WESTFIELD - Even though it isn't necessarily the season to be spending time at Barcelona, the lakeside hamlet is still much on the minds of Town of Westfield officials.
At a recent Town of Westfield meeting, board members discussed making possible enhancements to various aspects of Barcelona, including infrastructure and the pier.
Town Supervisor Martha Bills said the town has received two matching grants for Barcelona - one which would be aimed at improving the area around Front Street and another providing for landscaping, fencing, lighting and improving other aspects at the pier.
Mrs. Bills said the town also wants to move forward with the building of a parking lot at the corner of Routes 5 and 394, including a sign or kiosk alerting visitors to what is available in the area.
"We're hoping to do that this year," Mrs. Bills said of the parking lot and kiosk.
Prior to the meeting, the board also held a public hearing, where they asked residents for suggestions about what they would like to see added or improved at Barcelona. Westfield historian Marybelle Beigh suggested the building of senior housing or a hotel in the area. However, Mrs. Bills said the town would have to first work on building waterlines to the hamlet before moving forward with such a project.
"If there were waterlines, we would get the chance for opportunities like that, because in the past we've had developers look at it and that's been a stumbling block," Mrs. Bills said.
Town Councilman Jim Herbert said Barcelona needed additional lodging, but the town must first look into the water situation.
"We need a good motel," he said. "We can't get it without water and sewer. If you put it in, they will come."
John Rawlinson, Westfield Development Corporation executive director, said grants are currently being applied for which would revamp the municipality's whole water system.
"That would influence the whole system being put in place in Barcelona," Rawlinson said.
Also at the meeting, board members approved a resolution extending the time period residents may comment on the proposed wind farm's draft environmental impact statement. The extension comes after Town of Ripley officials, who, along with the Town of Westfield, serve as a co-lead agency for the project, were unable to meet and schedule a public hearing. Residents may comment on the document until May 17. A public hearing on the document will also be held on Tuesday, April 13, beginning at 1 p.m.
"We know the draft environmental impact statement is quite a large document, but I encourage you to take a look at it," Mrs. Bills said. "I really hope the community makes an effort to educate themselves about the project. We're interested in your comments."
Comments may be sent either to Tim Smith, town clerk, spoken at the public hearing on April 13, or electronically through the town's Web site, www.townofwestfield.org.