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2023-8-1 Parking and Traffic Commission minutes CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission LOCATION: City Hall, 3rd floor Council Chambers DATE: August 1, 2023 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Richard Benevento, Vice Chair Darlene Wynne, Captain Jake Kreyling, Sergeant Dana Nicholson, City Commissioner Michael Collins,Jonathan Salt BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Dayna Morton OTHER OFFICIALS PRESENT: Ward 2 City Councilor Estelle Rand, Ward 1 City Councilor Todd Rotondo RECORDER: Naomi Moca Welcome and Call to Order Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 a.m. 1. Welcome Sergeant Dana Nicholson 2. Request to amend an Ordinance (prior to City Council submission): Amend Ordinance 270-40 Prohibited Parking at all times—Woodland Avenue, Eastbound Side from Green Street to Livingstone Avenue—Councilor Todd Rotondo Materials added to the record: • Letter to the Commission from Ward 1 City Councilor Todd Rotondo dated July 23, 2023 Ward 1 City Councilor Todd Rotondo is present and states that the amendment request came about due to safety and sightline issues at the crest of the hill,with a particular safety issue with a certain truck parked adjacent to a crosswalk. The request is to prohibit parking along the eastbound side of Woodland Avenue from Green Street to Livingstone Avenue. The Commission discusses whether the residents have been polled, and Rotondo states that there is ample parking in the area,that a number of the residents are tenants, that he has spoken with Sergeant Henebury, that Livingstone Avenue has a similar issue, that there is consistently a particular pickup truck parked there illegally forcing traffic around it at the crest of the hill, and that there have not been any incidents. The Commission discusses that the crosswalk is uphill from the intersection of Elliott Street, that Livingstone Avenue is approximately 30 feet wide, that the pickup truck is usually about 60 to 100 feet from the crosswalk, that for at least the next four years that there will be increased traffic volume due to the Hall Whitaker drawbridge repair work, that speeding is an issue in the area, that this was an issue even before the bridge was closed, and that there is no posted speed limit. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission August 1,2023 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Rotondo points out the proposed restriction on the site map. The Commission discusses that there is currently unrestricted parking on both sides of the street, that the proposal is to limit parking to a single side,that the issue should be revisited when the bridge construction is complete, that there is limited movement for fire trucks, that Collins opposed the installation of the crosswalk, and that the restriction would prevent safety issues. Kreyling comments that if there were no parking permitted on both sides, it would allow more space for the Fire Department's large trucks. The Commission discusses that it is not necessarily practical to send additional police patrols to the area, that this Commission is the first City entity to review the submission, that attention should be paid to both imposing and enforcing the restriction, and that Rotondo will notify the residents when the restriction takes effect. The Commission discusses a possible grace period once the restriction is in place to allow people to get accustomed it. Rotondo states that there are four properties that are most impacted by this parking restriction and that each house has an alternate place to park in addition to their own driveway. The Commission discusses that residents are parking on the street in a grassroots effort to alleviate the speeding issue. On the topic of a similar but separate issue, the Commission discusses prohibiting parking on Livingstone Avenue if there were traffic data. Vice Chair Wynne: Motion to recommend to amend Ordinance 270-40 Prohibited Parking at all times on Woodland Avenue along the eastbound side from Green Street to Livingstone Avenue, subject to the condition that the Commission revisit the matter once bridge construction is complete. Salt seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 3. Approval of Minutes: a. June 6, 2023 The members review June 6, 2023 draft meeting minutes. Kreyling: Motion to accept the June 6, 2023 meeting minutes as written. Wynne seconds. Motion carries (6-0). 4. Recommendation to City Council: Order No. 183-2023 Resident-Only Parking on Fish Flake Hill—Councilor Estelle Rand Materials added to the record: • Letter to the Commission from Ward 2 Councilor Estelle Rand dated June 5, 2023 The Commission discusses that the letter was sent in June right before the June 6, 2023 meeting, and is in direct response to the opening of the Mission Boathouse restaurant. The Commission discusses that there has been a lot of parking spillover into the surrounding neighborhoods from the opening of the restaurant. The Commission agrees that resident parking is defined as a sticker Page 2 of 6 City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission August 1,2023 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 on neighborhood residents' cars,with ticketing that applies to any vehicle without a sticker, including guests of residents, and is enforceable by the Police Department. 