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2005-04-13 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: April 13, 2005 LOCATION: Third Floor, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Dennis Tarsook, Tina Cassidy, Clark Mitchell, Richard Hutchinson, Bob Mead MEMBERS ABSENT: Sue Mueller, Richard LaFave OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Francis, Beverly Fire Department RECORDER: Tina Cassidy Cassidy calls the meeting to order and introduces Mr. Hutchinson as a new member of the Commission and Wayne Francis, who will shortly be assuming Mitchell’s responsibilities in the Fire Department. Cassidy explains that this meeting of the Commission has been called to continue discussion on the revised site plan for 495 Cabot Street. At a meeting of the Commission last week, members expressed concern about some aspects of the proposed site plan, citing concerns about the proposed drive through lane and the possibility of conflicting traffic on site. D R A F T Attorney Thomas Alexander represents the owner, and explains that they have made a number of changes to the site plan to address the concerns raised by the Commission last week. Specifically, the site plan has been revised by: ?? eliminating a landscaping area along the easterly property line to increase the width of both the travel and drive through lanes; ?? dedicating several parking spaces closest to the drive-through queuing line for employee parking only to minimize the potential for conflicts; ?? relocating a parking space and reconfiguring landscaping islands to further accommodate the drive-through lane; ?? adding pavement markings segregating the “bank drive through” from “through traffic”; and ?? adding signage limiting the queue line length and marking the entrance and exit. Alexander adds that the length of the queue line has been increased to accommodate approximately seven cars, but field observations of two existing branches (in Danvers and Hamilton) showed queues no longer than three cars in practice. Cassidy questions the use of the Hamilton branch as a comparable location. Alexander states that the Danvers branch has $80 million in deposits, and the Hamilton branch $30 million. The proposed branch at 495 Cabot Street is expected to have deposits of $30 million, equal to the Hamilton location. Paul Hajek, traffic engineer for the applicant, reiterates field observations of a maximum queue of three cars, and no more than twenty cars using the drive through lane during any hour. Parking and Traffic Commission minutes April 13, 2005 meeting Page 2 of 2 Phil Weiser, representing the bank, lists three reasons for using the Hamilton branch as a comparable: demographics of the population, projected customer deposits, and the fact that both communities (Danvers and Hamilton) are contiguous to Beverly geographically. Cassidy asks the members for comments. Tarsook states that the redesigned site plan looks good. He hasn’t personally seen 7 or 8 cars in a queue at a drive-through bank, and feels comfortable that the length of the travel queue shown on the site plan is sufficient. The through lane is wide enough to accommodate traffic safely, and the proposed signage and pavement markings are an improvement. D R A F T Mitchell states that the proposed configuration looks fine from his department’s perspective. Mead doesn’t believe there will be any problems with traffic with the proposed site plan as amended. Hutchinson asks if the ATM will be a walk-up ATM or a drive-up ATM. Weiser answers that the ATM would accommodate either, but is designed as a drive-up ATM. Cassidy asks if he has any additional questions. He does not. Cassidy states that in terms of the plan changes, she agrees that the revised site plan is an improvement. She has not had an opportunity to review the vehicle counts submitted at the beginning of the meeting, and may have concerns after reading it. She says if she has any issues, she will raise them as the city planner, instead of as a member of the Parking and Traffic Commission. Tarsook: motion to recommend approval of the amended site plan, seconded by Mead. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is adjourned at 11:40 a.m.