Noank Main Street Project the Present/Future/Past

For the Present: I would like to thank Andrew Blacker for his public comments he submitted on 4 January 2024. I concur with his wish-list outlined in the comments and think he makes some salient points about hurricanes and the need to consider the power lines, and be thoughtful about parking. Presently the parking along upper Pearl can be a driving and walking hazard. Off Street residential parking should be considered for public safety. There are areas that I don't believe can accommodate two way traffic, which would impair emergency vehicles.

For the Future: I hope the Town of Groton will also take this opportunity to look at predictions available by NOAA on sea level rise https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr.html, which would affect how the end of Main Street, near the town dock, is addressed. Let's be wise with this investment and be prepared for warmer and wetter winters, high tide flooding, and potential loss of land. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/high-tide-flooding.html Because of rising seas, land subsidence, and the loss of natural barriers, high tide flooding is now twice as frequent in U.S. coastal communities as it was 20 years ago. Predictions from the latest interagency Sea Level Rise Technical Report show that high tide flooding will become more common and more severe over the coming decades. As sea levels continue to rise, conditions that cause minor and moderate high tide flooding today will cause moderate and major high tide flooding by 2050.

For the Past: I would also agree with Andrew that keeping an eye to the past is equally important, and the history of this small village should be preserved. For example, the beautiful stone curbs should not be covered with ugly black asphalt (as was recently done on Church Street, although overall I have been impressed with the recent road repaving in other areas of Noank).

I am taking this opportunity within the public comment forum to advocated for a nice sign similar to those seen entering the historical sections of Mystic, for the village of Noank. If this is something that the town would embrace as a concept (even if funded outside of the town budget), that would be a nice touch to this lovely village.

Thank you,

Rose Powell (Pearl Street Noank)

(Basic Concept design by Cam Bortz)