2015-01-13CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board:
Special Planning Board Meeting
Date:
January 13, 2015
Location:
Beverly Senior Center
Members Present
Chair John Thomson, Vice Chair Ellen Hutchinson, Ellen Flannery,
John Mullady, Catherine Barrett, James Matz, David Mack, Wayne
Miller and Ned Barrett
Members Absent:
None
Others Present:
Assistant City Planner Leah Zambernardi, and City Planner Aaron
Clausen
Recorder:
Eileen Sacco
Thomson calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Flannery: motion to recess for public hearings. Miller seconds the motion. The motion
carries (8 -0).
Continued Concurrent Public Hearings — Site Plan Review Application #113 -14 and Special
Permit Application #139 -14 —Site Plan Review Application to Build out North Shore
Crossing — 140 Brimbal Avenue — CEA Beverly
Thomson addresses those present and requests that if they wish to address the Planning Board
this evening that they sign in on the sheets provided. He also explains that this meeting will
focus on traffic impact of the project only and explains the agenda for the evening. He notes that
he will have a presentation from the applicant's traffic engineer and a presentation from the peer
review traffic engineer on behalf of the city and he will allow for comments from members of the
Planning Board and members of the public. He notes that he expects that this matter will be
continued to the next regular meeting of the Planning Board and he expects this meeting will go
until around 10:00 p.m. this evening.
Thomson asks for a motion to waive the reading of the public notice. Flannery moves to waive
the reading of the public notice. Hutchinson seconds the motion. The motion carries (9 -0).
Steve Cohen, President of CEA Group addresses the Planning Board and states that it is no secret
that traffic is a big concern troubling the neighbors of the site. He explains that traffic studies
have been done by Jacobs Engineering for both this project and the MASSDOT for their
interchange project on Brimbal Avenue as well as Ron Mueller from TEC. He also notes that a
peer review of the traffic plan has been done on behalf of the City at the expense of the
developer. He states that he understands and respects the fear that the neighbors have expressed.
He also states that tonight they will hear from the traffic engineers on the plans.
Cohen addresses the Board and explains that they reviewed the preliminary traffic study with the
Planning Director who asked for a broader scope of study to include other areas in the
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neighborhood that may be impacted by the project. He also notes that the city hired TEC Inc. to
do a peer review of the plans and the traffic study. He notes that they have responded and they
have worked with them back and forth until they were satisfied with the plan.
Cohen explains that part of the review process and comments review of the site plan will result
in a number of changes. He notes that an additional bypass lane was added to the bank parcel
and several minor changes to signage, adjustments of curb radius were added to the plan as well.
He notes that the most significant change was the added access to the site on Sohier Road. He
explains that the rationale for the additional access is to distribute the traffic in as many
directions as possible. He states that this access will be very effective in reducing traffic on
Brimbal Avenue and the existing traffic on to the connector road would be reduced by 40 %.
Cohen explains that discussions are ongoing regarding mitigation for the area and notes that they
are in discussion regarding a fair share contribution for traffic mitigation. He notes that TEC has
determined a fair share but they are still in discussions with the Parking and Traffic Commission.
Cohen explains that they are still waiting for a permit for the curb cut from the state but notes
that standard practice is to get local permits first.
Cohen explains that the residents of North Ridge have some concerns related to traffic and
otherwise and they feel that they have a responsibility to address their concerns. He notes that
they have addressed some of their drainage issues and they will be monitoring landfill gases on
the site. He also notes that they are proposing to install a fence along the property line. He also
notes that they will be working with them on a landscaping plan noting a tree line along the
property line that has gaps and they are working with them to improve that.
Cohen explains the traffic volumes on Sohier Road. He states that the critical issue is the impact
on the K building of the North Ridge property and notes that location on the plan. He explains
that to minimize impact they have repositioned the loading docks for the Whole Foods Market to
the other side of the building. He also notes that a landscaped buffer and a fence will be
installed.
Cohen explains that their future traffic predictions include the use of the 50 Dunham Road site
for research and development firms and they are extremely confident that the actual traffic will
be less than any of the numbers in the study. He states that they hope that the facts and the traffic
analysis will alleviate the fears of the neighbors.
Ron Mueller addresses the Planning Board and explains the traffic plan. He explains the process
used and notes that they try to project the future traffic conditions and impacts to the area and to
see how best to mitigate them. He reviews the study area and notes that it included Dodge
Street/Enon Street, Dunham Road /128 Intersection, Brimbal Avenue, Herrick Street, Sohier Road
and Essex Street and Colon Street intersections. He notes that they did a complete inventory and
use analysis and an accident analysis for the area for the past three years. He notes that Sohier
Road has had 4 accidents per year. He notes that the state improvement project should help to
alleviate accidents in the area.
