From:	Michael Behrendt
Sent:	Monday, August 24, 2015 5:16 PM
Subject:	Bicentennial Park - comments from R. Mower

To the Planning Board,
For your interest, below.

Michael Behrendt
Director of Planning and Community Development (“Town Planner”)
Town of Durham
8 Newmarket Road
Durham, NH  03824
(603) 868-8064
www.ci.durham.nh.us

From: RMower [] On Behalf Of RMower 
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2015 4:31 PM 
To: Michael Behrendt 
Cc: Todd Selig 
Subject: Re: Planning Board meeting * | Bicentennial Park: public 
comments

Greetings, Michael -- 

I read your Planner's Report for the August 26th meeting of the Planning Board 
and note in particular the following:

XIII. Bicentennial Park. Presentation of final design for town park situated 
at the corner of Main Street and Mill Road. …
Please note the following: 
/…/
2) *Public comment. Note that when the preliminary design was presented a 
year or so ago, several residents asked if they would have an opportunity to 
comment on the final design. This is not a public hearing but I would 
recommend that the board allow for any interested citizens to comment. 


This is the first that I have heard that the public may comment to the Planning 
Board on the Bicentennial Park proposal. HOW are they to learn that they may do 
so if they don't read the fine print of your report?

Of course, members of the public may send comments to you, Mike Lynch or 
Todd at any time, but that is not the same as the Planning Board hearing those 
comments, considering them, and commenting in turn. I know we tend to bend 
over backward about citizen input, but this IS a prominent location and our ONLY 
downtown *park*. 

(For example, I am a bit skeptical about the appropriateness of a fountain in this 
specific location. Much that I love public fountains, the proximity to numerous 
bars raises my eyebrows, given my experience in living near bars in New York 
City. I will not make that a public comment, but others might have similar 
concerns; maybe we install one and simply keep our eyes on it to see how it works 
out....) 

I hope you and Andrew will consider options about how best to give the Board 
and the public the opportunity of communicating. There is no need to forward 
this email to the entire Planning Board, but I hope you will talk with Andrew.

I also hope that you and/or Bill McGowan will report fully on the Historic District 
Commission's response to Mike's presentation at its last meeting, including 
discussions about the use of brick versus cobblestone and signage.

Thank you.

 — Robin


Robin Mower
Durham, NH 03824

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