http://rutlandherald.com/article/20141115/NEWS02/711159963
An aerial photo shows the former cul-de-sac at the end of Park View Road in Springfield.
Photo: PHOTO BY LEN EMERY Published November 15, 2014 in the Rutland Herald
Missing cul-de-sac at heart of dispute
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — A cul-de-sac built more than 35 years ago is at the center of a neighborhood dispute that has landed in the lap of the Springfield Select Board.
The cul-de-sac at the end of Park View Road was abandoned in recent years because of problems during snow plowing, said Public Works Director Jeffrey Strong.
But after hearing from at least four neighbors, the Select Board voted to re-install the small traffic circle, but plow the road this winter using a T-turnaround across the cul-de-sac.
That move brought a threat of a lawsuit from Park View resident Peter Annis, who said he had invested $5,000 in landscaping in the area of the cul-de-sac to make the road and his home look better.
“Is that your land?” Select Board member David Yesman asked Annis.
“No, it’s not,” Annis replied.
But he maintained he only did “what the town told me to do.”
Annis told the Select Board that retired Public Works Director Harry Henderson had met with him four years ago about eliminating the cul-de-sac and installing a T-turnaround, and as a result, Annis has extended his driveway across what was the cul-de-sac and installed extensive landscaping.
But the board, on a 3-2 vote, directed Strong to re-install the former cul-de-sac. Voting against the move were Chairman Kristi Morris and Select Board member Stephanie Thompson.
Select Board member Peter MacGillivray said he voted for re-instating the cul-de-sac because it was town property.
“This isn’t over,” an agitated Annis said.
Earlier in the meeting, Annis and another property owner, Florene Bishop, admitted they installed a large gate on what turned out to be town property to prohibit people from traveling onto Bishop’s fields. Bishop and Annis said they would move the gate to Bishop’s land.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Friday that the gate had been removed Thursday.
“It was at the front of the cul-de-sac. They can move it to the back,” he said.
He said the town would create a t-shaped turnaround with gravel at the beginning of next week for town trucks — and others — to turn around and for winter plowing.
The matter of a full cul-de-sac would be revisited in the spring, he said.
Annis and Bishop said people were driving into the fields causing vandalism and stealing wood, and damaged loggers’ property.
Strong said plowing cul de sacs is problematic, since the driver is often “chasing” snow around the circle. A t-turnaround, or “hammerhead,” end to the road was created to solve that problem, Strong said.
But the t-end to the road has created problems for neighbors, who said that as a result, cars and trucks — including the town’s plow truck, use the end of their driveways to turn around.
And Strong conceded that the town likely damaged the end of the driveway belonging to Ted and Ruth Cody. At one point, Strong said he had “inherited” the problem.
Ted Cody said that the area “looks very different” with the shrubs and lawn Annis had installed.
“But there needs to be a place to turn around,” he said.
Ruth Cody said it wasn’t just the town truck that turned around in their driveway, but garbage trucks and other vehicles.
Another neighbor, Nicholas Weiss, said some trucks have to back down a half mile because there is no place to turn around.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said the cul-de-sac was the original design when Park View Road was first developed, and the land under the end of the road was deeded to the town.
“The gate is illegal,” he said. “It’s across a town road.”
You know what is interesting? We don't have the money to keep up the roads we already have that are main arteries through town BUT we will vote on "installing" a culdesac on some off the way road that serves no purpose whatsoever to anyone in town. Let me just ask the select board this...what cost to the taxpayers is this? WHAT IS THE EXACT COST? Second, I would be interested to know who the residents are that want this> Whose friend on the board are they to they got this stupid idea is pushed through? I vaguely know where that road is so I really don't care, it just pisses me off that we are planning on throwing ten or twenty grand to install a turn around/cul-de-sac. It makes no sense fiscally whatsoever...but welcome to springfield!
ReplyDeleteIt makes perfect sense to the upper management of the of the company that will do the job. Let's see....boat payment, home on the island payment.........Ya lots of mula to be made...and divided between a few.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, the cul de sac was already there, they just ordered the gate removed along with the obstructions, and authorized a certain type of snow plowing pattern. What is all this stuff about installing things? Did I miss part of SAPA?
ReplyDeleteNo you are right 5:03. They voted to remove a gate that was crossing a town road and setting up a plow pattern. The cul-de-sac has been there forever we are not building one, unfortunately not everyone gets the facts before they comment. Thanks for pointing that out.
Delete"But after hearing from at least four neighbors, the Select Board voted to re-install the small traffic circle, but plow the road this winter using a T-turnaround across the cul-de-sac."
ReplyDeleteNo, actually the article stated they would "install this week a T turnaround with gravel and revisit "installing" the circle in spring. Read the article and quit seleting what it is YOu wish for it to say. When you "install" something the meaning/definition of that word means :to put in/to install. They are adding gravel for a turn around NOT doing a T shaped snow plow pattern. I think YOU should get your facts correct anon 5;45 and John Dalton
I was talking about what I heard at the meeting, at the meeting the Select Board voted to have the obstructions removed and for the area to have a T snow plowing within the existing cul de sac. If the article talks about installing, then I don't think they watched SAPA and listened to what was voted on.
Deleteit's town property.even if they don't redo the cul-de-sac,the Mr Annis does not have the right to block the road and plant shrubs and what not there.
ReplyDeletemaybe Mr Annis could show some kinda of document from MR Henderson saying that he could do all this work.
I know I am not disputing town property or not or even whether this guy had a gate somewhere it shouldn't be. Just commenting that the town has enough money worries and I think this is a good example of how out of touch the board is financially IF they spend money to pave or put in any kind of road structure. Frankly, I think the plowing of the road is crazy too but just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThat move brought a threat of a lawsuit from Park View resident Peter Annis, who said he had invested $5,000 in landscaping in the area of the cul-de-sac to make the road and his home look better.
ReplyDelete“Is that your land?” Select Board member David Yesman asked Annis.
“No, it’s not,” Annis replied.
But he maintained he only did “what the town told me to do.”
Ever so thin legal ice there, Mr. Annis. Say goodbye to the landscaping costs and just accept the ruling. It will cost you considerably less that way, as landscapers tend to be more affordable than lawyers!