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2014-11-04CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: November 4, 2014 LOCATION: Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento, Chair, City Planner Aaron Clausen, Bill Fiore, Sgt. Russ Rollins, john Somes MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Hutchinson OTHERS PRESENT: Councilor Don Martin, Rob Dever, Greg St. Louis RECORDER: Eileen Sacco 11 Benevento calls the meeting to order at B: 30 a.m. 2. Discussion on Traffic Study for the Neighborhood Around Route 1A and Route 97 - Councilor Don Martin Benevento recalls that the Parking and Traffic Commission discussed this matter and asked for scope of work and cost estimate to do a traffic study on the area. He notes that Clausen has provided the information and reviews the recommendation with the members. Councilor Martin states that he is concerned about cut through traffic in the neighborhood behind Henry's. Market and that should be included. in the traffic study area. Benevento explains that if the intersection at Henry's Market were working properly people would not cut through the neighborhood. Benevento also notes that if part of the mitigation is to improve the Henry's Market intersection that would be a capital expense for the City. Clausen reported that Mayor Cahill is working on trying to do an analysis of three areas noting the areas of Bridge and River Streets, the base of the Salem /Beverly Bridge and the Henry's Market intersection. He explains that he would like to get a project for the areas on the state TIP. Benevento explains that a.m. and p.m. traffic counts, accident history, and driver behavior would need to be looked at. Martin agrees and notes that they would have to come back with the results and up to three recommendations on what could be done. Benevento states that he will work with Clausen on a description of what they want to look at and the city can send out for proposals. Sgt. Rollins stated that the neighbors would like stop signs on every corner and notes that the solution would be to change the geometry. He also notes that part time do not enter signs are hard to enforce and people don't take them seriously. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes November 4, 2014 Meeting Page e 1 of S Martin will email Clausen a list of his concerns and those of the neighbors. Sgt. Rollins states that the cut through from Conant Street to Cabot Street may be contributing to the problem as well. Clausen reports that St. Louis looked at this as well. 3. Recommendation to the Planning Board: Site Plan Review #112 -14 and Special Permit #139 -14: Construct a Five Story Building, Mixed Use Buildin at 50 [52] Dunham Road Steve Drohosky and Rod Emery are present for the applicant. Benevento addressed Mr. Drohosky and notes that he is concerned that the Commission only received the requested information on Monday and that did not give the members much time to review it. He noted that he took a look at it and also had members of his staff in his office take a look at it as well. Drohosky explains that they commissioned new traffic counts and gap studies in October. He explains that they recreated the volume and the intersection and it reflects the counts today. He also notes that they included the potential CEA growth and introduced Emery to review the traffic counts. Emery reviews the traffic counts as indicated in the report. Benevento notes that the cue length is 130 feet but the lane is much shorter, noting that it may have to be widened a little. He also notes that there will be increases in the left turn volume and questions if there would be a conflict with the right turn off the ramp. Drohosky explains that they are proposing a mixed use development of 30% research and development, 30% manufacturing and 40% office space. He notes that 50 Dunham Road has 70% manufacturing and that will bring down the count. He also notes that it is very unlikely that they would do 100% office space noting that is hard to do as they have learned from the Cummings Center. He stated that they have a lot of conservative assumptions built in to the 300,000 s.f of the new development. He further notes that it took them 11 years to fill 500,000 s.f. at the Cummings Center. Benevento expressed concern about the layout of Dunham Road and stated that he is concerned that the plan proposed is a pencil sketch and he doesn't think that the lanes are long enough and wondered if they have enough right of way. Benevento asks for comments from members of the Commission at this time. Clausen states that there are issues that need to be worked out and they are going to need an emergence design plan for the intersection that is going to work. Benevento agreed and notes that it does not have to be a construction document but they need to show cue lengths and show that what is proposed can work. He also states that he Parking & Traffic Commission minutes November 4, 2414 Meeting Page 2 of 5 thinks that a signal is needed in that location. He also notes that there is a house on the corner and they have to be sure that there are no conflict points. Clausen agrees that there are potential conflicts and as part of the design they need to work that out a little bit. Benevento asks if they looked at the number of left turns onto Brimbal in the morning. Emery explains that they did and there are less than 20, noting that predominant was the right turn off to Brimbal. Drohosky suggests that they could fix some of it later noting that there could be a significant period of time between now and when the improvements are needed. He states that they would fund the improvements but would rather wait to see if they are needed noting that if Dunham Road is a dead end that would change things. Benevento notes that the Level of Service now at the intersection with no building is LOS D and notes that any improvements