2001-10-10CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
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DATE:
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RECORDER:
Parking and Traffic Commission
October 10, 2001
Third Floor, City Hall
Dennis Tarsook, Bruce Palmer, Bob Mead,
Tina Cassidy
Mellssa Birtwell (Chamber of Commerce)
Tina Cassidy
Cassidy calls the meeting to order and explains that the purpose of the meeting is to
review a site plan application for development of a lot on Sam Fonzo Drive.
Attorney Mark Glovsky, representing the developer, Connolly Brothers, addresses the
commission and states that Connolly Brothers plans to build a new office building for
Electric Insurance. He explains that the project will not need any variances from the
Zoning Board of Appeals, and complies in all respects with the requirements of the
zoning ordinance.
The building constructed in the first phase of the project will be approximately 154,000
sq. ft. in size. An additional 30,000 sq. ft. of office space would be added to the rear of
the building in a future construction phase. The building will have four stories. The
proposed parking areas meet the zoning requirements, and the plans show a future
parking area in the front of the building that would be constructed when the second phase
of construction occurs. Glovsky states that the nature of Electric Insurance's businesses
means that the company's office hours are flexible. For that reason, traffic from this
facility will be dispersed throughout the day to a greater degree than is true for most
facilities.
Cassidy asks how many employees will be on site. Steve Connolly from Connolly
Brothers states that there will be approximately 600 employees on the 28 acre site. Of
the 28 acres, approximately 15-17 acres are "usable" (i.e. no wetlands).
Cassidy asks how wide the parking lot aisles are. Chris Sparages of Hayes Engineering
states that the aisles around the building are 24 feet in width, and the aisles in the parking
areas are 22' wide. Cassidy states that the minimum aisle width for two-way traffic is
24'. This issue could be addressed by filing a variance application, redrawing the plan to
create 24' wide aisles, or designating the 22' wide aisles for one-way traffic only.
Glovsky and the commission agree that designating the aisles for one-way traffic is the
best alternative, and Sparages states that he will add arrows to the site plan showing the
one-way traffic aisles. Glovsky adds that they will also reconfigure the aisles in the
future parking area so that they are all 24' wide.
Parking and Traffic Commission minutes
October 10, 2001 meeting
Page two
Cassidy asks if there will be any hazardous materials used or stored in the building.
Connolly states that because this is a typical office use, there will be no hazardous
materials on site that will be used by the company as a matter of business. Connolly adds
that the trash refuse facilities will be inside the building, and there will be no outside
containers for propane or other similar material.
Palmer states that while the applicant will be required to install a master fire alarm box,
there is no fire alarm conduit in Sam Fonzo Drive to connect it to. He says that the Fire
Department has mentioned the issue to the City's Electrical DepartmenI several times,
but to date the cabling has not been installed. He believes the City should install that line
as soon as possible.
Tarsook asks Sparages if all parking spaces are at least 9'x18'. Sparages answers that all
parking spaces are 9'x18'.
Cassidy asks if the applicant has met with representatives of the Airport Commission yet.
Sparages says they have not, but have used the guidance memo the Commission wrote
for the Liberty Publishing site plan, so there should be no issues.
Cassidy asks if there are any other questions. There are none. The Commission agrees
by consensus that it will recommend approval of the site plan to the Planning Board, and
recommend that the Board impose a condition that all traffic aisles must be a minimum of
18' in width, and that all traffic aisles that are less than 24' in width must be designated
for one-way vehicle traffic only.
The meeting is adjourned at 11:10 a.m.