AMHERST — Town and school officials are creating a plan for dealing with the anticipated increase in traffic and parking challenges associated with the new Amethyst Brook School on South East Street.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman recently told the Town Council that more vehicles coming to the area will present difficulties, with the new K-5 school opening and demolition of the former Fort River School to be in progress.
“It’s just going to be complicated. There’s going to be a lot of cars trying to get through there,” Bockelman said.
Flashing lights will be positioned along the road to slow vehicles down, and there could be flaggers and others on and near the location to get people into and out of the site in the morning and afternoon, though specific details are still being worked out.
Because there won’t be enough parking spaces on site due to the razing of the school, the town will use three off-site locations: spaces on East Street, near the former East Street School, about a four-minute walk away; a site on Belchertown Road with 28 spaces, a seven-minute walk; and an open field, sometimes used by the Jewish Community of Amherst, with room for 25 cars.
“There’s three different locations where we can park cars off-site,” Bockelman said.
The schools are also encouraging families to not drive their children to school, but to use the buses as often as possible.
A separate entrance and exit will remain to the site for construction crews working on the demolition.
District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen has suggested that the “shunt road” that runs from Belchertown Road to South East Street be closed off to improve traffic circulation.
District 4 Councilor Pam Rooney said outreach to the University of Massachusetts, local landlords and others needs to be done, discouraging people from driving to East Amherst village center during school days.
There could also be additional patrols, Rooney said, to help with traffic on Harkness Road that may be used to cut between Pelham Road and Belchertown Road.
Website overhaul
As part of changes to the town of Amherst’s website that will be completed in early 2027, improvements are being made in how information about public meetings is presented.
The town recently unveiled an updated “Agenda and Minutes Center,” at amherstma.gov/AgendaCenter, where meeting agendas and minutes are being posted since Aug. 1, as well as links to video recordings of completed meetings.
Samantha Giffen, communications manager for the town, said the upgrades are aimed at making it easier for residents to stay informed and engaged with local government.
As part of the improvements, webpages for all boards and committees are also being updated to ensure information is clear, accurate and accessible, she said. Giffen is working with all departments on the modifications to the website design.
The town has stayed with the same vendor, CivicPlus, removing outdated content and refreshing the look.
Residents can sign up to receive email or text notifications for specific boards and committees by going to amherstma.gov/NotifyMe.
All of the work being done will also meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
All About Amherst: Civic Academy
Amherst is bringing back the eight-week, 16-hour All About Amherst: Civic Academy this fall.
Applications are open through Sept. 20 at amherstma.gov/civic-academy.
A tour of the new school and the new water treatment plant may be part of the second academy.
A+ Awards nominations
The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations to honor individuals, businesses and organizations making a meaningful impact in Amherst and surrounding communities.
The A+ Awards include several categories, such as Legacy Award, Leader in Innovation Award, Leader in Sustainability Award and Chamber MVP.
Chamber membership is not required, and you may submit more than one nomination. Unsure which category fits best? Submit the nomination, and the committee will determine the appropriate category.
https://business.amherstarea.com/form/view/38150 by Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.
Playground renovation
Playground improvements can move forward at the Amherst Montessori School, 27 Pomeroy Lane, after the Conservation Commission issued an order of conditions and approved corrections to a wetlands violation.
Jeff Squire of the Berkshire Design Group said old pressure-treated tire-like structures will be upgraded to something more modern, with climbers and other equipment installed in concrete footings.
Before the work commences, the school is also dealing with a wetland violation from 2021, when a wetland swale was filled next to a driveway turnaround.
Meeting
MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