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Mueller reviews the Levels of Service for the intersections in the area.
Mueller reviews that the traffic projections for the region are estimated on the population growth
of 0.5% over 7 years. He notes that Cell Signaling added 100 employees and the 52 Dunham
Road project is included in this traffic study
Mueller notes that MASSDOT and the City of Beverly interchange project will be adding two
roundabouts as well as a traffic signal at Herrick Street and Brimbal Avenue. He also notes that
Cummings Properties has agreed to widen Dunham Road at the intersection.
Mueller reviews the peak traffic counts for the site. He notes that morning new trips are
estimated at 120 and afternoons are estimated at 340 with weekends estimated at 548. He notes
that these are new trips.
Mueller explains that there will be three access points to the site and notes that they will be on
Brimbal Avenue and Sohier Road, and the connector road. He explains the locations on the plan
and reviews the proposed traffic patterns in and out of the site. He notes that the MASSDOT
project will provide a left turn lane which will provide safe access to the site.
Mueller reviews the increase in traffic in the area. He also reviews the Level of Service for the
intersections in the area and notes the changes they anticipate in the LOS.
Mueller notes that all facts presented represent all of the work that has been done in the last few
months including the recommendations of the TEC peer review.
Thomson calls on Rebecca Brown of TEC to make a presentation on the Peer Review they did on
the traffic plans.
Brown addresses the Board and explains that they review the plans and the original traffic study
and reviewed the site circulation for the project and access to the site. Brown notes that the
original traffic plan called for a right turn in and right turn out and they identified an issue with
the approaching round about for the Brimbal Avenue /Connector project and suggested a second
access road on Sohier Road. She notes that it would be a substantial benefit to getting traffic
circulation around the site.
Brown reviews the circulation for the site and notes that they recommend that they revise the
back of the Whole Foods Building and extend the one way along the back of the building as well.
Brown explains that they recommend that they remove two parking spaces at the bank site but
this has not been addressed yet. She also explains that they have recommended a change to the
teller lanes for the bank as well.
Brown reviews the trip generation data for the project. She notes that a traffic signal at Colon
and Brimbal Avenue is needed in that location and they have calculated the fair share
contribution from the developer to be about $33,000. She explains the formula used to calculate
the contribution.
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Brown notes that the traffic signal at Laurel and Enon Streets should be monitored and the timing
adjusted.
Thomson asks if the members of the Planning Board have any questions at this time.
Mack asks if there were any issues that the peer reviewer and the developer disagree on.
Brown explains that initially there was significant disagreement with the developer over
concerns about Sohier Road, queuing and traffic on Brimbal Avenue. She notes that the updated
traffic analysis based on the actual use of the property found the cues to be much shorter and
traffic well distributed. She also notes that originally there was no mitigation offered for Essex
and Colon Street and TEC recommended the fair share contribution.
Mack notes that the problems at Dodge Street and Laurel Street are problems that exist today and
they will continue to be a problem.
Thomson states that the Parking and Traffic Commission has not finalized their recommendation
yet and notes that there are still a couple of issues that they are working on.
Matz asks Mueller if 25% of the traffic is coming from the Essex/Colon Street area. Mueller
states that they believe it will. Matz asks how many additional trips that would be during peak
time. Mueller states that it would be minimal in the morning and estimates that it would be 74
during the peak hours weekdays and 110 during peak hours on the weekends. He notes that the
traffic analysis is not based on daily trips.
Matz asks how many cars would be in the queue to turn left into the site. Mueller explains that
there should be one car and explains the function of the roundabouts. He notes that the
roundabouts will make a big difference from what is there today.
Matz questions if the cars would be queuing in the driveway. Brown explains that the
roundabouts will allow for free flowing traffic movement all the way into the site and it is
unlikely that there will be extensive queuing.
Hutchinson asks where the proposed project will have the greatest impact. Brown states that it
would be Brimbal and Essex and Essex and Colon and reviews the traffic issues in the area and
the Level of Service.
Mack asks for an explanation of the distribution of traffic in laymans terms. Mueller explains
that there are a number of ways to estimate the distribution of traffic and explains that they
looked at the area, the population and the existing distribution of traffic.
Brown explains that they prepared a gravity model using census information from the
surrounding area based on travel time and distance and adjusted that for competing opportunities.
