Final concept for Harbert streetscape plan presented to Chikaming planners

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Final concept for Harbert streetscape plan presented to Chikaming planners

Work on the future landscape of Harbert, which will transform its overall aesthetic, is going along smoothly, members of the Chikaming Township Planning Commission learned at their Wednesday, Nov. 3, meeting.

An open house was held on the planned streetscape improvements for Harbert in September, with participants looking at three concepts: Concept A, B and C.

The project is being looked at in the context of two other projects: the nonmotorized path, which is part of the Berrien County Road Department’s current project to reconstruct Red Arrow Highway from Main Drive to Sawyer Road and the Park Board’s work on redesigning Harbert Community Park.

A survey was also filled out, with Eric Neagu, principal of The Antero Group, saying that they received 66 surveys (including online and hard copy) responses.

“We kind of distilled that into a final concept,” he said, adding that he hopes the streetscape elements can be implemented next year.

Presenting on the final concept was Michelle Kelly, an architect from Upland Design, which is working with Antero on the project.

On the west side of the highway will be the nonmotorized path. On both sides of the highway, there will be nodes to make everything “flow together.”

Planning Commission Chair John

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA Chipman said that a five or six-member group that included a landscape designer, a planner, a forester, another architect, and himself have been involved along with their consultants with developing what they were viewing that evening. They’ve also been consulting with the Park Board on their plans for Harbert Community Park.

Kelly said that for the most part, the final design elements that she was showing everyone that night reflected parts of Concept A. There’s a “wood feel” throughout the design, with all the furniture (such as benches and litter receptacles) having metal frames to “live up the elements.” With regards to light fixtures, it was requested that the lighting be kept low.

Signage included wayfinding, welcome and interpretive (which would outline the story of Harbert) signs. An option A and B for different signs were both presented that night, with the former having signs being on an angle as opposed to straight across. The idea would be to create an “experience” with the signs, Neagu said. He added that some of the nodes could have some “mini parks,” with the signs being a part of them. Chipman said it might be nice to also have a trailhead, like the one on Town Line Avenue in Union Pier, near Harbert Community Park. The trailhead could “supplement” the park entities, such as providing a place for people to park if there are events at the park.

Neagu said that the design concepts aren’t set in stone and merely “captures” what was said in the surveys.

“This is not constructed until it’s constructed,” he said, adding that they’re still seeking feedback.

Funding for the project is also being pursued, with Neagu saying that federal funding is coming out that is being earmarked toward tourism and the service industry.

He added that elements of the streetscape can be done as the funding comes about – although, ideally, it’d be nice to have it done all at once to create a “big impact” on the area.

The planners approved issuing both an initial and final approval of a site plan for an addition to Stockholm Objects located along Red Arrow Highway in Harbert, on the condition that the Berrien County Road Department requirements be met and that the county drain commission provide a needed permit and that a soil plan be submitted.

According to Reinhard Brinkmeier, who co-owns Stockholm with his wife, Annette, the additional space would be on the left side of the building and would add 600 square feet to the current building’s 1200 square feet.

Chipman said that the proposed Union Green development should be on the December or January Planning Commission meeting’s agenda. He said when they’ve received the impact statement for the project, it will be on the township’s website.