2002-09-04CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking & Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: September 4, 2002
LOCATION: Third floor copy room, City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dennis Tarsook, Clark Mitchell, Sue Mueller,
Robert Mead, Debra Hurlburt
OTHERS PRESENT: Leah Zambernardi
RECORDER: Leah Zambernardi
Hurlburt calls the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and states that the purpose of the
meeting is to review a site plan for congregate housing for the elderly at 2 Boyles Street.
Whitehall Hill Realty Trust/2 Boyles Street:
Hurlburt states that the purpose for this meeting is for Site Plan Review #72-02 which
includes the construction of 20 multi-family buildings, the rehabilitation of 5 existing
buildings and associated site and utility improvements for congregate housing for the
elderly at 2 Boyles Street. Attorney Thomas Alexander, Engineer Bob Griffin and F.
Giles Ham and Lori Shattuck from Vanasse & Associates, Inc. present the project.
Attorney Alexander explains that today’s meeting is to discuss the parking layout, traffic
lanes, aisles and widths. Mr. Griffin explained the site plan layout. He noted that the
mansion and houses on Hale Street including 240 Hale Street and the art gallery building
would be restored. The development is also composed of new 2-, 3-, and 4-unit
townhouses served by winding roads. He stated that there is a one-way entrance and a
one-way exit serving the townhouse units off of Hale Street. They are each 18 feet wide.
The streets within the site are two-way and 24 feet wide. Every unit will have a 2-car
garage. They will also redevelop 28 and 30 Boyles Street. These condominium units
will have an entrance off of Boyles Street that is separate from the rest of the
development. He noted there are several parking lots and garages throughout the
development and that ample parking is provided.
F. Giles Ham, traffic consultant from Vanasse Consultants, Inc. explained the Traffic
Impact and Access Study submitted with the application. He noted that there is no land
use code (LUC) for over-55 developments, so they relied upon the multi-family LUC for
their traffic calculations. He noted that these numbers are conservative and generate
traffic counts estimated to be 25 percent higher than over-55 developments would
generate. With these numbers, the study reports that this development will generate
approximately 600 car trips on a daily basis, with 50-60 car trips at peak hours. He added
that he believes this portion of Hale Street is outside the state’s jurisdiction, although they
have contacted the state to make sure. He states that Hale Street has the capacity to
support the additional cars and that accident data for the area indicates it is below the
state average.
Clark Mitchell asked about the grade at the entrances from Hale Street. Mr. Griffin
stated that it would be 10 percent at both the entrance and exit locations off of Hale
Street. Mitchell stated that the City generally accepts no more than 6 percent. Attorney
Alexander stated that those standards are for subdivisions and that the subdivision control
law does not control this project. He stated that the Fire Department does not have
jurisdiction to regulate private driveways. Mitchell stated that fire trucks might have
trouble accessing the site through these entrances. Regardless of whether the Fire
Department has jurisdiction, this concern should be explored because trucks may
“bottom-out”. Hurlburt concurred with Mitchell’s statement. Mr. Griffin stated that they
could potentially tie the roadway system off of Hale Street into the system off of Boyles
Street. Sergeant Tarsook stated that he preferred that the roadway systems remain
separate. Boyles Street is narrow and winding as it is. They do not want to have to
widen it. He prefers that Boyles Street only service those units off of Boyles Street.
Mr. Griffin asked if the City ever reserved roadways for emergency access only and
suggested that Whitehall have such a system where Boyles Street may be accessed for
emergency vehicles only. Sergeant Tarsook cited several developments in Beverly
including Windsor Courts, Apple Village and Morgan Island Road. He and Hurlburt
concurred that these systems were fairly unsuccessful.
Hurlburt asked about maintenance of the drives and the location of snow storage.
Attorney Alexander stated that the development would plow and conduct trash pickup.
Hurlburt stated that she is concerned about the resource area in such close proximity and
the very steep grade of the land. She asked Griffin what kind of salt or sand mix he
intended to use. Griffin stated he had not considered this yet but that he would look into
it.
Hurlburt asked if the fire department would be able to access the largest fire truck if need
be and Mitchell stated he believed that the cul-de-sacs provided ample turnaround area.
He stated that the grade of the entrance and exit off of Boyles Street was still a concern.
Hurlburt asked if the development would be sprinklered. Attorney Alexander stated he
did not know.
Griffin stated that the remaining questions seemed to be snow storage, the salt/sand mix,
and the grade. Attorney Alexander suggested another meeting before the Planning Board
meeting in order for the engineer to address these issues.
Hurlburt, Mueller, Mead, Tarsook and Mitchell agreed to table the discussion for a
recommendation until the applicants can provide information on snow storage, salt/sand
mix and grade. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, September 19 at 11 am.