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PTC minutes_07.19.22 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: Virtual meeting DATE: July 19, 2022 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair), Michael Collins, Jonathan Salt, George Binns, Richard Vincent, Capt. Jacob Kreyling,John Lozada BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Sgt. Michael Henebury OTHERS PRESENT: Rebecca Brown, Hannah Bowen RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 am. Pursuant to Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2022, Section 3, this meeting of the Beverly Parking &Traffic Commission was conducted in person but with remote participation through the Google Meet platform. 1. Continued Discussion: Intersection Operations Assessment,Anchor Point—Sohier Road and Herrick Street—SGOD 4011 District—Harborlight Community Partners Rebecca Brown, GPI Traffic Consultants, represents the applicant and returns to the board with updates. Addresses the improvement concerns from the June 6, 2022 meeting. The cost of the improvements are just under$35,000. Brown confirms there was already$13,000 satisfied prior to the additional improvements. She presents mainly camera additions, sidewalk improvements, sign replacement, etc. Benevento asks for clarification for the short-term vs long-term improvements. Short-term improvements include sidewalks with encroachments, restriping crosswalks, intersection signs, lane narrowing on the roadway. DPS Commissioner Mike Collins finds the presented solution simple and elegant. At the intersection current detection is functional; however, Collins prefers updated cameras. John Lozada reviews ADA concerns. George Binns would like more detail on exactly what the affordability is, the tradeoff between critical repairs and the priorities of repairs. Members do not want safety sacrificed for convenience and budget. Collins reviews what currently has been repaired, noting the camera improvements would be better, however the current repairs are sufficient. Richard Vincent discusses the preliminary cost of improvements. Denotes the $41,000 cost would be the responsibility of the City. Collins notes the value of the sketch solution is valuable to the city. Vincent proposes to allow the project to make their short-term improvements since current repairs are adequate. Chairman Rich Benevento concurs and discusses with Collins. Collins notes for future if the sidewalk is completed later, it is not a deterrent to the project. The sketch is what's most important. As long as the city has it, they can return to those additional improvements. Binns notes the sidewalks are the main concern for improvements. Does this affect the COI?Vice Chair Darlene Wynne notes they are in the first phase. Members continue discussing the cost differences in Parking and Traffic Commission July 19,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2of5 relation to what is proposed and what already is complete. Members discuss the cost differences ranging between $31,000.00, $34,000.00, and $41,000.00. There being no further comments or concerns. Members vote to continue to the next meeting. 2. Recommendation to Planning Board: Site Plan Review#154-22-218-224 Cabot Street and 18 Federal Street—Leggat McCall Properties LLC Miranda Siemasko, Glovsky Councilors At Law, presents on behalf of the applicant. The project includes signification renovations to the existing building as well as a new building in the rear of the site. This is a mixed-use building. The project is a by-right project staying within the 55-height limit; no additional relief required. Thad Siemasko, SV Designs, presents the project design to the board. The two-story building will be maintained on the Cabot Street front fagade and the one-story portion in the rear will be razed. The undeveloped parking lot will be turned into a garage with the residential units in a building above.The curbing on Federal Street will be restored. T. Siemasko details the mix of uses, including storefronts and residential service areas; he confirms 153 parking spaces and 113 apartments. He details 16 charging stations for EVs.They are looking to design for LEED standards. Streetscape looking down Cabot is minimized after the 1 story raised to 2 levels. Siemasko would like to clean up the Cabot Street historic fagade. Main entries are recessed for the tenants. Bill Gauze reviews the traffic study. Discusses flow onto Chapman Street, bike racks, EV parking stations, trash pickup, and confirms the on-street parking on Federal St will remain. Benevento brings up the public parking issues in the downtown area. He asks what is the plan to accommodate replacement for the public parking? M. Siemasko notes this is private property despite the public use of the lot. The applicant is actively working with the city to find a solution for the loss of public parking. M. Siemasko confirms she is not currently at liberty to say what the discussions are determining. All options are being