2001-07-24CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: July 24, 2001
LOCATION: Third floor conference room, City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Brace Palmer, Dennis Tarsook, Tina Cassidy,
Susan Mueller (Chamber of Commerce)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Mead
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER: Tina Cassidy
Cassidy calls the meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission to order at
10:00 a.m. and explains that the committee must review two site plan approval
applications that have bccn submitted to the Planning Board.
The first site plan is for the Johnny Appleseed's warehouse off Tozer Road / Hill
Street. The applicants are proposing an 88,000 sq. ft addition to the existing
warehouse; about 4,400 square feet of the new addition will be used as office
space and the remainder will be additional warehouse space.
Cassidy asks about the 18' wide aisle at the southern end of the new addition.
Applicant John Drislane and Palmer state that the aisle is there at the request of
the Fire Department, which wanted to insure emergency access to as many sides
of the building as possible. It will only be used by fire and emergency vehicles
and not by commercial or employee vehicles. Tarsook and Palmer suggest that
the lane be marked 'No Parking - Fire Lane' or with similar words, since the Fire
Department will officially designate this driveway as an emergency fire lane. The
signs may be posted on the building or be free-standing.
Cassidy notes that the driveway opening from the parking lot to Hill Street is
about 35' wide; the zoning ordinance, specifies a maximum driveway opening of
25'. She recommends that the applicants confer with the Building Inspector to
see if the wider driveway opening is allowed. Tarsook and Palmer support the
wider driveway, since it will facilitate safer truck access to the establishment.
Drislane promises to check with the Building Inspector, and will modify the plans
before the hearing if necessary.
Palmer notes that he has requested that another pedestrian doorway be added to
the back of the building (along the railroad tracks). The applicant has agreed to
add the extra door.
Cassidy asks if there are any other issues or questions on the plan. There are
none.
Parking and Traffic Commission minutes
July 24, 2001 meeting
Page two
Next on the agenda is a review of a site plan for 253 Rantoul Street / 48 Federal
Street. Attorney Mark Glovsky, representing the development team, explains
that the plan is nearly the same proposal as one that was approved by the City ten
years ago.
The proposal involves the construction of an addition to the existing building On
Rantoul Street that will house 18 one bedroom apartments. The residential
section of the building will be connected to the existing commercial building;
there is some surface parking on site already which will be augmented by
additional parking in the residential addition. Applicant Molly Brady notes that
new retaining walls will be added along two property lines to insure safe
conditions after construction.
Cassidy notes that there are several questions relative to the size of parking
spaces and aisle widths. She notes that the existing parking spaces on the site do
not meet the City's requirements in that they are not 9' wide and 18' long. She
also notes that the existing traffic aisle servicing the parking lot is less than the
24' minimum width required by zoning. Glovsky states that the lot should be
considered a pre-existing, non-conforming condition. He will discuss the matter
with the building inspector and seek a written opinion from him in time for the
public hearing next week.
Cassidy adds that the parking spaces proposed for the building's interior similarly
do not meet the requirements of zoning. She notes several interior spaces that
are less than 9' in width, and one that is less than 18' in length. The traffic aisle is
only 18' wide when 24' is required for two-way traffic, and the opening to the
garage is only 16' wide. Al Martins, representing the applicants, states that the
architect believes the design meets all building code requirements. Cassidy notes
that the zoning ordinance is a separate document. Glovsky states that he will ask
the Building Inspector to determine whether the parking requirements of the
zoning ordinance apply to the interior parking area. Cassidy suggests getting that
determination as soon as possible, in the event the plan has to be modified.
Palmer questions the method of access to the southern side of the building.
Glovsky answers that the same issue was discussed a decade ago when the first
apartment project was proposed. At the time, the captain of fire prevention
required a walkway that could be used by fire vehicles in an emergency. Palmer
asks how much distance there will be between the new retaining wall and the
building. Brady answers between ten and twelve feet; one portion of the facade
has a two-foot bump out to break up the monotony of the long wall. Palmer notes
that in one letter from the former captain, he asked for a minimum of 13' of
clearance. Following a brief discussion, the applicants agree to remove the two-
Parking and Traffic Commission minutes
July 24, 2001 meeting
Page three
foot bump-out from the plan and to shift the building such that there is at least
13' of clearance between the wall and the building for the first half of the building
measured from Federal Street.
Palmer notes that he will formally designate the walkway area as a fire lane, and
it will need to be posted as such. Brady states that they will revise the
landscaping plan to eliminate the two trees that were proposed to be planted near
Federal Street. They will propose something that is lower growing, in the event a
fire truck ever has to use the walkway in an emergency and drive over the
landscaping.
Cassidy asks if there are any other questions or issues to be raised on this filing.
There are none.
The meeting is adjourned at 10:45 a.m.