The proposed Felton Library took a gigantic leap forward this week when the county Board of Supervisors approved almost $1 million to begin survey and engineering work.
The board unanimously released $919,598 of the $8.7 million targeted toward the library as part of bond Measure S, passed by voters last June. It is anticipated that the county will appropriate the remainder of the funds this summer, according to Nicole Coburn, senior administrative analyst.
“Some people still don’t think this is going to happen,” said Jim Mosher, a member of Felton Library Friends, adding that last month 12 more people volunteered to be a part of the effort. “This is happening.”
The new 9,300-square-foot-library in Felton on Gushee Street next to the Post Office is a step up from the current 123-year-old former church space currently being used — squeezed into to 1,250 square feet of space.
Felton Library Friends will be the touch point as engineering and landscape plans are developed. “We’re the sounding board for them to prepare a site plan,” Mosher said, adding that in the end of February a 12-member AmeriCorps team will tackle the intrusive blackberries on the property.
In mid-March there will be a public meeting to gather community input for the site plan. “It’s a community experience,” said Nancy Gerdt, Felton Library Friends.
A community fundraiser for the educational component (not part of Measure S funding) will take place sometime in May, Gerdt said.
Meanwhile, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District has offered an easement of 2 acres of land that will be used for open space with educational activities. The exact amount of the easement will not be decided until the site plan is complete. The county does not want responsibility for land that it will not use.
“We anticipate that most or all of the proffered land will be accepted by the county,” Mosher said.
Here are the steps to a spring 2018 ground breaking:
- Approved development permit from county planning department.
- CEQUA environmental review.
- County planning commission develops mitigations for the project.
- An RFP for the work is advertised.
Felton Library Friends anticipate the library will take a year to build and three or four months to complete the interior.