reviewed. Benevento reiterates that public parking is being taken away on top of additional parking demands by the development which significantly impacts the area. Wynne discusses how the City is looking to address the parking needs, including applying for a grant to conduct a parking supply study for the downtown. Benevento notes there are many variables to consider. He appreciates the steps being taken to review the demand in the area and that the lot is private property. Benevento brings attention to not only the public parking loss but also asks about snow removal. Was excess snow stored there by the city?There are issues like that to consider in addition to parking. Lozada discusses ADA issues. He notes there are currently 2 ADA spaces along Cabot Street for public use. Vincent asks about the mixed-use capacity and the delivery impacts for restaurants and residents. M. Siemasko does not anticipate much delivery use by the residents. Vincent compares other recently developed mixed-use buildings with issues balancing deliveries to businesses and residents. Benevento notes that a project on Rantoul Street has early deliveries permitted between 7-9 am and has created some issues with abutters. Members discuss the growth of Cabot and Rantoul Streets and the impact on commuters. Members would like to have a determined plan that the parking will work out. From a Chamber of Commerce perspective, Vincent discusses the loss of public parking and the impact of other area businesses, the Larcom and Cabot theaters, restaurants, etc. Members acknowledge the building is allowed by right but losing the lot will affect Cabot Street businesses who depend on it for patron parking. Parking and Traffic Commission July 19,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Salt discusses bike parking and sustainability. Appreciates the number of bike parking spaces matches the parking per the building allotment, however; he encourages the developers to speak to Erina Keefe, Sustainability Director; and confirm they need the proposed amount of bike parking spaces. Salt points out the bike rooms in other large mixed-use buildings have been commandeered for purposes other than their intended use. The use has evolved into storage for other items such as baby strollers and additional storage, etc. Salt suggests instead of bike storage rooms to review the MBTA bike cages. Capt. Kreyling discusses the storage and egress units where the potential overflow will impede emergency services. Binns inquires if the EV stations are resident only, Gauze responds they are available to the public. It is confirmed the EV charging stations will have the proper fire detection materials. Wynne points out the prior parking study showed there was an excess of parking yet presently seems to be decreased parking availability. The parking plan will be re-examined. Brown states the public demand for parking will decrease since the retail and restaurant space downsized. She discusses the net change to the existing parking area going over the 2017 parking study by the city. The other public lots and spaces should not be impacted by demand increase. The surrounding shared spaces will be able to accommodate the parking demand. Skeptical members counterpoint the trips needed for the public to find available parking spaces in a dense downtown area. If there is a surplus of parking, where is it and how do they plan to direct people to it. Members bring up the patron max capacity during simultaneous downtown events and the struggle for parking. Benevento notes this is a bigger problem of the city to accommodate shared spaces for full patron capacity. Collins left the meeting 9:52 am. Brown continues on to discuss traffic flow in the area encompassing Wallis, Federal, Rantoul, Hale, Abbott, West Dane, Dane, Cabot, Pond, Church Streets and Broadway. Pedestrian crashes are highest at the intersections of Cabot/Church Streets; and West Dane/Dane/Cabot Streets. Discusses site lines on Federal/Chapman/Cabot Streets. Pedestrian visibility should not be an issue nor should turning radius onto main thoroughfares and neighboring streets. Discusses residential trip impact. Benevento inquires what exactly is below 1, because anything above .85 is a problem for traffic operations and trip congestion. Traffic mitigation consists of resurfacing curb to curb roadway in the area, particularly Federal Street. Restriping sidewalks; reconstructing sidewalks along Cabot, Federal; Bow and Chapman Streets. Ensuring ADA compliance and updates. Looking at future plans for bus stop in front of City Hall, the project is willing to improve some of the southern Cabot Street traffic reconstruction areas. Lozada discusses ADA concerns. Capt. Kreyling discusses fire access with longer traffic times. Is this project adding call time to downtown areas.They cannot swing onto Chapman Street with the ladder truck. Once the egress for parking onto Chapman is completed, what if the residents decide to exit onto Federal Street. What is the impact of flow onto the one-way streets. Benevento would like an independent peer review for this project due to the magnitude of the project scale and downtown impact. M. Siemasko rebuts the necessity for a peer review noting the impact when completed is minimal. Members are firm in their decision for a peer review. Parking and Traffic Commission July 19,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 There being no further comments or concerns. Continued to the next meeting. Motion: Binns moves to continue to the next meeting. Salt seconds. The motion carries 8-0. 