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PTC minutes_08.02.22 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: Virtual hybrid meeting; City Hall, 3rd Floor Council Chambers DATE: August 2, 2022 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair), Michael Collins, Jonathan Salt, Richard Vincent, Capt Jacob Kreyling, Sgt Michael Henebury, George Binns BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: John Lozada OTHERS PRESENT: Hannah Bowen, Councilor at Large RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 am. This is a hybrid 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. Continued Discussion: Intersection Operations Assessment,Anchor Point—Sohier Road and Herrick Street—SGOD 40R District—Harborlight Community Partners Rebecca Brown represents the applicant. Returns to the board with updates. Addresses the improvement concerts 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. Mainly camera additions, sidewalk improvements, sign replacement. Benevento asks for clarification on the short-term vs long-term improvements. Short-term improvements include sidewalks, restriping crosswalks, intersection signs, lane narrowing on the roadway. Brown details the signing, striping and repairs originally estimated at $22,000. $55,000 is the new estimate.That would include additional survey, grading and engineering if the sidewalk were to be done. That's almost an additional $20,000 cost by Harborlight. Harborlight already contributed to the design.The sidewalk work comes to a total of $100,000. Signing, striping and repairs are under$40,000. Brown points out this is an affordable housing project. Harborlight cannot raise rent to offset these costs. Anything that is offsite will have to be completed through additional fundraising. The original offsite cost was$50,000.Anything outside that impacts their budget. Final offsite mitigation too much. Wynne addresses the commission discussing the affordability component. Harborlight contributed to the project by acquiring a Massworks grant to improve sidewalks.They have done fundraising for this project. Wynne believes the project has done quite a bit for mitigation. There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter: Motion: Collins moves to accept the mitigation package as proposed under option one, with the inclusion of the ATF push button at the enhancement of$52,300 as proposed by Rebecca Brown's letter dated July 26, 2022. Salt seconds. Motion carries 8-0. Parking and Traffic Commission August 2,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2of6 2. Continued discussion on Recommendation to Planning Board: Site Plan Review#154-22-218- 224 Cabot Street and 18 Federal Street—Miranda Siemasko, Glovsky Councilor at Law for Leggat McCall Properties LLC Miranda Siemasko represents the applicant.The Peer Review requested at the July meeting has not been selected for review.There is a due date of August 8, 2022. There has not been enough time to fulfill those requests from the prior meeting. There being no further comments or questions regarding the matter: Commission grants continuance to the next meeting September 13, 2022. 3. Recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals: Special permit/finding for 397 Cabot Street (ZON22-00016) and Variance for 386 Cabot Street(ZON22-00018)—Thomas Alexander for Janick Company LLC Alexander Thomas presents on behalf of the applicant. When the applicant went before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)their original plans submitted were deemed not best suited for the area. New plans incorporate parking in the rear thatjoins two properties located on Cabot and Bennett Streets. This is in the CN zoning district. The affordable housing project will have 12 units. It will replace the Subway fast food restaurant. Cabot Street serves as the entrance to the property and Bennett Street is the planned exit. Sam Gregorio reviews the traffic study. The development should not cause a lot of traffic because there are not a lot of units. There are 12 rear residential parking spots near the train tracks. Gregorio explains trip generation should only be 7 during peak hours. The Bennett Street planned exit has an affected site line due to on street and offsite parking. Benevento asks what will prevent residents from exiting onto Cabot Street. Grasso reiterates the parking lot design and traffic flow. Alexander will confirm the number of handicap spaces with the project civil engineer. Benevento asks about guest parking. Alexander confirms they will need zoning relief for the required number of parking spaces since the ordinance mandates 2 spaces per 2-bedroom units. Alexander advocates that there is sufficient access to public transportation to grant the parking relief. The MBTA 451 bus route and local commuter rail stations will provide adequate transportation alternatives as well as walkability in the downtown area. Benevento pointedly asks exactly how many spaces are provided. Wynne confirms the building will require a special permit. Benevento and Wynne discuss the parking space requirements. Benevento specifically asks are the requirements still one space per unit. Wynne and Benevento discuss the undecided policy issue as it relates to the Depot Overlay Districts and the impacts. Alexander confirms the project is 3-4 spaces in deficit and confirms the Subway space will be an office space. The traffic should be minimal for that space. Members point out the zoning requirements that Subway space cannot be used for residential since it is