to the intersection should be done sooner rather than later, further noting that he is worried about after the fact improvements. He also states that we have no way of know when or if Phase II of the Brimbal Ave project will be completed. Benevento notes that there are a lot of contributing factors that need to be corrected and they will continue if not addressed. He states that he is looking for some sort of commitment that if improvements need to be made that they be addressed, noting that maybe a combined effort with CEA Group could be worked out. He further states that we. have to assume that Phase 11 is not going to happen. Dennis Clarke, President and CEO of Cummings Properties addressed the Commission and stated that this development is all new growth for the City of Beverly and will pay significant taxes to the city and they require very little in city services. He questions what would be wrong with the city using the new tax revenue to fix what needs to be done in the area. He also noted that they donate two million dollars a year to local charities. Benevento note that they do receive city services with part of the property taxes they pay with police and fire protection. Benevento also states that the last person in should not have to take care of all of the problems and it should not be on the backs of the City of Beverly to take care of it if it is. Clausen states that the Planning Board has the authority to request mitigation on impacts around the site. Benevento states that typically a project does not degrade the traffic in the area and should make it better or it should stay the same. He notes that the level of service at that intersection is E. Drohosky states that they do not know when or if the third building will be built and asked the PTC to support the proposed project. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes November 4, 2414 Meeting Page 3of5 Fiore notes that a cut through is Presidential and College Lane and notes that most of the traffic is from the Music Theater, He notes that they have a police detail at Brimbal and Dunham when they sell 600 tickets to a shover. Rollins states that he would like to see sidewalks on both sides of the Dunham Road. Drohosky states that they have discussed sidewalks and notes that there are some on the street. He notes that the lanes of the street are narrow and their site is not a particularly pedestrian destination and they do not think that there would be a benefit from sidewalks Benevento asks if more buildings are possible on the site. Drohosky explains that there is a lot of ledge and wetlands challenges on the 55 acre site. Benevento states that they should do a master plan for the full build out of the site. Drohosky states that there is no additional potential for development on the site, noting that there is a lot of ledge. He also notes that they could go to the west if there was market for it but that is another consideration. Clausen states that he would like to see a design plan for the PTC before they make a recommendation to the Planning Board. St. Louis notes that they are seeking parking relief for the project. Drohosky explains that if there is a substantial change in use that requires more parking they would come back to for additional spaces. Benevento suggests that they submit information requested by the PTC on the length of the queue and how long it should be and that the information be submitted to the Commission a week before the meeting to give members a chance to review it. Fiore moved to continue the matter to the December Z, 2014 PTC meeting. Rollins seconded the motion. The motion carries (4 -0). There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Benevento thanked them for attending. 4. Discussion of August 13 2 014 Site Visit Regarding Citizens Letter Regardin Traffic Safety at the Intersection of Hale and Endicott Streets Benevento recalls that St. Louis was asked to look at the striping at Hale and Endicott Streets instead of taking the island out. Fiore explains that the Fire Department needs as much turning radius as possible to get the trucks in. He notes the location of the pavement and the size of the trucks. St. Louis explains that there are three scenarios that they could do to remedy this. He notes that there should be a stop control at Hale Street and striping is a good alternative. He states that he will take another look at this and tweak and report back to the PTC. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes November 4, 2014 Meeting Page 4 of 5 S. Discussion with City Engineer Greg St. Louis Regarding the Route 1A Project and Downtown Parking Lot and on Street Parkin Issues St. Louis reports that the main project is done and the project is out to bid. He states that the bid opening is scheduled for February so the project is in a holding pattern right now. St. Louis reported that Beverly Main Streets is working on the Broadway/ Railroad Avenue redesign to include a pedestrian connection. He notes that there is no line of sight connecting the two corridors. Benevento notes that the PTC has discussed possible solutions and notes that the scope needs to be outlined% 6. old /New Business Clausen reported that he will have a draft of the bicycle master plan update for the December meeting. Clausen reports that the Centerville School applied for a Safe Routes to School grant and the city is still waiting to hear about that. 7. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the PTC meeting held on October 7, 2014 were presented for approval. The approval of the minutes was table to the December meeting. 8. Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. 7. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Rollins: motion to adjourn, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, motion carries 5 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes November 4, 2014 Meeting Page 5of5