not modified, some warning signs should be added to warn drivers entering the district of the crosswalk. The pedestrian crosswalk sign shown above could be used, as could more forceful signs like the R1-9a, "State Law: Stop for Pedestrians" sign. More options can be found at the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) website.
Zone II: Intersection Detail 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
15/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
5% grade.
Zone III: Southern Entry The design of Zone III focuses on traffic calming, storm water infiltration, and pedestrian safety.
Sidewalk Rerouted
A' A
Five-foot-wide, permeable asphalt sidewalks on the east side of Chestnut Plain Road are rerouted between the rows of trees rather than to the east of them. In locations where the sidewalk comes up to the road for a crosswalk, some grading may be necessary to maintain a slope of 5% or less.
Double AllĂŠe
Additional trees are planted to fill in the gaps in the rows along the road and sidewalks.
Church
Crosswalk and Entry
Raised crosswalks are added north and south of the church driveway to make street crossing safer for pedestrians and slow traffic as it enters the more densely populated center of the district. A detail of the crosswalk profile can be seen below. 3" NTS
6'
10'
6'
Views Maintained
Raised crosswalk profile. Adapted from MassDOT
Gaps are left in the row of trees to preserve access to the desirable eastward views from the road and new eastern sidewalk.
Vegetated Drainage Swales
Grass-lined swales are added along the road to address erosion and allow for infiltration of water before it enters the storm system catch basins. Swales are added on the west side of the street due to the greater amount of runoff from the uphill slopes to the west. Constructing swales on the downhill slopes to the east would require a large amount of fill to construct the downhill side of the swale and would only be treating the runoff from the pavement on one side of Chestnut Plain Road.
Sidewalk Extended
Existing Conditions
N 0
100
feet
Removed Tree
0
50
0
25
Church
Existing Tree
Sidewalk
Road
Added Tree
Sidewalk
Residence
Barn
feet
Section A-A': Crosswalk in front of Second Congregational Church
Final Design: Zone III 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
16/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Sidewalk is added from the church down to the two southernmost driveways to allow pedestrian access to the entire length of the district. A crosswalk bordered by shrubs is added to connect the sidewalks together and create a walking loop.
Growing a Tree: Precedents and Details Tree
Tree
Trees close to the road create a confined space that reduces the speed of cars on this rural road.
Swale
NTS
5' Sidewalk
12'
15'
20'
Road
Siting Trees
Securing the Tree
The hole should be approximately three inches shallower than the height of the root ball. This will place the flare of the tree three to four inches above grade.
Tree
Placing the Tree
The tree should be placed in the center of the hole and as much of the burlap bag and cage should be taken off as possible. This should be done once the root ball is already in the hole for ease of transporting the tree.
Filling the Hole
Street trees are used to make the road seem smaller and also buffer pedestrians from this road in Indiana.
The hole should be filled with the soil that was dug out to make it. There needs to be soil surrounding the root ball for stability and there should be one inch of soil covering all of the root ball except within 3-5" of the trunk.
Removing Trees: Leaving the Stump
When trees have been removed, it can be costly to grind out the entire stump. These stumps can be left and turned in to seats, planted with mushrooms, or decorated with flowers and pots.
Rows of trees enclose a sidewalk during the summer, providing a sense of safety and privacy for pedestrians.
Removing Trees: Removing the Stump
If the stump is not desired, it is possible to grind down three to four inches below grade and fill in the hole with soil and grass seed to cover the exposed soil. Another tree will not be able to be planted until the previous root system has decayed.
Exposed Root Flare
1/4" Twine 4" of Mulch Cover
Base of Tree 3-4" Above Grade
2' Stakes
Replaced Soil
Ground stakes with quarterinch twine that loops around the tree hold it secure while the roots establish. There should be three of these for stability, and the twine should be removed after one year if the tree seems stable on its own—when the trunk is pushed downward and the surrounding ground doesn't heave. If the tree is not stable it should be checked every two months and twine removed accordingly. The twine should be fastened to the stake, looped around the tree and secured back to the stake, never fastened to the tree.
Covering the Hole
The exposed soil should be covered with four inches of mulch, leaving six to eight inches around the root flare free of mulch.