commercial and not zoned for residential. Collins, Gloucester Crossing is one of the most difficult and complex intersections in the city due to railroad integration and circuitry. Collins wonders could it be right turn only?When Subway was operational left-hand turns would hold up traffic.This is a complicated dynamic between the intersection, traffic and railroad. There's a land easement for another property off Bennett Street. Benevento, it only takes one car to cause issues at that intersection. Parking and Traffic Commission August 2,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 Henebury discusses vehicles exiting and entering Bennett Street that will not be changed, they are remaining as is and asks is there a net change? Henebury confirms that lot is used by other tenants currently.Those 14 spaces, 11 and 19 =8. They are short five.That would be a reduction. In the winter the parking lot is used by other tenants for snow bans. Henebury echoes Collins concerns for left hand turns from Cabot into the complex and the lack of parking for the residences.Alexander reminds commissioners the ZBA can put restrictions on what type of commercial business is there. Henebury states to the commission too many developers promise low trip generation business with office space and do not maintain those assurances. What was promised office space evolves over time into busy commercial use, like coffee shops, for example. The Fire Department points out the firetruck apparatus cannot enter or exit the lot from either Bennett or Cabot Streets. Benevento has concerns with an 11 pinch point turning radius. Commissioners agree the winter months would be the most restrictive. Vincent asks if there is a fire lane in the rear of the building. Alexander confirms the building will have all sprinklers required by code. Kreyling notes all requirements are site specific as long as it conforms to the fire apparatus. Vincent performed a site visit and asks about the current lot occupancy. The owner states tenants from 390 Cabot uses the space. One 382 Cabot is constructed that lot will be residents only. Commissioners express several concerns about the project viability and parking realities with too many vague details. Salt asks why the site must be entered from Cabot and not Bennett? Gregorio responds, one way access and traffic flow are better entering from Cabot plus access to the back spaces. Alexander believes there is enough aisle width to accommodate two-way traffic, reiterating the office space will not be intensive commercial use. Commissioners return to the neighboring tenants who currently use that space. Where will this traffic park once the lot is no longer available for them. How does this impact snow bans and other parking scenarios?They will be forced to go somewhere else in a dense neighborhood creating additional strain on that area. Salt asks about bike parking. Commissioners concur there is not enough parking in the area. Wynne notes there are supposed to be changes to the MBTA 451 bus route. Currently trips are greater than 1 hour, so this is not considered good or frequent service. Wynne notes they will need some relief for the driveway width. Alexander requests a continuance. The issues are access and parking, and accommodating fire department need, proximity of the Cabot Street driveway. Salt suggests timed parking signage and/or restrictive parking. Gregorio concurs with Henebury those type of measures create hostility in the neighborhood and are difficult to enforce. There being no further comments or concerns. Continued to the next meeting. Motion: Henebury moves to continue to the next meeting. Vincent seconds. Motion carries 8-0. 4. Recommendation to Planning Board: Special Permit#182-22 and Site Plan review#155-22-40 Dunham Ridge—Miranda Siemasko, Glovsky Councilor at Law for 40 Dunham Ridge OC LLC M. Siemasko presents on behalf of the applicant.This is an over 55 residential project. The project went before the ZBA in May requesting special permit for parking reduction.This project addresses some of the types of available housing needed for seniors, adding diversity to the available choices. There will be at least 15%of units restricted for AMI. The project team reports per their data the average retirement age is 62 with an expected retirement age at this facility to be 73. Parking and Traffic Commission August 2,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 M. Siemasko review the Dunham Ridge community site.This is a unique opportunity and project for the zoned area.There is a shared easement along the access road with the Dunham condominiums. Onsite visitor parking will be in the front of the building, with residential parking off to the side. 98 surface parking spaces, 104 garage spaces, for a total 213. 