PTC minutes_10.6.2020 CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: October 6, 2020
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), George Binns, Michael Collins, Sgt
Mike Henebury, Capt. Ryan Laracy, John Lozada,Jonathan Salt
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Leslie Gould, Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair)
OTHERS PRESENT: Emily Hutchings, Staff, Assistant Planning Director
RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury
Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 am.
Laracyjoins the meeting at 8:41 am; Gould joins the meeting at 9:05 am.
This is a virtual meeting with special meeting format as required to honor Governor Baker's State of
Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19.
1. Discussion: Special Permit Application#175-20 * 282 Rantoul Street—Deviation from parking
requirement for a manufacturing use—Christopher M Wrenn, c/o Alexander and Femino
Tom Alexander(Attorney), One School Street, Beverly, and George Zambouras (Engineer), 17 Noble Hill
Road, represent the applicant, Christopher Wrenn, also present. Alexander presents the deviation from
parking requirement request to the Commission in addition to data collected supporting the request.
This is a mixed commercial building. The building currently occupies 100% of the site, not permitting for
any additional area for parking.The building will continue to function as manufacturing facility, including
storage area and some retail space;the business involves t-shirt manufacturing.Alexander presents to
the Commission a history of decisions as related to parking and the downtown business economy,
where the desire has been to preserve the existing buildings rather than tear them down to create
enough parking. Wrenn confirms for the Commission he wishes to further invest in the building as well
as confirms there will be no change in employee count, currently 9. Business hours are M-Th, 8:00 am -
4:00 pm. The retail hours are to be determined, however, will most likely be 10:00 am - 6:30 pm.
The Commission discusses commuting and parking options for the employees. Wrenn seeks to relocate
to Beverly which would afford him the opportunity to bike. He would encourage his employees to seek
alternatives methods of commuting in order to preserve the downtown pedestrian centric business
model. They further discuss not having his employees occupy metered parking on Rantoul and to seek a
shared parking arrangement with neighboring businesses if available. Lozada inquires about the
placement and use of a bike rack. Wrenn has no issue with installing one for employees as there
currently is not one. Wrenn also confirmed for the Commission on occasion a delivery vehicle may
occupy metered space briefly, but that it should no interrupt metered parking as whole for customers.
There being no further comments.
The Commission found that the project would have no greater adverse impact than the existing use and
granting of the Special Permit to welcome a new business to invest in Beverly will be beneficial to the
Parking and Traffic Commission
DRAFT October 6,2020,2020 Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 3
City. Wynne motioned to recommend that the Planning Board approve the Special Permit request for
282 Rantoul Street, consistent with the Beverly Zoning Code, subject to the following conditions:
1. That the owner/applicant shall advise employees not to park on Rantoul Street during working
hours and that the owner and employees consider utilizing the City of Beverly Business Parking
Program (https://www.parkbeverly.com/business).
2. That the owner/applicant will explore off-hour shared parking opportunities with the property
to the rear of the subject property, or other nearby buildings.
3. That the owner/applicant will provide,to extent practicable, measures to accommodate bicycle
parking for employees within the building.
Henebury seconds.The motion carries 7-0.
2. Discussion: Request to establish and install signage for a loading zone—110-114 Rantoul
Street—Beverly Barnat, LLC
The applicant is not present.The Commission proceeds to discuss the issue. Benevento reads
documentation from a previous determination dated in 2016.This determination concedes the
Commission recommended at the time installation of loading zone signage. The Commission discusses
the necessity of the signage pertinent to the area including signage enforcement. Henebury provides
comments to the Commission and confirms this request is consistent with other businesses in area.
Wynne concurs and further discusses the parking issues to the area. Benevento raises safety concerns to
parking in or near the patio area for dining patrons.The Commission next discusses payment for sign
installation with Benevento confirming from Collins the City will pay for the installation.The Commission
comments on the sign schedule and determines the sign should read with familiar language consistently;
the hours will be from 7:00 am -9:00 am, seven days a week.The Commission reviews the impact to
residents as well as discusses loss of revenue and mitigation for lost revenue since the loading zone will
occupy metered space for the specified time. Benevento inquires to the history of City proceedings for
such cases.
There being no further comments.
Binns motions recommend to the City Council they amend the City Traffic Ordinance to include a
Loading Zone at the location of 110-114 Rantoul Street; with restricted time between 7-9 am;
unrestricted 7 days a week; and advise this is a metered space with slight loss in revenue where the
Commission believes the revenue loss overall benefits the downtown commercial industry. Henebury
seconds.The motion carries 8-0.
3. Approval of Minutes:
None
4. New/Other Business:
Salt discusses a recent survey of the preferred bike commuting routes to Beverly businesses. A few areas
of interest, such as Dunham Ridge are discussed.The commission discusses lack of infrastructure in
certain commercial districts where cyclists do not have protected lanes. Collins suggests for areas like
Dunham Ridge that cyclists tour through residential neighborhoods instead of taking main
thoroughfares.
Parking and Traffic Commission
DRAFT October 6,2020,2020 Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 3
a. Update on Boyles St discussion
Henebury completes the requested data collection to round up the Boyles St traffic discussion. Data
compiled was 35 days of traffic from August to mid September.The data accounted for north and south
bound traffic on Boyles.The north bound traffic concluded almost 20,000 traveling daily cars, averaging
about 800 cars per day.The south bound traffic data reviewed a smaller window over a 7 day period.
Data suggests the average speed is under 22 mph with 50% speed at 24 MPH. Henebury reiterated the
BPD has an assigned route in the area and continues to monitor traffic regularly.
There being no further comments. No action needed at this time.
5. Adjournment
Wynne moves to adjourn. Henebury seconds.The motion carries 8-0.
Meeting adjourned 9:36 am.
Next meeting scheduled for 11.10.20.