Streetscape changes becoming visible

NORTH CANAAN — As people hit downtown streets on foot this summer, many are really noticing the subtle, yet profound differences the Streetscape Project is making. Those changes can be easy to miss from the car when other things are on one’s mind. And the transformation has been a slow and not very steady one, as expected.

The town received $1 million from the Small Cities Block Grant Program for things like sidewalk pavers, attractive streetlights, landscaping, a new playground and the eventual moving of utility lines and poles off main roads.

The goal of the streetscape project is to attract people to the center of town with a quaint, safe and attractive atmosphere.

Many of the cement sidewalks have been redone with pavers that safely incorporate a cobblestone feel. Granite curbing was chosen for its beauty and durability.

Up next is the installation of period streetlights along the south side of Main Street, matching the ones already installed on the north side and in the depot parking lot. A contractor is due to install power to that stretch in about a week.

Last summer, committee members, town officials and legislators combined their efforts to convince the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue an exemption waiver for the lights. While they didn’t meet the state’s “full cut-off“ requirement, aimed at reducing light pollution, they were thoughtfully designed to address a list of locally established requirements.

Years were spent considering light pollution, as well as specific issues, including consideration for upper-floor apartment dwellers. A renowned lighting designer was hired, with the goal to create a lighting plan that was effective for both safety and ambience.

The appeal to the DOT stressed that state guidelines did not work in small towns. Officials quickly agreed and granted the exemption.

Once the remainder of the Main Street lights are installed, CL&P will turn off their cobra-style streetlights, at the committee’s request, for a test period of two to three weeks.

“We want to see how they are going to illuminate and get feedback from as many people as possible,� committee Chairman Geoffrey Drury said. “In some ways, its not a fair test because the cobra lights will still be on in other parts of town, and they are much higher and cast more light than ours, but we feel we need to see to whatever extent we can and make adjustments if needed.�

Drury said committee members will “beat the bushes� for comment from the public. Before the test begins, they will consider establishing methods for feedback.

Recent months also brought a very noticeable improvement to the Railroad Street access to the new municipal parking lot. The town exhausted its grant funding with the land purchase and paving. The Streetscape Committee used some of its leftover funds to install an island and trees, per a plan by Tom Zetterstrom, that greatly soften the look there.