PTC Minutes_05.05.2020 CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: May 5, 2020
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair), George
Binns, Michael Collins, Leslie Gould,Jonathan Salt, Sgt. Mike
Henebury, Capt. Ryan Laracy,
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: John Lozada
OTHERS PRESENT: None
RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury
Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12,2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law,G.L.
c.30A,§18,and the Governor's March 23,2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may
gather in one place,this meeting of the Parking&Traffic Commission was conducted via remote participation.
Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:32 am.
1. Vice Chair nomination
Binns: Motion to nominate Darlene Wynne as new Vice Chair. Henebury seconds. The motion
carries 5-0.
2. Goat Hill Lane Parking Regulation
Benevento begins discussion regarding parking availability and overnight spaces for on street parking
regulations in Goat Hill Lane. Sgt Henebury provides an update to the commission in regards to spaces
and neighboring streets, particularly Cox Court and Goat Hill Lane. City Councilor Estelle Rand brought
this to the commission with complaints the Auto Body shop monopolizes available parking spots. All
parking should be available for all area businesses. Members discuss the appropriate time restrictions
for business parking spaces relative to their operating business hours in addition to the current parking
ordinances. Benevento suggests a 30-minute parking restriction during business hours. Wynne agrees
that Planning Department intends to do a broader parking study of that area, but it may not occur in the
short-term.
Gould: Motion to recommend to the City Council an ordinance amendment, restricting parking
on the north side of Goat Hill Lane from Cox Hill to Cabot Street;with the 30-minute
time limit per space, during business operating hours 8:00 am to 6:30 pm. Binns
seconds.The motion carries 6-0.
3. Preliminary Review: Briscoe Village for Living Arts,7 Sohier Rd, Briscoe Village LLC
This project applicant is a joint venture between Harborlight Community Partners (HCP) and Beacon
Communities.The applicant introduces the team members present. Atty Miranda Gooding, Glovsky&
Associates, begins the presentation and notes the Commission will not make a vote today as this is a
preliminary hearing. This project is a renovation of the Briscoe Middle School into affordable senior
housing with 6 artist live/work spaces and rehabilitation of the existing theater for public use.
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Thad Siemasko, SV Design, opens with the project design concepts.The applicant is not adding to the
current structure with the exception of a small storage unit elsewhere on the site.The school will
maintain most of its current building structure. Plans include restoring/preserving the school
auditorium, creating affordable housing units, and providing artist live/work spaces. Parking will mostly
be on the Sohier Road side, with additional parking spots in the back. A bus shelter will be located on
the Sohier Road side near Charles St. HCP confirms Bus Route 451 will operate along the corridor.There
are four entrances to the site, 2 on Sohier Road including the access road and 2 on Colon Street.
Pedestrian access will consist of adding sidewalks on the Sohier Road side, previously not existing, as
well as improving existing sidewalks and creating connecting paths.The grounds will have pathways thru
it and around the perimeters.The historic turf bowl will be restored. Landscaping and pedestrian
enhancements are discussed. The site will include indoor bicycle storage for the residents in addition to
outside storage as well.At the request of the Director of Public Services, the applicant has shown a new
right-angle geometry of the intersection of Sohier Rd with Colon St.
Discussion continues to the parking and traffic studies/analyses, led by Rebecca Brown, Greenman
Pederson, Inc (GPI). Brown provides a timeline of the study to the commission. Studies were compared
using comparable analyses to traffic flow from events at a movie theater, a church, and an arena.The
theater comparison was opted as the best comparison to reflect peak traffic.The studies focus on the
intersections of Cabot St 1A/Colon St/Sohier Rd; Sohier Rd/Herrick St; Brimbal Ave/Colon St. During the
construction phase the intersection of Sohier Rd/Colon St will be redesigned to improve timing and
traffic flow.The intersection of Sohier Rd/Colon St will be redesigned to improve the delay at the
intersection, to improve sight lines intersecting in and out of Sohier Rd. Moving onto the Brimbal
Ave/Colon St intersection, Pederson notes the south bound Brimbal Ave stop line is set back about 35
feet to accommodate the crosswalk. Most crashes occur when the east bound traffic on Colon Street
collides with south bound Brimbal Ave travelers. Currently the Brimbal Ave line forces a "two stop"
process.The analysis recommends moving the stop line closer to the skewed intersection to improve
visibility. Collision areas are discussed relative to the 1A intersection. MA DOT crash records are
reviewed.
