2008-10-06
CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
Planning Board, Joint Public Hearing with City
Council
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
October 6, 2008
City Council Chambers, Beverly City Hall, 3rd
Floor
Chairperson Richard Dinkin, Vice Chairperson
John Thomson, Ellen Flannery, Ellen Hutchinson,
Leo Panunzio, Stephanie Williams
Joanne Dunn, Charles Harris, David Mack
Planning Director Tina Cassidy, Assistant
Planning Director Leah Zambernardi
Andrea Bray
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Joint Public Hearin2: - City Council Order #207 - Zonin2: Amendments relative to
"Off-Street Parkin2: Reauirements" (Section 29-25.A) and "Parkin2: Loadin2: Space.
and Desi2:n Specifics" (Section 29-25.D)
City Council President Tim Flaherty calls the hearing to order. He invites the Planning
Board Chair, Richard Dinkin, to join him at the front.
Planning Director Tina Cassidy speaks on the issue, stating that the these zoning
amendments will facilitate the redevelopment of the waterfront area. She explains that
the current ordinance requires that restaurants provide one parking space for 50 square
feet devoted to patron use, and because "patron use" would vary with each establishment,
this is difficult to pin down. She continues by describing the required parking for
marinas as 1 space per boat slip, which is legally present as a boat slip on land or in a
storage building.
The first zoning amendment, as Cassidy explains, would alter the requirements for
restaurants to 1 parking space for every 4 seats, and for marinas to .5 space per boat
moored, docked, stored, or trailered.
Cassidy states that the second amendment modifies the set-back requirements for
parking.
Councilor Cronin asks about the date restrictions.
Cassidy clarifies that these are for seasonality and they were derived (1) to coincide with
the active boating season, and (2) because she looked at a number of other communities
and found 10r 2 communities that use these same dates.
PB JPH
October 6, 2008
Page 2 of3
Cronin asks if allowing parking to be used for boats will inhibit use for the restaurant
parking.
Cassidy states that because the demand for parking should lessen in the winter months,
she sees this as a way to allow the Beverly Port Marina to better use their land.
Burke asks for clarification on the parking requirements.
Troubetaris asks if this will extend up to the "Stop and Shop".
Cassidy states that these amendments are only for the area near the old McDonald's, and
the study of the entire waterfront up to "Stop and Shop" is now underway.
Councilor Coughlin asks if the parking changes would encourage any other entities in the
City to change their parking requirements for their own businesses.
Cassidy states that she does not see anything in this zoning amendment that would
necessitate any action from anyone else.
Councilor Slate speaks in support of this ordinance change, stating that it is critical to
move this project forward while we have a developer that is willing to work on that area.
Don Neuman of26 Washington Street speaks in support of this zoning change.
Miranda Gooding of 10 Hopkins Avenue, Chair of the Harbor Management Authority,
speaks in favor of this zoning change.
Attorney David Smith, representing Alfred Thibedeau, Water Street, speaks in favor of
this project.
Attorney Robert Schlein, of70 Dane Street, representing Joe Leone, speaks in favor of
the project.
Greg Ward, of Ward's Florist at 45 Cabot Street, who is with the Harbor Authority
speaks in favor of the project.
Rosemary Maglio of30 Pleasant Street speaks in opposition to the zoning change. She
expresses concern about the lack of parking for the employees of the restaurant or
marina. She states that there is a problem with one area where the boats park right
against the public walkway.
Gin Wallace of 22 East Street, with Beverly Main Streets speaks in favor of this zoning
change.
PB JPH
October 6, 2008
Page 3 of3
As there are no further comments from the public, City Council President Flaherty closes
the City Council's public hearing.
Planning Board Chair Dinkin asks for a motion to close the Planning Board's public
hearing.
Thomson: Motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Flannery. All members
and the Chair vote in favor. The motion passes 6-0.
Dinkin closes the public hearing on the Planning Board side.