2008-10-10
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Parking and Traffic Commission
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
January 10, 2008
Conference Room B, Third Floor, City Hall
Richard Hutchinson, Joe Shairs, Sue
Mueller, Wayne Francis, Tina Cassidy
Bob Mead
Tina Cassidy
Cassidy calls the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and informs members that
there are two site plans on the agenda as well as discussion of a traffic-
related issue raised by Councilor John Burke. Shairs says that he has
several other matters he would like to bring to the Commission's attention as
well.
First on the agenda is review of an amended site plan for the proposed
Weaver Glass building at the corner of Rantoul and Roundy Streets.
Attorney Justin Belliveau, representing the developer (Windover Properties
LLC), explains that the changes are minor and were necessitated by a
modification to the proposed property line that will divide this site from the
remainder of the parcel, which Windover owns.
Cassidy states that she reviewed the revised plans and has one concern
regarding the proposed loading area to the east of the building. Access to the
loading area must come from the parking lot, since the Planning Board voted
earlier to prohibit the construction of any new access points onto Roundy
Street. The site plan shows two parking spaces being constructed in front of
the loading zone, which if full would prohibit access to the loading area. She
suggests that those two spaces be restricted for use only by employees and be
designated as such with signage. In that way, Weaver Glass can more easily
control access to the loading area when it is needed.
Members concur with the suggestion. Francis indicates the Fire Department
would not rely on access into the parking lot in an emergency, and would
instead access the site from the two streets given its easily-accessible
frontage on two roads. Cassidy asks if the members have any other issues or
recommended changes to the revised site plan. There are none, so Cassidy
states that the Commission will recommend approval of the modification
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subject to the recommendation about the loading zone III the preceding
paragraph.
Next on the agenda is discussion of a request filed by Councilor John Burke
referencing a potential safety concern for pedestrians at the Stop &
Shop/Cummings Center intersection on Elliott Street. Burke indicated that a
constituent had a "near miss" while trying to cross when a driver taking a
permitted "right on red" did not see her in the roadway.
Members review the various crosswalks and turning movements at the
intersection and the rules and regulations for drivers with respect to right
turns on red lights. Following discussion, Cassidy agrees to ask Burke for
clarification as to the exact location and direction of travel that was at issue
with his constituent, and Shairs agrees to research traffic accident data and
reports for this location. Members agree to meet again in several weeks' time
to discuss the matter further.
Next on the agenda is discussion of a site plan for reconstruction of the One
Stop Market site at 309 and 311-317 Cabot Street. Attorney Matt
Kavanaugh and project engineer Bob Griffin are present and explain that the
owner has relocated the convenience store portion of the establishment to the
northern end of the existing building and recently received variances to
reconstruct the southern end of the building. The proposed site plan shows
the new addition and reconfigured parking lot and driveway access design.
Shairs expresses concern for the safety of pedestrians using the walkway in
front of the building. Today, there is no barrier between the existing
sidewalk and the parking spaces immediately in front of the store and that
creates a potential safety problem for customers going in and out of the store.
Griffin and Kavanaugh indicate that the new layout will address this issue,
and following discussion the use of appropriately-placed curb stops will be
used, in addition to U-shaped bollards already installed on part of the site.
Cassidy expresses concern that motorists using spaces #13-19 and #9-12 need
better warning about the one-way traffic pattern when exiting those parking
spaces. Hutchinson suggests adding a "one way" sign with arrow to the
landscape island between spaces #34 and #33 that is oriented toward those
spaces. The owner's representatives agree to erect such a sign. Cassidy
expresses concern that the sign might not be visible to motorists using spaces
#13 and #14, so Kavanaugh agrees to add a second, similar sign in proximity
to those two particular spaces.
Shairs notes that the new site configuration will better define the entrance
and exit driveways and will create on-street parking where none exists today.
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Following discussion about safety concerns regarding visibility, Shairs
recommends adding three street signs along this stretch of Cabot Street: (a) a
"No Parking" sign located approximately at the hardware store's concrete
walkway, (b) a "No Parking" sign located along the segment of new sidewalk
between the entrance and exit driveways, and (c) a "No Parking Here to
Corner" sign located approximately 20' south of the entrance driveway.