3. Recommendation to City Council: Order#181—Proposed amendments to Chapter 270 of the City Ordinances relative to parking regulations at various locations in the City—City of Beverly Benevento discusses the proposed changes to the ordinance with a letter from the President of City Council. Proposed changes for downtown and Beverly Commons review parking enforcement in the area. They discuss the public hearing where paid kiosks were added. Benevento confirms no spaces are eliminated with this amendment. Members review the bridge area and balances out the expectations with the marina development area for Mission Boathouse patron use and traffic. Review the marina lot, charging prices, stickers, etc. Meter rates are increased from $0.25 to $1.00. Benevento asks what the process for approved parking stickers for the downtown Cabot Street area. The process is explained by Jesse Dole, Assistant City Solicitor. Members ask how the process is going. It is noted there is a lack of enforcement. Members discuss the Cox Court area and parking Summit Avenue west side where there is technically no parking. Sgt. Henebury has reviewed these areas and supplied information to City Council members in order to amend the ordinance, as well as collaboration with the Engineering Department and the mayor's office. Wynne confirms Essex County Greenbelt Association is interested in the parking availability at Greenwood Avenue and Stoneridge Road, which is one of the areas slated to have a reduction in public parking. Discuss additional parking for parks and trails. Members discuss the EV chargers. Capt. Kreyling has an electric vehicle and discusses the mitigation methods for those patrons who plan to use the EV charging stations. As long as the vehicle is charging and plugged in the pay that rate, as soon as the vehicle is charged the meter automatically switches to a high imposed fine to deter improper usage and parking. Nancy Marino member of the public, Goat hill resident Discusses the issues parking along Congress Street. She expresses concern with the overflow of The Anchor and other lower Cabot Street businesses. With outdoor dining The Anchor eliminated parking spaces and added 90 seats. Residents are overwhelmed with the overflow. The residents would like consideration for their neighborhood as a result of local restaurants expanding including new developments(Mission Boathouse).The true overflow parking engulfs Goat Hill. Dan Finn, Member of the public, Fish Flake resident Very upset with the overflow traffic in the area and recommends single family homes and apartments should have no parking in front of those residences. Residents prefer a proactive approach since they are all upset with the overflow. They have no spaces for their homes. The added traffic in the area is overwhelming. Also mentions the recreational boating parking. This guy would like to find some compromise and assistance to the parking overflow. Benevento notes there needs to be another traffic study to review the contentious areas of Goat Hill, Summer/Water/Front Streets as the impact of the new restaurant is a work in progress. Motion: Vincent recommend the adoption of the Ordinance as presented with the following recommendations:to amend the parking in the EV zone; that the fine be increased to Parking and Traffic Commission July 19,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 $50.00 for EV vehicles not charging; changing metered lots from $0.25 to $0.50. Binns seconds.The motion carries 7-0. John Lozada left the meeting. Wynne asks members if they would like to keep the scheduled August meeting. Benevento would like the independent peer review for the proposed Site Plan #154-22- 218-224 Cabot Street and 18 Federal Street ideally for the September meeting. Members state there have been increased issues with parking there should be more public involvement and hearing back from the public on these issues. Communication with the public is lacking. Members point out the issues with MassDOT closing the Hall Whitaker bridge. It should not be incumbent upon the city to deal with the overflow and detour issues. Members would like mitigation plans from MassDOT and increased public involvement from the residents affected. 4. Approval of Minutes:June 7, 2022 To be reviewed at the next meeting. S. Adjournment Motion: Binns moves to adjourn. Salt seconds. The motion carries 6-0. Meeting adjourned 11:19 a.m. Next meeting scheduled for 8.03.22.