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1999-06-09CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE DATE PLACE MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT RECORDER : Norwood Pond Commission : : June 9, 1999 : Beverly City Hall : Chairman Don Martin, Vice-Chairman Neiland Douglas, Todd Lampert, Bill Frost, Tina Cassidy, Virginia MeGlynn, Joyee McMahon, J. Michael Lawler, David Lang : Bruce Nardella, Kevin Burke : City Engineer Frank Killilea : Tina Cassidy Chairman Martin calls the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. He informs the commission and audience that the Norwood Pond site and the former Camevale property immediately adjacent to it were recently rezoned by the City Council from residential to a new Open Space and Recreation District. Martin asks if there is any public comment at this time. There is none. Next, Martin asks fithere are any last comments on the interim report before it is finalized and presented to the Mayor. Frost questions the construction costs associated with the overpass and interchange improvements, and wonders whether the improvements will warrant the expenditure of funds to construct them. He states that recent newspaper articles about the economic development analysis being prepared by the City's Economic and Community Development Council ("ECDC") were confusing, and asks whether the interim report of the Norwood Pond Commission should state that the overpas,qinterchange construction costs will be more than the $5 million the state has pledged in funding for an overpass. Doughs responds that the final design of the transportation project will dictate the actual cost, and that it seems clear that because the project now involves constructing interchange improvements in addition to an overpass, the cost will in fact be more than the $5 million originally envisioned. He adds that the commission has been fairly unanimous in its support of the concept of making traffic and safety improvements to the area. Frost wonders whether it will make sense to pursue this project based on the tax generation revenue quoted in the newspapers as a result of the ECDC's work. McMahon states that the tax revenue figures quoted in the newspaper articles have changed from meeting to meeting because the ECDC is revising and finatizing its reporL which she hopes to provide to members at the next meeting. Part of the confusion stems from the li~c~ tha~ the press has been reporting on the ECDC's drafls of the reporl while they arc Norwood Pond Commission June 9, 1999 meeting minutes Page two still "works in progress", and members have made several changes to the assumptions. they are using to create conservative but realistic conclusions. She adds that the purpose of the interim Norwood Pond Commission report is to inform the City of its efforts to date. It is not designed to be the final definitive statement on the subject of overpass/interchange improvements. She points out that if funding is a concern at this stage, members should keep in mind that a myriad of other potential funding sourcos could be available for this project as they were with the Sam Fonzo Drive industrial roadway project. Public Works Economic Development grants, Community Development Action Grants, and private investment are all possibilities. Lang asks representatives of the City's consulting fn-m 0TI'SD) who are present if they have preliminary estimates of cost for the design as it presently exists. Bill Lyons of HTSD states that it is very difficult to quote costs at this poim, since the size and elements of the project are still being scoped at present. The current conceptual plan would cost slightly less than $11 million. He states that if funding becomes an issue, it would be possible to "segment" cometion of the project so that it could be constructed in stages. Lang suggests that the wording of the interim report include a statement that the cost of construction of this project would be $10 to $11 million dollars. Several members express concern with that statement, since the real cost of construction of this project is yet unknown. Martin suggests tabling discussion on the interim report for the moment, and asks Killilea to introduce the representatives of HTSD. Killilea introduces Christer Ericsson and Bill Lyons ofHTSD. Lyons explains the latest conceptual plan that has been drafted (see copy of plan attached hereto). He summarizes the preliminary data collection that HTSD has done, including traffic counts and analyses of a number of intersections in the Brimhal Avenue/Dunham Road area. Based on this information, HTSD has determined that traffic conditions at all intersections on Brimbal Avenue would improve with this project. Lyons discusses Route IA briefly, noting that the State is about to embark on an infrastructure improvement program for that mad. He also states that the access road and overpass would be designed to accommodate, not preclude, future development on Dunham Road. He also explains that a build out study of the area was conducted. and the potential number of vehicle trips was extrapolated. The number of vehicle trips dictates the number of lanes, traffic lights, etc. that should be constructed. Norwood Pond Commission Jane 9, 1999 meeting minutes Page three Douglas asks how much additional traffic couM be expected on Dunham Road at full build-out. Lyons responds 557 additional vehicle trips in the peak hour at full build-out. Lyons states that the road leading to the bridge would he four lanes wide and the bridge would have five lanes (one of which would be a turning lane) and a sidewalk. The project also calls for improvements to Dunham Road, and Lyons notes that the finn will need to work with the City to find an acceptable way to provide alternative emergency vehicle access to the Dunham Road area in the event there is a blockage oftraffle on the bridge. Under the present conceptual plan, two existing ramps in the