Cassidy asks how motorists in spaces #9-12 will exit the site and notes that
several of those spaces would preclude access to the Dumpster area if they
were filled with cars. Griffin points out that the spaces are proposed to be
reserved for use only by employees of the establishment. Cassidy notes that
this is a positive because the owner will therefore be able to control access to
the Dumpster area when required. Also, exiting the spaces will be somewhat
difficult given the tight travel lane, particularly if the motorist is trying to
back out of the spaces. If only employees, presumably familiar with the
traffic flows on site, are parking in those spaces the potential for problems is
minimized.
Cassidy asks if there are any other concerns or issues. Francis expresses
concern that fire trucks will have difficulty driving through the site given the
narrowness of the traffic aisle and the proposed parking space configuration.
Cassidy asks if eliminating space #33 would improve matters, and Francis
agrees that eliminating space #33 and reconfiguring the adjacent landscaping
strip accordingly would facilitate access and turning movements by fire
trucks and other emergency response vehicles through the parking lot. The
owner's representatives agree to make this modification.
Cassidy asks if there are any other issues or concerns. There are none so she
states that the Commission's letter will recommend approval of the proposed
site plan subject to the following conditions:
(1) That parking spaces #9, 10, 11, and 12 be signed and designated as
"employee parking only" spaces to facilitate access to the Dumpster
area and to minimize potential driver difficulties in exiting those
spaces;
(2) That parking space #33 be eliminated (and the landscaping strip
appropriately reconfigured) to facilitate access and turning movements
by fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles through the
parking lot;
(3) That two "No Parking" signs be erected on Cabot Street (one
approximately at the hardware store's concrete walkway and one along
the segment of new sidewalk between the driveways) and one "No
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Parking Here to Corner" sign be erected on Cabot Street approximately
20' from the entrance to the site;
(4) That a "One Way" directional sign and arrow be installed adjacent to
space #34 and oriented toward spaces #13-19 inclusive; and
(5) That a sign be erected near spaces #13 and 14 which warns drivers in
those spaces of the one-way traffic flow behind them.
Hutchinson leaves the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Shairs says he has two additional business matters to bring to the
Commission's attention. He states that he has received a request from a
relative of the current resident of 18 Porter Street asking the City to create
an on-street handicapped parking space in front of that home. The owner
needs the parking space for medical reasons, and parking in close proximity
to the home is usually unavailable at present.
Cassidy asks how the City checks on the need for handicapped spaces once
they're created. She guesses that the need for at least some of these spaces
disappears for various reasons over time. Shairs states that there is no
tracking system in place to monitor use of on -street handicapped spaces over
time.
Members discuss the request and vote to recommend to the City Council that
a handicapped parking space be created in front of#18 Porter Street.
Shairs states that the second matter concerns parking spaces in front of the
Overtime Pub at the corner of Rantoul and Bow Streets (208 Rantoul Street).
Representatives of the owner have asked the City to consider changing the
existing time limits for parking in front of that establishment.
Shairs explains that currently, the parking spaces on that particular stretch
of Rantoul Street are unmetered but limited in duration (by signage and
enforcement) to one hour. The restaurant is open for lunch hour service, and
the one-hour limit is troublesome for patrons visiting during that time. The
pub's representatives have asked the City to consider increasing the
maximum time limit for the spaces immediately in front of their
establishment to accommodate those patrons.
Commission members generally support the notion of extending the
maximum time limit for these spaces. Cassidy asks if owners of other
establishments in the immediate vicinity of the pub have been approached
about their parking needs. Shairs states that he has not yet spoken to them
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yet but intends to approach the owner of the establishment immediately next
to it on the corner of Rantoul and Bow Streets. Shairs notes that the parking
spaces on Bow Street are not metered and perhaps could be changed to
accommodate the needs of customers of some of the abutting establishments
that need different - and shorter - parking time limits due to the nature of
their respective establishments. Cassidy suggests that maybe one or two of
the on -street spaces on Bow Street, nearest to Rantoul Street, could be
converted into 15 or 30 minute spots for that purpose.
Following deliberation, the Commission decides to postpone making a final
decision on this matter until Shairs speaks with the abutting business
owners and brings a recommendation to the Commission regarding the
spaces on Bow Street and the proposed duration for the spaces on Rantoul
Street in front of the Overtime Pub that are currently limited to one hour.
Cassidy asks if there is any other business for the Commission to discuss,
and there is none. The meeting is adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
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