Stump is Left and Repurposed
Seat
Surface of Stump is Left for Seating or Placement of Pots and Flowers
Root Flare
6-8" Gap Stump is Ground Down 3-4" Below Grade
Detail: Trees 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
5' Sidewalk
Trees should be placed at least eight feet away from paved structures. Planting trees farther than eight feet will further decrease the possibilities of root damage. There should be at least fifteen feet between trees and the road in places where infiltration basins or swales are located to allow space for root growth. The closer trees are located to the road, the more likely they are to help with shrinking sight lines, possibly helping to slow down traffic.
Digging the Hole
People enjoying the shade provided by roadside park in Portland, Oregon.
8'
Root Flare
Mulch
3-4" of Soil with Grass Seed
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
17/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
A sidewalk passes through a double row of trees, providing a colorful fall experience.
Infiltration Basin
Water Infiltration: Precedents and Details
2
1 Vegetated swales can provide an attractive buffer between sidewalks and roads as seen here in Seattle, Washington.
Infiltration Basin
Swale
NTS
Infiltration Features
An infiltration basin at the end of a parking lot helps clean and infiltrate the runoff in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The two infiltration features used in this design are vegetated swales and infiltration basins. A vegetated swale has a slightly sloped bottom which guides water along the swale from a watershed to a concentrating area, often a stormwater system catchment basin, infiltration basin, or pond. It uses plants to help absorb water and slow its flow, allowing some of the water to infiltrate and sediment to settle out, and preventing erosion. The vegetated basin is a flat depressed area populated by wet-tolerant plants where water collects and is allowed to infiltrate into the ground. The plant cover can be grass which requires mowing, but can blend in with the look of an adjacent lawn, or a mix of herbaceous species, shrubs and trees which provide more ecosystem services than lawn, such as carbon sequestration, animal habitat, or provision of food for pollinators. Vegetated swales are recommended for collecting runoff from roads and guiding it to catch basins with minimal erosion or in areas where there is not room for an infiltration basin. Infiltration basins are recommended for collecting large quantities of runoff from extensive impervious surfaces like parking lots. In the designs for the historic district, swales and basins are located so that excess water is released into the existing stormwater drainage system's catch basins. Road Shoulder
2' Bottom Width
30% Maximum Side Slope
Basins can be full of flowers and contribute to neighborhood character as seen here in Hinsdale, Illinois.
30" Min. Permeable Soil
Vegetated Swales
For collection of road runoff, the swale edge is at road level. A vegetated slope guides water to the bottom of the swale which allows for infiltration into permeable soil. If an area has dense or compacted poorly-drained soils, a layer of gravel and a drainage pipe tying into a stormwater drainage system may be necessary. Swales with a slope of more that 6% may need check dams (see below) to slow water flow to allow for infiltration and prevent erosion.
6" Gravel with 4" Perforated Pipe
1
Vegetated Swale Detail (adapted from stormwatercenter.net) NTS.
Grass-lined swale with check dams along residential road. (lakesuperiorstreams.org)
Infiltration Basins
Minimum Bottom Width = 3'
Basins hold water for a short time, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil. They can be rocky or vegetated with grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees; two vegetation options are shown. An outlet connected to the stormwater system allows excess water to enter the system rather than overflow the basin. 30% Maximum Side Slope
A simple grass-lined swale receives runoff in a residential area.
Minimum Bottom Width = 3'
12"Min: Planting Medium Overflow to Catch Basin 9' Minimum
2
9' Minimum
Infiltration Basin Details (adapted from Lewis and Clark College) NTS.
Detail: Swales and Basins 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
Overflow to Catch Basin
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
18/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
A raised storm drain takes away water when inflow is too much for the basin to infiltrate in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Paving for Infiltration: Precedents and Details
Permeable pavement is used on many large parking lots, such as this one in Chicago, Illinois.
Permeable Asphalt
Permeable asphalt has been used successfully in many cold climates. This asphalt should be laid by a professional who has done so before, but once down only requires biannual inspection and cleaning to prevent clogging (NAPA IS-131). The increased infiltration ability minimizes ice build up on the surface during the winter, making it safer to walk and drive on and cutting down on the amount of salt needed to keep the surfaces clear (American Trails). Permeable asphalt for driving surfaces is thicker than for walking surfaces; it may also require additional drainage depending on the area covered and the underlying soil type. A professional can determine whether additional drainage infrastructure will be required. Roads that use permeable pavement look very similar to regularly paved roads such as this one in Wellwyn Garden City UK.
