Brattleboro DRB Greenlights Enhancements for Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center

Construction will commence by late spring after April 15 Review Board consent.

Last week, the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center secured approval for significant upgrades designed to enhance safety and accessibility on its campus. The Development Review Board gave its unanimous consent on April 15, allowing construction to commence by late spring.

The leadership of BEEC explained that the forthcoming adjustments are necessary to accommodate the high volume of visitors the facility attracts, which includes school programs, summer camps, and various public events. The need for these improvements reflects the increasing user traffic, particularly during peak seasons. 

The project includes two primary elements: an updated lower parking area with grass pavers and a new stone patio intended to function as an outdoor classroom adjacent to the farmhouse. The grass paver installation, which is a plastic grid laid over the existing lawn without major excavation, aims to enhance the overflow parking area while maintaining the natural appearance of the meadow.

Additionally, a redesigned gravel loop drive and a secondary access route to Bonnyvale Road will provide a safer circulation path for school buses, a necessary change during the busy drop-off and pick-up times, according to BEEC staff. This plan also involves the removal of four staff parking spots near the main building, which will be replaced with the patio and enhanced walkways; this is predicted to decrease impervious surfaces and enhance ADA accessibility.

The DRB received updates on existing parking issues, with certain areas being noncompliant due to their proximity to the 40-foot front setback. The redesign moves overflow parking further away from the road and decreases the number of available spaces from 39 to 31, constrained by wetlands identified during a state inspection last year.

DRB members expressed concerns about the maintenance of the grass pavers during winter, which would require careful snow management. BEEC staff indicated that they might rely on snow-blowing techniques in the initial year for the system’s proper settling.

The project received approval with two stipulations: it requires a sign-off from the Department of Public Works regarding culvert and access modifications, and the final plans for lighting, signage, and a new kiosk will undergo administrative review by the zoning administrator.

For more information about the Development Review Board’s discussions, the complete meeting can be accessed online.