2001-03-14CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: March 14, 2001
LOCATION: 3rd Floor Conference Room, City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tina Cassidy, Dennis Tarsook, Bruce
Palmer, Para McGrath
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Mead
OTHERS PRESENT: Clark Mitchell, Beverly Fire Dept.
RECORDER: Tina Cassidy
Cassidy calls the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and explains that the
successful bidder on the lease of State-owned property on Route 128
northbound has filed a site plan review application with the Planning Board to
redevelop the existing Burger King restaurant on Route 128.
Maurice Wyman, of Boston N Beverly, Inc. addresses the commission and
explains the proposal. The existing building would be torn down and replaced
with a new building that would house a Burger King with a drive-through, an
ATM facility, a Mobil gas station, a Mobil retail mart, a Subway
establishment and a Dunkin Donuts.
Palmer asks where the water service originates for this site. Wyman states
that there is a 12" water main that crosses under Route 128 from Dunham
Road. A hydrant will be added to the site. A brief discussion takes place as
to the optimal location for the hydrant. Palmer agrees that the hydrant
should be placed in the buffer area paralleling Route 128.
Next, members review the details of the parking lot design. All parking
spaces meet the minimum dimensions outlined in the City's zoning ordinance;
the spaces will be 9' wide by 18' long. Cassidy asks what the widths of all
traffic aisles will be. Wyman answers that all two-way aisles will be a
minimum of 24' in width. All but one one-way aisle will be 18' in width. The
exception will be the drive-through lane which narrows to about 12' in width
at its narrowest point. This reduction occurs where the drive-through lane
merges with the truck traffic lane, which will be located immediately
Parking & Traffic Commission minutes
March 14, 2001 meeting
Page two
adjacent to the drive through lane. The truck lane is 18' wide, so a total of
30' in width will exist. The applicant intends to post warning signs stating
'merging traffic" to warn exiting motorists that they are merging with
potential truck traffic.
Cessidy notes that this design would require a variance, since the minimum
allowable aisle width for one-way traffic is 18'. Peter Feuerbach, attorney
for Boston N Beverly, Inc., explains that there is a variance application
pending before the Zoning Board of Appeals that seeks permission for the
narrower aisle width. The variance application also includes requests for
other variances unrelated to parking and traffic issues. Palmer and Tarsook
state that they have no issue with the narrower aisle width because of the
fact that the truck lane adjacent to it effectively provides a greater width.
Tarsook asks if the plan conflicts with the City's plans to construct an
overpass over Route 128 in this location. Wyman states that they have
designed this plan - at the request of the state - in such a way that it
doesn't conflict with the overpass.
Palmer asks if the establishment will be open 24 hours a day. Wyman states
that a small component of the facility will be open 24 hours; the Mobil mart
and ATM area. Palmer states that there are regulations that dictate the
number of employees that must be on site if the operation is a 24-hour a day
operation. The number of employees is dictated to the square footage of
retail space open to the public.
Tarsook suggests that the committee consider recommending restrictions on
the hours within which the Dumpster can be serviced on this site. In other
cases, the City has received complaints from early morning/late night
activity, and has prohibited servicing of Dumpsters between the hours of
8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Wyman says the existing restaurant has never been under such a restriction
and they have never received any complaints from the residents of the area.
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March 14, 2001 meeting
Page three
Tarsook adds that he has never received a complaint personally, and
suggests that if the current operation is working smoothly, there is no need
to impose the restriction now.
Palmer states that a sprinkler system will be required in the building if it
remains at the size shown on the site plan. Wyman states that they have not
completely finalized some of the leases with the businesses mentioned
earlier, and the floor area of the building might decrease between now and
the time of construction. Palmer cautions the applicant that a sprinkler
system will be required even if the building falls slightly under the minimum
square footage requirement.
The applicants agree to revise the site plan to incorporate the location of
the proposed hydrant on the property, and will also be making some changes
requested by the Design Review Board.
Cassidy asks the Committee if its recommendation to the Planning Board is
to approve the site plan with the amendment noted above. Members concur
that this is the consensus of the committee.
There being no other business, the meeting is adjourned at 11:10 a.m.