Permeable Asphalt for Walking Surfaces
3" Permeable Asphalt
3"
3" Limestone Screenings
3"
6" Crushed Aggregate Basecourse
6"
Non-Woven Geotextile Fabric NTS
Subgrade
Adapted from americantrails.org
Permeable Asphalt for Driving Surfaces Permeable Asphalt 4” 4”
Choker Course (3/4” Crushed Stone)
12”
Filter Course (Bank Run Gravel) Filter Blanket (3/8” Pea Gravel)
3”
Reservoir Course (3/4” Crushed Stone)
4” Permeable pavement allows water to flow through as demonstrated in Austin's Ferry, Tasmania, Australia.
NTS
4-6” ø Perf Pipe (If Required)
Adapted from University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center
Subgrade
Permeable Asphalt Maintenance
Reinforced turf (soil reinforced with plastic or gravel structure under grass) can be used as an alternative to pavement for infrequently used parking areas.
Permeable asphalt performance relies on keeping the pores in the material free of fine particle debris. If sand, dust, and leaf litter are allowed to accumulate on the surface, they can become embedded in the pavement and clog it, reducing its permeability and thus, its drainage performance. To prevent this, the following maintenance is recommended: • Inspect and clean the surface regularly. Mechanical sweeping, preferably with a sweeper that incorporates vacuum or water jets, removes small particles from the surface. Using a sweeper without vacuum can force some debris into the pavement rather than removing it. • Avoid applying sand in the winter. Sand will clog the pores in the pavement. • Use a rubber-edged plow for snow removal. Set the blade 1/4" above the pavement to avoid damaging the surface (Montgomery County DEP). • Prevent run-on water flow from eroded areas. Water flowing from eroded areas or bare dirt can bring excess sediment onto the surface and contribute to clogging (UNHSC).
Case Study: Permeable Asphalt Trail
In 2009, the city of Middleton, Wisconsin, resurfaced the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Trail with permeable asphalt. They found the material offered a number of benefits. First, it allowed for infiltration of water into the soil below. Second, because it let water pass through, it accumulated less ice and the ice that did form did not persist because the water from daily freeze/thaw cycles drained away instead of refreezing on the surface. This also meant that less plowing and salting was needed, reducing winter maintenance costs by $3,500 compared to a crushed rock trail. While the raw material was slightly more expensive, much of this cost was offset by the fact that the porous asphalt spread farther than standard asphalt (American Trails Magazine, 2011).
Detail: Permeable Pavement 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
19/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
The paving process is very similar to normal pavement. Here a sublayer is added.
Street trees contribute to a reduced apparent width of the road, causing drivers to slow down.
LED overhead lights are more energy efficient and can direct light precisely to avoid light shining into houses.
Raised crosswalk used for pedestrian safety and for traffic calming in Amherst, MA.
Classic light posts illuminate walking paths at Amherst College.
Traffic signs can alert drivers to legal speed limits as well as conditions that make lower speeds advisable.
Light posts, like this one in Amherst, MA, can be adorned with flowers, flags, and other decorations.
Precedents 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
20/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Precedents: Traffic-calming and Lights
Plant Recommendations Street Trees and Shrubs (decorative, screening, traffic calming, runoff reduction) Name
Botanical Name
Form
Height
Sun
Sugar Maple
Notes
Acer saccharum
tree
80'
full
Low salt tolerance; plant upslope from road or divert road runoff with swale/basin.
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
tree
70'
full
Low salt tolerance; plant upslope from road or divert road runoff with swale/basin.
Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
tree
90'
full
Low salt tolerance; plant upslope from road or divert road runoff with swale/basin.
Scarlet Oak
Quercus coccinea
tree
80'
full
Salt tolerant.
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
tree
20'
part shade
Salt tolerant.
Redosier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
shrub
4'
full/part sun
Salt tolerant. Colorful winter stems.
Eastern Arborvitaes
Thuja occidentalis
shrub
15'
full/part sun
Evergreen; good for hedges. Salt tolerant. Small cultivars suitable for crosswalk entrances.
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
shrub
3'
full/part sun
Salt tolerant. Showy flowers. Pollinator attractor.
Herbaceous (Low-maintenance, salt-tolerant, decorative, wet-tolerant) Name
Botanical Name
Form
Height
Sun
Columbine
Notes
Aquilegia canadensis
herb
1-2'
full sun/shade
Salt tolerant.
