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2024-05-07 Parking and Traffic Commission minutes CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3rd Floor Chambers DATE: May 7, 2024 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Richard Benevento, Vice Chair Darlene Wynne, Jonathan Salt, Dayna Morton, Sergeant Dana Nicholson, Captain Jake Kreyling BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: City Commissioner Michael Collins OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Naomi Moca Welcome and Call to Order Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:32 a.m. 1. Public Comment Period The Commission welcomes the public, current or potential applicants, and other interested parties to bring their questions/comments to the meeting during this 1 S-minute session There are no members of the public present. 2. Recommendation to the Planning Board: Special Plan Review #193-24—3, 3R, and 8 Summit Avenue—Robert I. Boudreau Engineer George Zambouras is present and presents the site plan. 8:35 a.m.: Tom Alexander of Alexander and Femino arrives. Zambouras says that the parking has been rearranged and the parking aisle has been widened to 24 feet. There are 29 total spaces total between the two lots: 20 standard spaces, seven compact spaces, and two parallel spaces. Alexander explains that now that the neighboring parcel has been acquired by the same owner, the parking is no longer limited by the boundary of the property, so the lots have been merged into one. Benevento asks how the vehicles will access certain spaces, and Zambouras explains that some drivers will parallel park while others will maneuver via three- or multi-point-turn to park. Alexander points out that the parking will hopefully relieve some parking congestion on the street. Vice Chair Wynne asks whether the house is on-site still, and Alexander explains that it was demolished. Sergeant Nicholson expresses gratitude to Boudreau for purchasing the lot for parking when he could have spent the money in other ways. Salt asks where the property lines are and Zambouras shows them on the site image. Benevento asks if there are two plots and Alexander says the lot is considered a single plot. Salt asks what the tent marked on the plan represents, and Zambouras City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission May 7,2024 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 says that it is a tent covering equipment including a snowblower. Alexander says it is in a CC Zone which stands for Central Commercial. Morton asks if the spaces are designated for parking for Anchor patrons and employees only and Zambouras says yes. Benevento asks if angled parking was considered, and Zambouras says he did not consider it when configuring the extended site. Benevento asks how the spaces will be delineated and Zambouras says each space will have its own sign. Wynne: Motion to recommend that the Planning Board approve Special Plan 9193-24 —3, 3R, and 8 Summit Avenue with the following conditions: 1. Wheel stops shall be placed on spaces 7 through 22. 2. Each parking space shall be designated with a sign. Captain Kreyling seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 3. Recommendation to the Planning Board: Special Permit#192-24—84 Hale Street—Amit Patel Architect David Jaquith is present on behalf of the applicant and says that the upstairs portion of the building will be renovated for use by the married couple who runs the store. Currently, there is enough room for a single parking space designated for the upstairs one-bedroom unit. Benevento asks if there is parking on Route 127 currently and Jaquith answers yes. There is a deficit of one space for the upstairs because two spaces are required for the residential use. There are no additional spaces needed for the existing commercial use. Jaquith explains that the use of the commercial floor will not change and Wynne explains that the business level is an existing use, and the new residential use technically requires two parking spaces. Salt clarifies that the lane along Hale Street is a bicycle lane. Kreyling says that he previously spoke to the owners of the property and made them aware of fire code issues, and he wants that fact to be noted in today's record. Salt asks for clarification on the need for the Special Permit, and Wynne explains that because zoning requires two spaces to be designated for a residential unit, the applicant is seeking relief for one space. Jaquith points out the dumpster location on the plan. Kreyling notes that the fire code states that the dumpster may not be stored under stairs nor any egress. Nicholson says that the dumpster may not be placed on the sidewalk. Salt clarifies that the Special Permit is needed for the configuration that already exists on site and Jaquith confirms that is correct and notes that the married couple who uses the unit owns one car. Morton clarifies that according to zoning, there must be two spaces and the applicant is asking for relief for one space. Jaquith says the eagle weathervane is going to be replaced on the top of the building to restore some of its character. Morton summarizes that the parking relief is making official an arrangement that already exists. Morton asks for clarification about the stairs, and Jaquith explains that the stairs do not take up any living space. Kreyling requests a site plan that visually demonstrates that the parking plan does not block any modes of egress and shows the location of the dumpster. Jaquith says the flight of stairs runs along the side of the building. City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission May 7,2024 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 Benevento says the limited space does not allow for the egress door, the dumpster, and the parking space. Jaquith says the dumpster will be relocated against the building, and Kreyling says that that needs to be run by the fire code and the health code to verify that it is compliant, which will preempt the Commission inadvertently approving a plan that does not conform. Salt expresses gratitude that the applicant is preserving a valuable historical property and the character of the neighborhood and is being honest about prior use of the unit as an unofficial residence. Salt comments that if the property were new construction, there would be numerous additional questions. The Commission discusses whether more information is needed to vote on the item. Kreyling: Motion to continue Special Permit 9192-24— 84 Hale Street to the June 4, 2024 meeting. Salt seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 4. Construction or project updates,if any a. Temporary Traffic Control Plan: 4-6, 8 Rantoul Street&Portion of 10 Rantoul Street—Amara (f/k/a SW Rantoul Gateway)—Procopio Companies Nicholson says the left turn lane is functioning well and Procopio has been responsive. b. Post-Development monitoring study update: Mission Boathouse— 1 Water Street— Beverly Restaurant Associates LLC Wynne says that she has not heard from Martin Bloom since the April 2, 2024 meeting. Wynne agrees to issue an official letter on behalf of the Commission with start and end dates for the traffic study. c. Road work impacting traffic City-wide The Commission discusses the ongoing road work throughout the City and Wynne says the City has been asked to more aggressively address road repair work. Benevento comments that making a project smaller, generally speaking, lowers the number of required parking spaces. Salt comments that parking throughout the downtown area has become challenging. Wynne says there are zoning requirements such as a buffer for parking. Salt says more green space may be beneficial and avoid a heat island. Approval of Minutes: a. April 2,2024 The members review the April 2, 2024 draft meeting minutes. Kreyling: Motion to accept the April 2, 2024 meeting minutes as written. Nicholson seconds. Motion carries (6-0). Adjournment City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission May 7,2024 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Morton: Motion to adjourn. Nicholson seconds. Motion carries unopposed. Meeting adjourns at 9:31 a.m. The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.