At the last meeting of the current Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Nov. 20, the board put forward a recommendation to the incoming board regarding the Nut Plains Path and transportation issues in town as a whole. The recommendation involves a new transportation plan and a need for a stakeholders committee to tackle the Nut Plains Path controversy; the new BOS first meets on Monday, Dec. 4.

The path has sparked controversy among neighbors, town officials, and residents over the past few months. As envisioned, the path stretches over two miles, beginning on the State Street side of the Adams Middle School property, running up to Nut Plains Road, crossing Goose Lane, eventually turning on North Madison Road, and ending near Guilford Lakes Elementary School. Town Engineer James Portley said the path will likely be made of concrete and be about six feet wide—wider than a sidewalk, so any residents with the path in front of their property would not be required to provide snow removal.

The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million with 80 percent covered by committed federal funding, leaving the town to cover 20 percent or roughly $290,000. Portley previously said the town had already approved $140,000 for the project and the rest of the funds would be pulled from the Inland Roads bond. Portley said this path would also follow the 2002 Transportation Plan, which provided a blueprint for transportation including sidewalk improvements in town.

The town held a public information meeting on the path on Sept. 26 to solicit public input. Numerous residents attended to express an opinion both in favor and against. While First Selectman Joe Mazza said at the time of the meeting that is would be up to the new board to make a decision, in light of the public comments, numerous emails, and opposition signs popping up on residents lawns, he proposed at the BOS meeting in early November that the board draft a recommendation to the new board.

At the BOS meeting on Nov. 20, Selectman Gary MacElhiney read the drafted recommendation:

“Guilford has been facing controversial issues regarding sidewalks, pathways, [and] bike and pedestrian safety. The issues involve safety, town history, town character, property rights, and obligations. The issues are complicated by town ordinance, grant conditions, and in one case a multi-town organization. Every effort to increase sidewalks has generated additional requests for sidewalks. The current BOS would like to recommend to the incoming BOS two steps to appropriately involve all citizens in a fair and open process to resolve these issues. One, the development of a new, professionally led transportation plan to replace and update the 2002 plan with particular emphasis on sidewalks, trails, and bicycle routes. The plan should outline a process of citizen involvement to evaluate all new steps to complete a new plan. Two, either separately or as a subset of the transportation plan, a stakeholders study committee including processionals and neighbors for the Nut Plains path should be created to provide input to the BOS as to the advisability of proceeding with that project.”

After listening to public comment, Mazza said residents need to be involved in the process regarding Nut Plains and a new, modern transportation plan needs to be in place for such issues.

“We should have a new plan prepared,” he said. “Times change and demographics change, so I would encourage this board to pass on to the new board a suggestion—and it is merely a suggestion—that this is what we would like to leave them with.”

Board members agreed with the recommendation and BOS member Cindy Cartier said it would be a good idea to also have members of the Planning & Zoning Commission involved with the new transportation plan because zoning regulations and changes will be a key part of the process along with public input.

“I am always in favor of stakeholders’ committees…This way people understand the process and they can buy into the resolution and help to formulate a plan,” she said.

The board unanimously approved the recommendation.