1998-04-14CITY OF BEVERLY
PARKING & TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MINUTES
Parking and Traffic Commission
April 14, 1998 Meeting
Members present:
Tins Cassidy, Dennis Tarsook, Bruce Palmer, Ken Pelonzi. Also present:
Bruce Oreson, Cammings Center.
Meeting is called to order at 10:00 a.m. Cassidy introduces Board members and explains that
Mr. Bruce Oveson is in attendance to explain an application for site plan review that has been
submitted by Cummings to the Planning Board. The site plan shows a maintenance shop addition
near Balch Street and the construction of a new parking garage structure at the comer of McKay
and EHiott Streets. The City's zoning ordinance dictates that all site plan review applications be
forwarded to the Parking & Traffic Commission for review and recommendation to the Planning
Board. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct that review and formulate recommendations
for the Planning Board's consideration.
Mr. Bruce Oveson, representing Ctmux~ngs Properties, addresses the commission and presents
revised site plans to the members. The revisions consist of providing interior ran~s for the
garage facility rather than exterior ramps as originally envisioned. He explains that nature of the
maintenance shop addition on the building now housing YMCA activities and the new garage.
Tarsook asks how tall the garage will be; Oveson states 35 feet. The footprint of the garage will
be 120' wide by 430' long. The shop addition will be 75' x 100'. The shop will be used for
on-site storage of signs and construction materials and will have two or three office areas and
a restroom for maintenance personnel. Palmer asks what impact the addition will have on the
Y's activities here. Oveson states that the addition has been designed to minimize impact on
their activities and expects no significant changes to the existing floor space or their primary
method of ingress and egress. General discussion is held on the fire protection systems near the
"Y" building, and Palmer asks that a hydrant connection by added at the back of the "Y"
building.
Oveson provides an overview of the garage facility, explaining that access to the garage will be
controlled after hours via a gate of some kind. Pelonzi and Oveson discuss fire protection for
the garage, and whether a standpipe system or sprinkler system should be used. Palmer asks
Cassidy if she knows how far up McKay Street the Elliott Street project will go. Cassidy says
City Hall · 191 Cabot Street · Beverly, Massachusetts 0191S · (978) 921-6000
Parking & Traffic Cmsn. minutes
April 14, 1998 meeting
page two
that she is not certain of the project limits there. Cassidy raises a concern about the traffic
study' s conclusion that there could be inadequate stacking capacity in the Elliott Street eastbound
tuming lane at full buildout. Members discuss the issue, and also suggest that the City's
engineering consultants for the Elliott Street project consider elongating the queuing lane for
eastbound traffic on McKay Street; the traffic routinely backs up to Glidden Avenue at present.
Members discuss the parking space layout within the garage, and note that all spaces must be a
minimum of 9' x 18' and all two-way traffic aisles must be a minimum of 24' in width. Oveson
indicates that the aisles are smaller than that on the plan and that he will revise the site plan
accordingly.
Members agree to recommend to the Planning Board that all parking spaces must be a minimum
of 9' x 18' and all two-way traffic aisles must be at least 24' in width. There are no other
recommendations for the Planning Board's consideration.
Meeting is adjourned at 11:20 a.m.