PTC minutes_12.15.20 CITY OF BEVERLY
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: December 15, 2020
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair), George
Binns, Michael Collins, Sgt Mike Henebury, Capt. Ryan Laracy,
John Lozada, Jonathan Salt
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Leslie Gould
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury
Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 am.
This is a virtual meeting allowed in lieu of an in person meeting due to Governor Baker's State of
Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19.
Collins left the meeting at 9:00 a.m.
1. Recommendation to Planning Board: Construction Management Plan—1 Water Street—
Mission Boat House Restaurant
Rebecca Brown, GPI, Inc. and Scott Cameron, Morin Cameron Group, represent the applicant. Brown
returns to the Commission as part of their condition to submit for approval of their construction
management plan. Brown begins by addressing the signage directing the public to waterfront access
while that portion of the waterfront is closed off.The fencing will remain around the site for the entirety
of the construction phase.The fencing does not affect traffic as it is well off the road. Brown presents to
the Commission signage location and detour for waterfront parking. Detours will direct traffic to the
Harbor Master parking lot. There is a walkway that will remain open throughout the entirety of the
project.There is a staircase following Rte. 1A where the walkway loops to the Harbor Master lot. There
is a driveway connecting the boat property and the site itself. Pedestrian access is permissible through
this driveway. Brown addresses a closed gate that would need to be unlocked as this is their main ADA
accessible walkway. There are no stairs inhibiting access from this point.
Brown continues on reviewing the brick patterned walkway, it is not typically ADA accessible. Brown
proposes to install a temporary ramp that would come off the side of the sidewalk. The issue is that the
sidewalk would be well out into the road way blocking the gate. Brown would like to know what is the
best option for having pedestrians access the waterfront. They do not want pedestrians out into the
roadway. Option 1, they advise people to use the access points via Rte. 1A. It is ADA accessible in two
spots. Option 2, is a temporary point of access.This temporary point will be closed during the winter
months and opened during the summer months.
Benevento suggests using a temporary walkway if the sidewalk will be part of the site development
improvement plan. He suggests taking out the entire side walk replacing it with a bituminous walkway.
Scott Cameron notes, if they have any access points,the goal is to try and maintain them as opposed to
redirecting through separate points of access. Benevento asks if the circular group of trees along the
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December 15,2020 Meeting Minutes
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island at the driveway will not be improved. Scott confirms that is remaining as is and is not part of the
improvement plan.
Collins agrees with Benevento to pull the side walk out. It does bring out issues of walkway use where
the boats are overhanging. Also ties into when the gate is unlocked. He does not know if the neighbor
will be amenable to having the gate unlocked as well as having the boat overhang walkway use.
Cameron informs Collins there will be some reconstruction of the sidewalk after the project is complete.
Collins draws attention to the daily usage of the walkway. He does not believe the open access of the
gate is preferable, noting the neighbor may not be amenable to having both the gate unlocked and the
open access of the boat ramp. He also does not believe the public is aware they have access to that walk
way. Suggests making that noted on a pedestrian plan map during construction.
Wynne asks if the construction sites and detour signs will be clear since there are two projects occurring
simultaneously. Brown will work on consistency amongst their signs for the waterfront. Brown does not
believe along Rte. 1A there would be any detours as MassDOT will work one lane at a time. Benevento
suggests coordinating with the MassDOT resident Engineer and AR Bella Construction,who's the
contractor to the site. Please coordinate signage with these entities.
Lozada inquires about the estimated duration of the project. Brown points out the project schedule for
Lozada to review. Brown estimates project construction through November 2021. Lozada asks about
signage specific to an ADA accessible route. Brown does not see the need to sign it as that is the main
point of access to the site. Lozada suggests coordinating with the Building Inspector to ensure they are
compliant with ADA accessibility. Lozada notes that separate routes creates anxiety among the public.
Brown can put up signage at the intersection ensuring the public are aware the walkway remains ADA
accessible. Lozada advises not to create a separate but equal approach. Lozada and Benevento agree
that universal signage for everyone is preferable.
Salt expresses frustration that the gate remains locked. Wynne refers back to Collins statement it's the
Marina who chooses which path is used. Salt recommends it is very clear if the gate is unlocked, it
should remain so for the entirety of the project. Salt prefers pedestrian plan Option Two as it doesn't
confuse pedestrians and trucks entering into the construction site. He believes this also resolves the
sidewalk issue and ramp grading and suggests not closing the boat overhanging path.
Henebury calls attention to where the Water Street left-hand turn and the temporary blockade.The
public is not always cognizant of what's going on and recommends keeping the sidewalk closer in and
not more pronounced into the road. Suggests using the sidewalk until they are not able to. Henebury
echoes Collins assessment with the ramp issue. Benevento concurs and says the commission prefers
maintaining that sidewalk until it is removed during reconstruction.
Laracy inquires about post construction for access and turning radius. Cameron details the two phases
for parking lot use. Off peak hours will be for daily delivery trucks and restricted parking between the
hours of 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. During peak hours the large trucks will need to use a "hammerhead"
approach with perpendicular angling for a 3-point turn. Large trucks will use the right-hand lane closer
to the entrance of the road. Benevento reminds Cameron they had initial concerns with circulation in
the lot.The two ride-share parking spaces will be opened during peak hours if circulation becomes an
issue. Cameron addresses condition#4 requiring the restaurant to use a parking lot attendant.That
condition is built into the parking permit.
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Benevento revisits the 1A intersection where the public could be directed across 1A. Brown affirms they
do not want to encourage pedestrians to cross 1A.They want the public to use the access points
outlined in earlier discussion.
Henebury addresses police details and stresses communication and coordination during construction.
Please be proactive and informative.
Benevento discusses construction workers using the parking garage. Brown informs the Commission the
workers will use the MBTA garage.There are at least 322 open parking spaces. MBTA does not report an
increase in ridership and does not predict one until the year 2024.The commuter rail service is
declining. Brown notes they will have up to 80 construction workers over the summer during peak
construction time. If they reach a condition that the MBTA garage fills up they will seek alternative
measures. Brown suggests if the garage is not available they will ideally seek a lot they can shuttle
workers to and from.
Benevento verifies they recognize there is no parking in the residential neighborhoods, Water, Davis,
Front, South, Stone, Bartlett Streets and Cottage Lane. Henebury adds no parking on Cox and Ellingwood
Courts; Wellman, School, Porter, Congress Streets; Summit and Linden Avenues; and Goat Hill Lane.
Wynne asks if the workers are paying the standard MBTA parking rate. Workers are required to pay for
their own parking at the required local area/entity rates. Salt asks where the workers park who built the
Sedna Apartment complexes. Laracy responds there was enough onsite parking for the workers.
Benevento addresses the 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. construction hours and cautions to be mindful of working
hours since it's next to a residential neighborhood.
There being no further comments.
Lozada moves to accept the temporary construction management plan as presented and to include
those conditions discussed:the detour signs will say waterfront parking,the signs will be coordinated
with AR Bella and MassDOT, the walkway up to the gate remains open, additional residential streets
noted for no employee parking. Wynne seconds.The motion carries 7-0.
Brown has procedural questions for the updated plans. Benevento suggests sending the updated plans
to the Planning Department and send them to Public Services.Also,to notify the Planning Board they
met the condition.
Salt asks if the BBC is on the January 5, 2021 agenda. Benevento confirms also noting any regular P&TC
agenda items are also moved to the January 5, 2021 meeting.
2. Adjournment
Lozada moves to adjourn. Binns seconds.The motion carries 7-0.
Meeting adjourned 9:28 a.m.
Next meeting scheduled for 1.5.21.