8:50 a.m.: Ward 2 Civic Association President Suzanne Lamont arrives. The Commission discusses that the City may not have the resources to enforce resident-only parking, that the proposed resident-only parking end date in Councilor Rand's letter is October 2, 2023, that the proposed start date is effective immediately, that parking is not a revenue source for the City,that the restriction could start a trend for other City neighborhoods, that the restriction could push parking out to other neighborhoods, that the streets being discussed are on Front Street from Bartlett Street to Water Street, on Davis Street from Stone Street to Front Street, on South Street from Stone Street to Front Street, and that Front Street is narrow with parking on one side. The Commission discusses that there is not yet any data on the problem, such as the number of residents affected by the Mission Boathouse opening. The Commission discusses how to quantify what the parking needs of the neighborhood are, that some residences have deeded parking, and that the time of day affects the parking volume. The Commission discusses that it makes decisions based on data and not emotion. 8:55 a.m. Ward 2 City Councilor Estelle Rand arrives. Nicholson states that the complaints the Police Department has received have been about the Mission Boathouse parking lot and that the Police Department has received no complaints about parking in the adjacent neighborhoods, but that it is monitoring the area nonetheless. The Commission discusses that the restaurant is under a temporary occupancy permit and it is still working on meeting the conditions of the permit, such as securing a van to shuttle employees to and from the remote parking lot at the Italian Community Center, so there is reason to believe some of these issues may naturally resolve. The Commission discusses that the parking lot is public,not just for patrons and employees of the restaurant. Wynne states that the van shuttle is now believed to be in place. The Commission discusses that another popular restaurant in the area, the Anchor, is also working on two sites for additional parking, and the Commission discusses whether the parking conditions will be somewhat relieved with these changes. Rand states that she has received numerous complaints from residents of the neighborhoods in the area of the restaurant and that the main issue is the mental, emotional, and physical adjustment to the restaurant. Rand states that according to a 2017 traffic study, the neighborhood's parking was already "functionally full" at that time. Rand points out that the multi-family residences in the area were built before there were zoning ordinances for parking, and clarifies that the October 2, 2023 date in her letter falls on Indigenous Peoples' Day and is symbolic end point to the summer season. The Commission discusses that the City's resources are possibly not adequate to support resident parking operations and that this would be the first resident sticker parking in the City. Rand Page 3 of 6 City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission August 1,2023 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 states that the request does not come lightly and that she has made a parking request only twice in the last 10 years. Rand states that typically on Front Street at 6 p.m. there were only two or three available spaces on the street, and that was even before the opening of the restaurant. Rand proposes trying the resident-only parking temporarily, along the idea of a pilot program, to see what the repercussions are. The Commission discusses that the restaurant is required to collect traffic data in the Front Street neighborhood during peak summer operations and that the traffic report is due imminently per the permit. The Commission discusses that with the establishment of a restaurant, it takes about a year to settle, and Rand suggests putting some traffic restrictions in place for the duration of that year. The Commission discusses that a system for applying for a resident-only sticker will have to be implemented. Rand states that a similar system already exists in the City for shared residential parking stickers. The Commission discusses what times of day the restriction would be in effect such as from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., that the restriction would impact residents who host visitors, that it would fall to the Engineering Department to implement and enforce this system, and that four- hour limited parking during peak commuting hours such as on Railroad Avenue is different from resident-only parking. The Commission discusses that it is unsure of what exactly the parking demand is in the area and that the parking analysis should include license plate data. Rand states that the issue is that there was already a parking shortage in the area and that the restaurant owner is supposed to manage that issue. The Commission discusses that traffic study data is typically reviewed and analyzed by the party making the proposal. The Commission discusses what its role is as far as the options or recommendations. The Commission discusses that the biggest initial problem was the restaurant staff s parking habits and that the issue has potentially been addressed, though Wynne states she is unsure when the shuttle started. The Commission discusses that it is appropriate to continue the discussion until such time as there is traffic study data based on the current conditions, not with a resident parking restriction in place. Rand observes that change can be challenging, that this change has been an impactful one for the neighborhood, and that the 2017 data state that the neighborhood was already on the verge of a problem at that time. The Commission discusses that it had