Brimbal Avenue/Route 128 interchange would be discontinued. Doughs asks Lyons why the firm assumed that the existing Burger King rest area would remain. Lyons states that the owners have a lease with the State to operate the rest area, and they have an obligation to perform under the terms of the lease. Martin asks if the current design makes provision for the possible siting of a new fire station within the cloverleaf of the Brimbal Avenue/Route 128 interchange. Lyons answers that they have, although the details of access driveways would not he known antil a proposed facility were designed. Frost asks if the finn can make smaller-sized copies of the current plan available to the public. Lyons states that he can provide smaller plans to the Planning Department within a day. Lang asks Lyons to clarify the traffic generation rates he quoted earlier. Lyoas states that peak hour traffic at full build-out is projecied to he 557 vehicles during the peak hoar, not the entire day. He adds that the total study area was approximately 177 acres. McMahon says she recalls the ECDC assumed a total buildable acreage of 65-70 acres for its economic impact analysis. Lang asks if there is a threshold number of vehicle trips that must be reached before the State will fund the overpass. Lyons states there is not, and that in fact the State has already committed funding to this project. Lang asks if the State has taken a position on this proposed design. Lyons answers that the State has not reviewed the current desigr~ although they have reviewed previous versions of the plan which they believe had merit. He adds that the plan meets all design criteria for minimum spacing distance between access ramps. Lang suggests that the first paragraph of the interim report be rewritten to indicate that the overpass project will cost more than the $5 million currently set aside by the State for this project. Cassidy states that she would he concerned with any language that specified a dollar amount for construction costs at this point, since the costs will depend on the fmal design which is a long way from being completed. Douglas suggests that if construction costs ultimately exceed the State's $5 million, the City will become proactive in seeking private contributions toward construction costs as it did in the Sam Fonzo Drive / Airport Road project. Many of the propertx, owners in this area have future development plans that would be benefited by an improvgd transportation system. He Norwood Pond Commission June 9, 1999 meeting minutes Page four also states that grants such as the Public Works Economic Development grant are also available for construction. Lawler asks Lyons why a traffic signal at the Dunham Road / Brimbal Avenue intersection is included in the design. Lyons explains that it is for those motorists on Brimbal Avenue who wish to access the southbound on-ramp. Lawler states his concern and opposition to the "jughandle" concept shown on the Route 128 off-ramp to Brimbal Avenue. Douglas offers his general comment on the design to date, stating that he is comfortable with the conceptual design as it is evolving, and that the basic fundamental concepts are okay. With respect to Lang's request that modified language he incorporated into the first paragraph of the commission's interim report, McMahon suggests the following revised language for the last sentence of the first paragraph in the report, which Lang adopts as his motion: Lang: motion to replace the last sentence of the first paragraph of the interim report with the following: "A major pan of the impetus for its formation was a $5 million pledge from the State toward the design and construction of an overpass, interchange, and roadway system which, in 1999 dollars for the June 1999 conceptual plan, stands at just under $11 million," Motion is seconded by Douglas, all members in favor. Motion carries. Douglas: motion to approve the interim report as mended, seconded by McMahon. All members in favor, motion carries. Next, Martin explains that all members of the commission have been provided with copies of the Norwood Pond Study conducted by Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc., and suggests that the commission discuss the report this evening. A number of residents from the Norwood Pond area are at the meeting this evening to hear the commission's discussion. Members generally discuss the report; Frost notes the various methods available to control the pond's eutrophication, noting that dredging may be the most effective option, but that it has some drawbacks. Douglas states that although he has reviewed the report, he is not ready to endorse a particular course of action this evening. He expects the commission to discuss the report over the coming months and to recommend a course of action for the City's consideration as part of the commission's final report. He does state that the commission appears unanimous in its support for preserving the pond. Frost states his advocacy in cleaning up the area around the dam. Douglas suggests that the commission consider recessing for the summer and reconvening in September when Norwood Pond Commission June 9, 1999 meeting minutes Page five more definitive information on the overpass/interchange design and the State report on the condition of the dam is available. He suggests that the commission might be willing to schedule a special meeting to consider the Norwood Pond issue if necessary. A general discussion is held regarding the commission's summer meeting schedule. Frost volunteers to organize a site visit to the dam at the pond for a date in July. Ms. Pam Kampersal, Dodge Street, asks the commission to consider meeting in August to discuss the report on the pond, and members agree that an August meeting will be held. Doughs: motion to recess the Norwood Pond Commission until August, seconded by MeGlynn. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is ndjoumed at I0:10 p.m.