By Melanie Petrucci, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Town Manager Kevin Mizikar shared with the board at their Nov. 28 meeting an opportunity to fund a Town Center Parking Management Plan. The opportunity is a Downtown Technical Assistance grant through the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Program requesting up to $15,000 in funding for consultants to identify ways to eliminate some of the parking challenges in the center of Shrewsbury.
“I think it’s a tangible and practical approach to engage with the property owners and business owners in the downtown area and get everyone to rally around a common cause,” Mizikar said, adding that this was in line with the Master Plan and this would also create a Downtown Business Association much like the Lakeway Business District.
“I think some of the work that will be done here will dovetail with the Beal [School] Re-use Committee because there could be a large chunk of land/building available downtown.”
Selectman Jim Kane recommended having Highway Superintendent John Knipe or someone else from the highway department be involved to deal with effectively clearing the snow in the winter.
If the grant is awarded, consultants would be brought on board in late January or early February with a report completed by the spring. The motion was made, seconded and approved to move forward with the grant application.