Thomson opens the hearing up for public comment at this time.
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Rosemary Broadbent of North Ridge addresses the Board and expresses her concern about the
addition of an access on Sohier Road. She explains the history of the North Ridge site and notes
that the residents have met with Mr. Cohen on several occasions since 2009 and their goal is to
protect the integrity of the K building. She notes that the proposed C building on the CEA site is
close to the K building and will be built on an unstable landfill and they are very concerned
about that.
Broadbent states that building the road near the rear of the K building is upsetting to her. She
also notes that she is glad that they are proposing a buffer. She states that this belongs in North
Beverly where they have a ready access road in Enon Street.
Chris Snow of Corning Street addresses the Board and questions the traffic numbers that have
been widely reported. He states that the North Beverly development was bad for Beverly, noting
that there are traffic issues at Dodge and Laurel Streets as well.
Snow states that the traffic study estimates 4,200 vehicles per day during the week and 6,400 per
day on the weekends and that is way too much traffic and will have an adverse effect on the
neighborhoods. He urged the Planning Board to deny the special permit for this project.
Rick Mooney of 282 Dodge Street addresses the Board and states that the volume of traffic that
this project will produce is estimated at 6,400 on the weekend and asks if the numbers are
accurate. Mueller explains that the numbers represent total trips and that would translate to
2,100 cars on the weekdays and 3,200 on the weekends. Mooney states that he is against the
project.
Dan D'Angelis of 207 Brimbal Avenue addresses the Board and questions the numbers for total
trips per day that are in the traffic studies presented.
Louis Bourgeois of 9 Walnut Street addresses the Board and states that he is concerned about the
children in the neighborhood noting that there is an elementary school down the street and he is
concerned about their safety walking to school.
Bourgeois states that he feels that Phase 11 of the traffic improvement project should be
completed before any construction takes place on this project. He notes that the traffic in the
area is already bad and notes that a busy day at the North Shore Music Theater adds to it. He
notes that only if you live in North Beverly will you feel the effects of this.
Michael Wogan of 15 Walnut Street addresses the Board and states that he is concerned the
traffic that will be coming from all over the North Shore.
Dan D'Angelis addresses the Board and states that the curb cut on the connector road has not
been approved by the state and questions how the Board can approve this without that permit.
Thomson notes that if anything changes with the plans they will have to come back for review.
Rosemary Maglio of 18 Pleasant Street addresses the Board and expresses her concerns about the
delivery routes on the site, noting that the road in the back of the proposed Whole Foods abuts
the K Building at the North Ridge site.
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Scott Ferguson addresses the Board and notes that he is a former member of the Zoning Board of
Appeal and reviews the history of the permitting process for this project this year. He notes that
traffic has been the main concern of the residents and their concerns are real. He states that the
Board has to ask the question "is this project good for the neighborhood ".
Peter Johnson of 677 Hale Street addresses the Board and states that his interest is in the Laurel
and Dodge Street area and the affect that this project will have there. He notes that the area is
used as a cut through to avoid the traffic in North Beverly and he feels that the traffic needs to be
reduced in the area.
Emily Belanger of 67 Brimbal Avenue addresses the Board and states that traffic is her biggest
concern with this project, noting that she likes to walk to school with her children and there are a
lot of cars in the neighborhood already. She urged the Board to deny the application.
Ryan Johnson of 172 Brimbal Avenue addresses the Board and states that he has lived in the
neighborhood for 37 years and he is strongly opposed to the project.
Lee Yaffa of 23 Lakeshore Drive addresses the Board and states that he is not necessarily
opposed to the project but he is concerned about the traffic in the neighborhood. He states that
he would like to see how the roundabouts work before adding any more traffic.
Judy Martin of 8 Palmer Road addresses the Board and states that there are quality of life issues
for the residents of the area with this project. She expressed her concern about the number of
additional trips per day that are estimated for the neighborhood.
Tony Toledo of Whitney Avenue addresses the Board and states that he is concerned about traffic
and urged the Board to deny the project.
Rick Marciano of 141 McKay Street addresses the Board and states that he feels that the
applicant should have approval of permits from the states before they get their local permits.
Thomson states that the Planning Board is going to continue this matter to the next meeting of
the Board on January 21, 2015.
Mack moved to continue the public hearing to January 21, 2015. Hutchinson seconds the
motion. The motion carried (9 -0).
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Planning Board this evening a motion was
made by Mack to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Hutchinson. The motion carried (9 -0).
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00p.m.
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