2000-10-11CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
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Parking and Traffic Commission
City Hall, 3rd Floor Conference Room
October 11, 2000
Tina Cassidy, Dennis Tarsook, Bruce Palmer, Pam McGrath
Robert Mead
Finance Director John Dunn, Parking Clerk Connie Linscott
Tina Cassidy
The meeting is called to order at 10:30 a.m.. The first order of business is discussion on
a new type of parking meter technology and the possibility of converting Beverly's
parking meters to the new style. Rich LaPointe and Russ Hughes from the City of Salem
have been invited to the meeting to discuss their experiences with the new type,of meter
which Salem has been using for the last year.
LaPointe and Hughes explain how the new style meter works and the process by which
the City of Salem solicited proposals for the new meters. They explain the advantages of
the new meters:
· They are more tamper-proof than the older, traditional style of meter;
· They can accept automated cards as well as change;
They are easier to maintain and therefore save money on labor expenses and funds
lost to "downtime" while meters are being serviced off site
Salem representatives state that the average weekly meter collections have skyrocketed as
a result of the new meters. Where collections used to average $1,500 - $2,000 per week,
the City is now collecting $4,000 - $5,000 per week. They also indicate Salem purchased
approximately 500 meters at a cost of approximately $200 per unit. In total, Salem spent
about $185,000, which included the meters, the software needed to run the computer
progrnms, chip cards, hand-held computer, etc. They believe the City recaptured much of
this cost during the first year of meter operation.
Members discuss the details of the meters, including power mechanisms, battery
replacement schedules, computerized revenue tracking options, easy color-based
diagnostics and the "no-freeze" design of the meter.
Following the discussion, members thank LaPointe and Hughes for taking the time to
share their experiences on the matter, and promise to contact them if the City elects to
pursue purchasing these meters for Beverly.
Parking and Traffic Commission minutes
October 11, 2000 meeting
Page two
Next on the agenda is a discussion on a proposed site plan for Cummings Properties.
Cassidy explains that the company has filed a site plan with the Planning Board, which
will he considering the application at its meeting next Tuesday evening. The Parking and
Traffic Commission will review the site plan as required by the City's site plan review
ordinance, and will formulate a letter of recommendation for consideration by the
Planning Board.
Bruce Oveson from Cummings Properties addresses the commission and explains the
proposaL The plans call for the construction of a three story building that will be used for
a mix of office, research and development, and manufacturing uses. The building will
contain approximately 147,000 square feet of floor space and have a footprint of
approximately 49,000 square feet. 619 additional parking spaces will he created on what
is now an unpaved portion of the property; this number of spaces is more than the
minimum required by the zoning ordinance. He explains that an existing curb cut on
Balch Street will be relocated to the east to increase the distance between it and the
McKeown School site, and the second existing curb cut on Balch Street would remain in
service. A third Balch Street curb cut, which is not currently being used, would he
permanently eliminated with this site plan.
Oveson explains some of the interior and exterior construction details at the request of the
members. Palmer asks Oveson to confirm that the fire alarm system will have the
capability of being reset either at the central fire station or in the field. Oveson states that
it will have that capability. Tarsook states his opinion that relocating the driveway is a
good idea, and suggests that the commission recommend to the Planning Board that
elimination of the third Balch Street curb cut be a condition of approval of the site plan.
Oveson states that Cummings hopes to begin construction of the building by next spring.
Cassidy asks members to allow a member of the public to pose a question to the
applicant, and they agree to allow it.
Hope Benne, Hillcrest Avenue, asks why Cummings is proposing to construct more
parking spaces than they are required to create under zoning. She suggests that instead of
creating excess parking, Cummings should use that area to create additional landscaping
on the site. Oveson explains that the proposed site plan calls for the planting of nearly
200 new trees and hundreds of groundcover plants on the property, so Cummings
believes they have proposed a comprehensive landscaping plan: Members of the
commission point out several reasons why it might be smart for Cummings to create
additional parking above the minimum number needed to comply with zoning. First,
they must insure there is sufficient parking available to accommodate the customers of
businesses that will be located in the building, and second, the additional parking spaces
Parking and Traffic Commission minutes
October 11, 2000 meeting
Page three
can be used (with Cummings' permission) for events at the McKeown School where
parking is sometimes in short supply.
Following a brief discussion, members of the commission agree to recommend to the
Planning Board that any approval of the site plan be subject to the condition that the third
Balch Street curb cut (which is presently not being used) be eliminated permanently.
There being no other business for the commission to conduct, the meeting is adjourned at
11:50 a.m.