The applicant briefly discussed the side streets and setbacks. Additional traffic counts were conducted
along the 1A corridor at the intersections of Beckford St/Charles St/Cabot 1A and the Sohier Rd/Colon
St intersections.The counts were taken in February before COVID-19 restrictions were starting per order
of Governor Baker and continued through March. Counts were adjusted to reflect where businesses and
schools had closed. Saturday and weekday conditions are further discussed.Traffic counts and volumes
are adjusted to reflect the expected increased volume projections with the current city projects and
operating businesses.The weekday traffic was used with the assumption of a 500-person max
occupancy during peak hours.
Benevento pointed to the differences in traffic flow when the site was a school and it's expected
capacity as an auditorium.The school was simply pick up and drop off. With people showing up to an
event it creates more traffic/parking chaos. Brown affirmed there will be a drop off loop for patrons
then they can exit to look for parking. Discussion turns to the available overflow parking spaces for the
theater.There are 81 available spaces between Story Ave and the Council on Aging. Overflow use from
the MBTA parking spaces, and the north side of Colon St. Benevento mentions there is a parking deficit
directly in relation to the auditorium. Brown admits event days would be problematic.The majority of
shows will start after 7 pm with Saturday matinee shows.The weekday shows will avoid the peak hours.
Event days are discussed during peak hours. Distribution of trips for the area is next discussed. Both the
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theater trips and residential commuting trips are analyzed. Benevento asked if the trip distribution was
compared to and consistent with the trip distribution of the North Shore Music Theater.
Level of Service conditions are reviewed by the Commission and Brown. Per Brown the traffic
equipment is not programmed to accommodate the condition currently, but it has the capacity to
provide the green time condition once programmed.The applicant recommends a further traffic
analysis and monitoring post COVID-19 conditions at the Herrick St/Sohier Rd intersection. Benevento
mentions the crash rate at that intersection which would require another warrant. Benevento expressed
concern that the North Shore Crossing traffic is a potential contributing factor to future traffic
conditions.The post opening analysis for North Shore Crossing moved to the fall due to COVID-19.That
could add volume to the traffic corridor once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Benevento believes the
bigger issue is the queuing of traffic in the area during weekday pm peak time. Collins speaks to a new
technology currently under testing with the MBTA. It is a new sequence in timing, the first of its kind.
The MBTA agrees with what the city is trying to accomplish with queue detection for pedestrian crossing
and traffic flow. Once approved the other traffic signals will receive upgrades to mimic the success of
Beckford/Cabot/Gloucester Crossing.
Benevento comments the housing does not have an impact on the area.The issues will come with the
auditorium and event parking. Benevento suggests HCP consider on-site wayfinding and parking
information be provided to the public prior to attending events. Benevento reminds the Commission the
project is here as a preliminary hearing and encourages questions, comments, concerns. Atty Gooding
takes the opportunity to inform the Commission they are here as a precursor to attending other board
meetings for project approval and special permits.The north end of the site access road is mentioned.
There is residential property that uses the access drive currently. Questions inquire if the access is a
permanent easement part of the site and who does it belong to in the event the property is sold.
Gooding confirms the city will retain ownership of the access drive,with an access easement granted to
HCP and the residential property.
Benevento opens the floor to the Commissioners. Salt discussed sidewalk access along Sohier Rd/Colon
St. He encourages the sidewalk not encroach on the road and that bike lanes are preserved. Salt inquires
how Charles St will be utilized. His main concern is for left turn signals exciting Charles St. How will
traffic queue and impact flow. Brown responds the study assumed traffic coming off Beckford St would
cross 1A to use Charles St to access the site. Sgt Henebury also agrees that separated bike lanes should
be considered. Per Sgt Henebury, they are restructuring the layout of intersections Sohier Road/Herrick
St to Colon St,take the opportunity and think it through as the realignment of the intersections is crucial
to traffic flow and success. HCP responds noting the theater is going to be the most challenging aspect
of the project. DeFranza acknowledges they were not expecting to bear the full economic pressure for
the reconfiguration of Sohier Rd/Colon St.
Sgt Henebury inquires after the alley turning point for the side closest to Dearborn Ave and Colon St. If
the width will increase or stay the same. Capt Laracy seeks confirmation the fire equipment can enter
and maneuver the property at all required access points.
Benevento inquired if the parking is segregated. Gooding responds the parking intent is that it is
segregated for residents. Darcy Jameson from Beacon, both for managing and marketing, confirms
where residents are parking. She adds there will be clearly defined visitor parking.
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It is noted Jonathan Salt and Leslie Gould left the meeting at 10:15.
The presentation concludes.
4. Approval of Minutes:July 2019, August 2019, September 2019. Minutes are tabled for the next
meeting.
5. New/Other Business: n/a
6. Adiournment
Benevento moves to adjourn meeting at 10:45 a.m. Henebury seconds.The motion carries 5-0.
Next meeting scheduled for 6.2.20.