Marginal Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
herb
18"
part/full shade
Salt tolerant. Toxic to mammals. Shade loving; suitable for north side of Town Hall.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
herb
1-3'
full sun/shade
Salt tolerant.
Carolina thermopsis
Thermopsis caroliniana
herb
3-5'
full
Tiger Lily
Lilium tigrinum
herb
2-3'
full
Rough Blazing Star
Liatris aspera
herb
2-4'
full
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
herb
4’
full
Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
herb
1-3'
full
Salt tolerant. Drought tolerant; suitable for basin edges.
Salt tolerant. Drought tolerant.
Grasses and Sedges (Low-maintenance, salt-tolerant, wet-tolerant) Botanical Name
Form
Height
Sun
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
herb
10"
full sun/shade
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
herb
1-2'
full/part sun
No-Mow Lawn Seed Mixes
Fescue spp.
herb
1'
full/part sun
Notes Salt tolerant.
Low-maintenance option for lawn replacement or grass-lined swales. Some mixes are advertised to be salt or drought tolerant.
General Plant Notes 1. All trees limbed up to 8' to preserve sight lines for safety. 2. All shrubs no higher than 3' to preserve sight lines and for safety 3. Herbaceous plants are recommended to add color and interest to infiltration basins. 4. Grasses and sedges are recommended for grass-lined swales. Final plant selection to be made in consultation with a local design professional.
Plant Palette 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
21/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Name
References and Sources References Department of Energy and Environment. "Open Channel Systems" Web 6/12/16 elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-67996/6.4.8%20BMP%20Vegetated%20Swale.pdf Kahn, Kelsey. "Hold Back the Water." Lewis & Clark College Environmental Studies Program. 3/16.14 Web. 6/12/16 Macdonald, Stuart. " Porous Asphalt Shows Advantages for Trail Surfacing" American Trails. Winter 2011. Web. 6/7/16. Molnar, Charlene. "Salt Tolerant Plant List." Michigan State University Extension-Oakland County. 2011. Web 6/23/16 Montgomery County. "How to Maintain Your Porous Pavement." Maryland.gov. Web 6/11/16 Parkhill, Margaret, Et Al. " Updated Guidelines for the Design and Application of Speed Humps" nacto.org. Web. 6/17/16 "Resolving Tree Sidewalk Conflicts." Arbor Day Foundation. Web. 5/22/16. River Link. "Check Damns." WaterRICH: A RiverLink Initiative. Web 6/12/16 Seyed, Alavi. "Analyzing Raised Crosswalks Dimensions Influence on Speed Reduction in Urban Streets." Urbanstreet.com. Web. 6/17/16 "Stormwater Design Example: Dry Swale." Stormwater Center. Web. 6/2/16. University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center unh.edu/unhsc/sites/unh.edu.unhsc/
Photos Photos not referenced here were taken by the design team. All traffic sign images are under public domain.
Page 17 Summer sidewalk scene - Author, Parisroi. Found at Wikimedia Commons and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode). Road-side Park - Author, M.O. Stevens. Found at the South Park Blocks at Salmon Street wikipedia page and shared under the Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode). Road through the trees - Author, Josh Sorenson. Found on Pexels.com and shared under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. Fall Scene - Found through Pixaby search for sidewalks through trees. Shared under public domain. Sidewalk in Indiana - Shared on Wikimedia Commons under public domain.
Flowered Drain - Author, Center for Neighborhood Technology. Found on Flickr and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode). Raised Drain - Author, Center for Neighborhood Technology. Found on Flickr and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode). Parking Lot Infiltration - Author Brian Ash. Found on Wikipedia and shared under public domain. Buffer from the road - Author, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Found on Wikipedia and shared under public domain. Grass Swale - Author, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Found on Wikipedia and shared under public domain.
Page 19 Banner - Author Lombroso. Found on Wikimedia Commons and shared under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode). Sidewalk Construction - Found on Wikipedia and shared under Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode). Permeable Pavement Demonstration - Author, J.J. Harrison. Found on Wikipedia and shared under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode). Parking Lot Chicago - Author, Center for Neighborhood Technology. Found on Flickr and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode). Permeable Road - Author, Fgrammen. Found on Wikipedia and shared under public domain.
Page 20
LED Light - Author, Petey21. Found on Wikipedia and shared under public domain.
References 332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu
A Master Plan for The Whately Center Historic District Whately, MA Spring 2016 Designers: Warren Lee and Susan Schen
22/22
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.
Page 18