Timeline

4) Describe how community input was solicited and used in writing the Building Program, including library consultants, if any were involved.
As described in the Planning Timeline below, a town library survey was administered by LFNAC in 2007, and the results along with several community forums held in 2008 informed the Library Building Program. LFNAC also met with the previous Library Building Committee (effective 1995 - 2001) for input.
Planning Timeline: 1995
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Shutesbury: Project Description: Planning Process and Participation
1996 - 2001
• Building Committee gleaned town input and wrote first Library Building Program; an architect developed and evaluated site options, and prepared site plan, schematic drawings, and construction estimates for a library addition.
2001
• Design and plan for an addition to the current library were presented and withdrawn at Town Meeting (due to opposition of location because of encroachment on the Town Common). Residents were committed to a new, larger facility, however, not on the existing library site.
2004
• 2004 Shutesbury Master Plan identified the need for a new library. • Town Meeting approved purchase of Lot O-32 (19.57 acres) on Leverett Road,
listing a library as a potential use.
2006
• New Long-Range Plan developed by library director and Library Trustees. 2007
• Library Trustees submitted application for MPLCP Planning and Design Grant. • The Library Facility Needs Assessment Committee (LFNAC) was formed as a
sub-committee of the Library Trustees:
􏰂 Six members consisting of Library Trustees, town committee representatives (including Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee and Buildings Committee) and Shutesbury residents.
􏰂 As an ex-officio member, the library director attended and participated in LFNAC meetings.
• LFNAC was charged with evaluating the current facility’s ability to meet the Library’s Long-Range Plan, making recommendations and writing the Library Building Program.
• Town receives a second Library Planning and Design grant. • LFNAC initiated and administered community survey at various town events and
online.
• LFNAC examined experiences of neighboring towns that recently built new libraries.
• LFNAC met with previous Library Building Committee members to benefit from their experience.
• Some LFNAC members and Library Trustees attended Green Library Tour.
• LFNAC met with Anne Larson, MBLC Small Library Construction Consultant. 2008
• LFNAC completed community survey (201 respondents). Survey results inform Library Building Program.
• LFNAC conducted three community forums to obtain further input from town residents about library needs and to gather feedback about building a new library.
2009
• LFNAC completed the second library Building Program and distributed it widely to Shutesbury residents and town committees.
• LFNAC’ s charge expanded to hiring an Owner’ s Project Manager and an Architect, and completing the library construction grant application.
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Shutesbury: Project Description: Planning Process and Participation • Owner’s Project Manager selection process completed; D.A. Sullivan & Sons, Inc.
hired. • Architect selection process completed; Oudens Ello Architects (OEA) hired. • LFNAC, OPM and OEA made benchmarking visits to:
􏰂 Recently built neighboring town libraries: Sunderland, Leverett, Wendell, Pelham and Southampton.
􏰂 Town buildings: Elementary School, Old Town Hall, Community Church, and Sirius Community Center.
• Site options evaluated by architects and associated engineers.
• Survey and wetland delineation of Lot O-32 with town Conservation Commission.
• Request for Determination of Applicability filed with Conservation Commission regarding wetlands, findings determined that project was outside 100 foot buffer zone.
• Community Forum: Open to all town boards and residents to discuss site options. Attendees included Board of Selectman, Library Trustees, Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, Planning Board, LFNAC, OPM, architects, abutters and town residents. Lot O-32 was unanimously approved as site for new library.
2010
• LFNAC meetings were held roughly every three weeks with architects to discuss multiple designs and features that would mesh the adopted Building Program with a preliminary floor plan design.
• Library director and architects met with MBLC twice to review schematic design. • LFNAC members, library director, architects, OPM and town administrator attend
Library Construction workshop at Chicopee Public Library. • Joint meetings held:
􏰂 LFNAC and Shutesbury Conservation Commission to discuss characteristics of Lot O-32.
􏰂 LFNAC and town committees to discuss preliminary design, renderings and cost and funding estimates: Board of Selectman, Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, LFNAC, architects.
􏰂 LFNAC and Library Trustees to discuss preliminary design and renderings. 􏰂 Open town forum held to discuss preliminary design, renderings and cost and
funding estimates. • Town Meeting approves motion (163 votes in favor and 20 opposed, 89% in
favor) to accept a preliminary library design for a new library and authorize the Town to apply for state funds to defray all or part of the cost of design and construction of a new library.
• Roe Waltos, Library Building Consultant, met with LFNAC to review MBLC Library Construction Program.
• Perc test, geotechnical survey and hazardous materials testing completed for Lot O-32.
• Library Long Range Plan for 2012 – 2016 submitted to MBLC. • LFNAC members, library director and Town Administrator visit MBLC in Boston
and review successful grant applications; Allston library site visit. • Letter of Intent submitted to MBLC. • New Shutesbury Library Capital Fundraising Committee (NSLCFC) established
by Board of Selectman consisting of two Library Trustees, two Friends of the M.N. Spear Library, and three community members.
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Shutesbury: Project Description: Planning Process and Participation • NSLCFC votes to hire a professional fundraiser to complete a feasibility study.