concerns when the restaurant was first proposed about impacts such as circulation in the parking lot and that the Commission wants projects to be successful but not on the backs of people traveling to work in the mornings. Dan Finn of 16 Front Street is present and states that he called the Mayor's Office at the end of April when the restaurant opened to inquire about attending today's meeting. Finn states that the restaurant's opening weekend was a nightmare. Finn gives the example of the resident parking placards placed in windshields during the Halloween season in Salem as a possible solution, specifically, from Water Street to Davis Street where there is no parking at older residences. Finn expresses concern that posting signs may cause the parking to shift further up the street and proposes posting two signs stating residents only parking from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no enforcement. Finn recounts that when chatting with a restaurant hostess after she parked on Front Page 4 of 6 City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission August 1,2023 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Street, she told him that her manager advised her to park on Front Street, Water Street, or lower Rantoul Street. Finn observes that the restaurant has done things that are outside the scope of what was presented in the plans, such as placing 100 seats outdoors. Finn states that there is no parking on his street and that customers walk a long way to go to the restaurant. Rand adds that she does not support signage without enforcement. The Commission discusses that there is no restriction on Front Street, and that restaurant management was requested to encourage employees to park elsewhere as a condition. The Commission discusses that Mayor Cahill has had some frank conversations with the restaurant recently about the parking related conditions. Dana Rowand of 15A Front Street states that he agrees with Finn. The Commission discusses that it is not able to impose resident-only parking without a full proposal that includes how to implement and enforce it. The Commission discusses that developers come before the Commission frequently with projects that are too big for the sites in hopes of maximizing the real estate and that if the restaurant is proving to be too big for the site, it is time to hold their feet to the fire. The Commission agrees that a parking restriction is necessary but the details of how to go about it are still needed. Rand asks what data or details can be presented now that would be acceptable to make that decision. The Commission discusses that the next steps are to talk to the restaurant owner and confirm whether the shuttle has been implemented, ask if the additional parking has been helpful, remind them about the traffic study, and emphasize that meeting the conditions of the Commission is not expensive. Rand requests that the item stay on the agenda and the Commission agrees. Lamont states that the restaurant has had scope creep; for example,there is additional seating on the patio and there is an increased number of employees than what was approved on the plans. Lamont states that the restaurant has overstepped. Kreyling states that anytime there is excess parking it poses a problem. Kreyling states that he uses occupancy load numbers set by the zoning (seats and parking spaces),parking zoning, building square footage, and the liquor license when determining compliance. The Commission discusses that there is an accountability problem and that Rand and the residents are doing the job of the restaurant. The Commission discusses that when the City can no longer rely on the goodwill of the owner to comply with conditions,the City may turn off the temporary occupancy permit. Kreyling: Motion to issue a joint letter to the City Council and the Mission Boathouse restaurant owner requesting that the restaurant have the relevant traffic data collected before Labor Day and the study be submitted one week prior to the September 12, 2023 meeting. Salt seconds. Motion carries (6-0). Kreyling: Motion to continue the matter to September 12, 2023 meeting. Wynne seconds. Motion carries (6-0). Page 5 of 6 City of Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission August 1,2023 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 9:43 Rand departs 5. General or New Business a. Rantoul Gateway want to open the street Materials added to the record: • Letter to the Commission from Tyler Palermo, Development Project Manager of Procopio Companies, dated July 31, 2023 The Commission discusses that the developer is proposing capping the utilities in the street instead of on-site and that there is a five-year moratorium on opening the street. Kreyling states that he observed the hydrant was moved from its location on the original plan and he had the developer move it to the front of the building again. Kreyling and Collins state that the developer must obtain a permit from Engineering who will determine the parameters to keep any road closing to a minimum. The permit may require the developer to grind the disturbed area of the street and return it to the original post-DOT project condition. The Commission discusses that the developer does not need to come before the Commission again, whether this is a modification to the plan, and that the developer has proven to be compliant with all requests thus far. 6. Adjournment Kreyling: Motion to adjourn. Wynne seconds. Motion carries unopposed. Meeting adjourns at 10:00 a.m. The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Page 6 of 6