UPDATE: Irwin Parking Plan Passes P&Z

The Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday affirmed the Park and Recreation Commission's recommendation to site a parking lot in Irwin Park to the right of the driveway just inside the entrance off Weed Street.

After a lengthy discussion between Park and Recreation Commission members and neighbors Monday, the public hearing at the P&Z meeting was relatively brief.

Resident Sara Rehnberg expressed concerns that the gravel lot could cause flooding in her house on Weed Street. In response, P&Z Commission members highlighted town drainage rules that require that new developments create no net runoff and resolved to accept Assistant Public Works Director Tiger Mann's offer to provide a drainage analysis for the parking lot plan.

"We're really happy with this site being selected," said Weed Street resident Dan Radman, who had spoken up Monday against an alternative plan to put the lot in the upper section of the park.

But for the second night in a row Radman called for an update to the master plan for Irwin. "What I would ask is that [the parking lot approval] be conditional on submitting a current and accurate site plan... for the town and for the public to understand what's being proposed," he said. 

A turnaround circle and basketball courts are no longer in the plan, and as existing trees have been saved replacement plantings have not been put in as drawn; the baseball fields have been shifted slightly to the east and north; other elements, including the horseshoe and exit drives, have been built exactly as planned.

While Planning and Zoning did not put any condition on their approval of the parking lot, the issue of whether a master plan should be revised and codified could come up again tonight when Town Council votes on the lot.