Westford Farmers' Market Staying on Common for 2012
The Westford Board of Selectmen unanimously approved use of the Common to the market, which will run on Tuesdays from June to October.
Before an overflowing room of onlookers, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on Tuesday night to give permission for the Westford Farmers' Market use of the Town Common this year, while committing town resources to increasing pedestrian and traffic safety associated with the event.
Although support for the market’s existence currently appears to be near universal in town, two viewpoints arose during a debate simmering prior to the meeting.
On one side, residents have been showing concern for traffic backups on Boston Road during market days, especially once road construction near Minot’s Corner began in earnest for the upcoming Cornerstone Square project.
On the other side, residents had been advocating to keep the market in the Common, citing concerns that business would drop off in a different location and that the town center’s character was also crucial in the market’s success.
However, for much of the hearing, safety proved to be the key issue, with police and fire officials testifying that the market had been associated with eight accidents over the past five years and that egress for emergency vehicles was limited on market Tuesdays due to vehicles needing to drive more slowly around the increased number of pedestrians in the area.
Police Chief Thomas McEnaney told the board that he frequented the market himself and understood how it had become part of the town’s fabric, but urged the board to purchase crosswalk signs in roads near the Common as well as near schools.
Other options given ranged from specialized areas for vendor loading and unloading to allowing the public to use police parking spaces on market days to the possibility of flashing traffic signs comparable to those found elsewhere in town, which Assistant Town Manager John Mangiaratti said the town had applied for grant toward.
Among residents testifying to the board, the tone was heavily in favor of keeping the market on the Common, with voices ranging in ideas on how to help alleviate traffic and safety concerns to straight forward support.
Desree Polevy of Hildreth Street lives within walking distance of the Common and told the board she almost got run over by a car shortly after moving to her house, but that the market was vital despite any amount of traffic.
“I think (the market) adds character and ambiance to the town,” she said. “I am concerned with traffic, but I think that’s mainly from the commercial areas (on 110).”
The Farmer’s Market will run on Tuesdays from June to October, with a subsequent follow-up agenda item on the market scheduled for a selectmen’s meeting in November.
Sam
6:48 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Shocking
Marilyn
7:05 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
It is time for Westford to be more walkable.
Dan D.
7:40 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A relative handful of Westford citizens actually use this market. I hope no one gets hurt as a result of this decision.
w.t.f
8:36 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Barf! We all knew how this would end.....What about 2013?
Sam
9:04 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The elites will never let this go. It will continue on. Good luck Westford center.
Alev B
9:18 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Yeay I love it:)) Great news:)))
Rachel Amato
9:21 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I like that it will stay on the common, we just need the market to help pay for police coverage and to buy some sidewalk signs and pedestrian cones. It really adds character to the town, but safety is a big issue and with some police detail, signs and cones, heopfully we can take care of that. I never thought the traffic was too bad and I have gone through that area trying to get by around 5. It is certainly still better than 110 is at lunch. And there are ways around it for the most part.
Sam
9:32 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
You expect the FM to actually pay for something? That is not going to happen. Are you suggesting that the town pay for all this?
Heather Reed-Curley
10:26 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Yay!! I am happy that I can coninue the tradition of Tuesday afternoons at the farmers market with my children. I agree that the vendors should pitch in to pay for police coverage to help make crossing the street easier.
Kathleen Spaeth
10:42 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I am very happy that the Board of Selectman voted "unanimously" to allow the Westford's Famer's Market to continue on the Town Common!
I learned last night that the one Pedestrian Accident occured while the Pedestrian was crossing in the crosswalk and they were struck by a car. Seriously! What more should a Pedestrian do to get across the street safely?
How about if we collectively purchased some flashing runway lights and placed them in the lines of the crosswalks (along with a voice activated bull horn that hollers for the autos to stop)? Yes, these are ludicrious ideas, but I have to wonder why the people who frequent the Westford Farmer's Market (and yes there are many of us who are attending faithfully each week) should have their lives jeopardized because they need to cross the busy streets to get there.
I have some more practical ideas: How about we all slow down our automobiles and pay more attention to everyone walking all around the Town Common area. How about we kindly teach our children not to open up their car doors and dart out into the streets. And finally, how about if we kindly teach our children to walk, and not run to the crosswalks, and wait for you to catch up to them before they cross the street.
Sam
11:35 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Is this the same Kathleen who just yesterday was concerned that large Cornerstone signs would cause accidents on 110 yet this is not a problem?