320 are required to comply by right with the ordinance.The deficit is 107 spaces as they are required to have 2 spaces per unit. M. Siemasko notes there is an alternate parking plan to increase surface parking spaces. They are in talks with Cummings Properties for alternative solutions. Robert discusses the traffic study which concludes lower trip generation than by right because of the office industrial uses. Study was submitted to the city July 2022. Concludes existing infrastructure can support new trips and will not adversely impact current traffic. Neighbors expressed concerns on Dunham Road and the project team will work and mitigate those concerns. Crash data from MASSDot study 2015-2019 determines about 3 accidents on average per year.Trip generation comparison and site distance discussed.Trip generation originally less than anticipated. Sight distance is fine. M. Siemasko noted ZBA appreciates the use that is different by right, commercial use would increase traffic etc. Benevento finds a 107-parking space deficit an issue. Collins has concerns with the Brimbal Ave and Dunham Road intersection. Benevento asks if this project would join in the other area projects for discussions on how to fix and enhance the intersection, currently operating at an F. Wynne comments,the project team cannot predict the true average age of retirement (73) or depend on decreased trip generation because residents over 55 will have few cars or not drive as frequently as other age groups. M. Siemasko rebuts, this is an apartment style setting, not single-family homes or townhouses,therefore there will not be as much trip generation due to the type of dwelling. The commission as a whole respectfully disagrees with that assumption.The residents will need parking since there is nothing near the complex for walking distance,therefore transportation is key.The development is not near a mass transit area to have common use of a subway or bus system. The average resident age does not mean generated trips will be less intensive. Robert asks if the parking can be limited to match the number of bedrooms per unit and M. Siemasko asks for parking restrictions. Wynne further discusses unbundled parking opportunities. M. Siemasko summarizes project benefits: reduced parking ration of 1.3 spaces/unit; consistent use of IR Zoning District; active adult apartments are low traffic generators; average age of approx. 73 and mostly retired; non-peak traffic; most traffic is accounted for in expired Vitality permits; and pedestrian connection to Norwood Pond.Two other projects looked at for comparison are Avenue Natick and Everly in Barnstable. Commissioners return to the parking needs for over 55 in these units. Salt discusses the lack of bike infrastructure. Commissioners would like to see more pedestrian connectivity from the complex to the North Beverly area. (MEPA) Collins asks about the ENF filing and where application status. Lauren Jezienicki addresses the ENF, DEIR change from office use to residential use and confirms this has not been filed yet. M. Siemasko notes all the data will be updated from the original filings.Jezienicki expects the filing to happen soon and the process to conclude by October 2022. Benevento, what is value of the project. Jezienicki estimates$80M. M. Siemasko briefly discusses the Phase II Overpass and coordination efforts with Cummings on how best to move that project forward.The Mayor met with residents who would like to move on the phase II overpass. M. Siemasko confirms this project is not hindering the overpass from moving forward. Parking and Traffic Commission August 2,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Wynne asks the project team if they would increase bike parking in the absence of shuttle service. M. Siemasko confirms the Cummings is interested, but they will not do it themselves. TMA is in an uncertain position. Only funded by Beverly projects. Benevento supports a shuttle service. There being no further comments or concerns. Continued to the next meeting. Motion: Henebury moves to continue to next meeting. Salt seconds. Motion carries 8-0. S. Approval of Minutes: a. July 19, 2022 To be reviewed at the next meeting. 6. General/New Business a. Discussion at the request of Councilor Todd Rotondo,Ward 1; amend the Ordinance 270-41. i. Parking prohibited at all times to add Livingstone Avenue from Carver Street to Woodland Ave east side. Councilor Rotondo requests a parking restriction on one side of Livingstone Avenue due to safety concerns. Events at Herlihy Park create parking issues for residents with the additional traffic and parking along both sides of Livingstone Ave.They are not able to safely pull in and out of their driveways. Parking too close to driveways causes sightline issues. Also, pedestrians crossing out in the middle of traffic is a safety concern. If parking were restricted to one side keep pedestrians safe. Rotondo suggests additional parking for the baseball field at Ayers Elementary School. Chair Benevento opens the floor for public comment. Robert Kidney, 12 Livingstone Ave Expresses concerns for parking on the street. Discusses parking and driveways in the area, suggests where parking mitigation could be. Jonathan McKenna, 16 Livingstone Also has concerns for parking in front of resident homes and upon their driveways. Kreyling would like additional research and data for these assumptions. The current data is insufficient regarding the issues. Kreyling notes the hydrant location and emergency vehicle access for the area. There being no further comments or concerns. Discussion continued to the next meeting. ii. Discuss traffic calming measures and pedestrian safety measures in the vicinity as it relates to traffic patterns as a result of the closure of the Hall Whitaker Bridge Discussion continued to the next meeting. b. Discussion at the request of the Beverly Bike Committee on bicycle accommodations on "country roads"including Standley Street, Foster Street, Boyles Street, Cross Lane, and Common Lane. Parking and Traffic Commission August 2,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 Discussion continued to the next meeting. 7. Adiournment Motion: Vincent moves to adjourn. Henebury seconds.The motion carries 7-0. Meeting adjourned 11:19 a.m. Next meeting scheduled for 9.13.22.