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2008-11-12 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: Parking and Traffic Commission MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: November 12, 2008 Third Floor, City Hall Chairman Rich Benevento, Vice-Chairman Joe Shairs, Tina Cassidy, Richard Hutchinson, Sue Mueller, Bill Bent Bill Fiore Ward 2 Councilor Wes Slate, ADA Coordinator Art Daignault Tina Cassidy RECORDER: Benevento calls the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes The first item of business is approval of draft minutes of the Commission's June 25th, July 2nd, August 13th, and September 10th meetings. Benevento asks if everyone has had a chance to review the drafts and whether there are any changes that need to be made. There are none. Cassidy: motion to approve the draft minutes of the Commission's June 25th, July 2nd, August 13th and September 10th meetings, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, motion carries. 2. Discussion: Possible rescission of restrictions on deliveries associated with construction of new dormitories at Montserrat College of Art Lee Dellicker from Windover Development introduces himself to the board and identifies other Windover representatives who are present this morning. He explains that his firm is the company responsible for construction of the dorms and is asking the Commission to reconsider its August decision to limit the hours of transport of materials from the Rantoul Street staging site to the construction site on Winter Street. The Commission had imposed a condition that deliveries could only be made between the two sites between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Benevento explains that the Commission imposed this condition in an attempt to ensure that disruptions to heavily traveled Rantoul Street are minimized during morning and afternoon rush hours. He states that the Commission has no desire to interfere with the construction project or cause difficulties for the project in general, but has an obligation to ensure that this major transportation corridor (Rantoul Street) functions well for commuters during these time frames. Dellicker explains that there will be a total of approximately 35 transports from the Infiniti site to the corner of Winter and Essex Streets. The company expects to conduct these Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 1 016 November 12, 2008 meeting transports between December 1, 2008 and December 10, 2008. The Commission's earlier decision will elongate the projected construction period by at least five days, and add approximately $26,000 in costs to the project. Members ask for more detailed information relative to the expected transports. Dellicker states that sections of the modular buildings will be prepared for transport at the former Infiniti site and then moved via truck to Winter Street. Vehicles will exit the Infiniti site with police escort, proceed down Rantoul Street, and turn left onto Pond Street. Trucks will cross Cabot Street from Pond Street to Winter Street with police assistance. Windover estimates that it will take only two to three minutes for each truck to "clear" Rantoul Street once they leave the Infiniti site. Benevento asks if any of the trucks are "wide load" trucks. Several will be, but not all of them. After considering this detailed information regarding the type of transport trucks that will be used, the number of deliveries that will be required and the very limited amount of time the trucks are expected to traverse Rantoul Street, Cassidy suggests that the Commission consider allowing the transportation of materials anytime after 7 a.m. to see if in fact there is a problem. If the first day of operations show that these activities do not interfere substantially with traffic flow on Rantoul Street, there will be no need to impose time restrictions on the deliveries. If, on the other hand, the Police Department or Mayor's Office fields complaints about traffic tie-ups, the Commission can rescind its vote and reimpose the conditions. Shairs asks about Windover's plan to continue using part of the Winter Street right of way through the winter season. Dellicker explains the nature and location of the proposed temporary structures. Shairs expresses concern about the plan because it might interfere the City's ability to keep Winter Street open to vehicular traffic throughout the project. Winter Street is relatively narrow, and snowbanks could narrow the road to the point where traffic could not easily pass through. The Commission briefly discusses this point and suggests that Shairs consult with Windover as to the details of the winter plan and report back to the commission at its next meeting if there appears there will be a problem. Benevento asks for a vote of consensus from the Committee on the hours of transportation of materials from the Infiniti site to Winter Street. Bent: motion to rescind the Commission's earlier limitations on transportation of materials for the Montserrat College of Art dorm project, with the understanding that if said transportation interferes substantially with traffic flow during rush hours, the earlier time limitations will in fact be re-imposed on the project. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries. Shairs reminds Windover that by City Ordinance, no work can commence on either the staging site or the construction site prior to 7 a.m. on any day. 3. Discussion on Order #111: Request for Comprehensive Traffic Study of Congress Street neighborhood Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 2016 November 12, 2008 meeting Cassidy updates the Commission by stating that at a previous meeting, Commission meeting members and the Ward 2 Councilor agreed to postpone consideration of this request until it is clear that redevelopment of the Ventron site will take place. However, the Commission had conducted a related site visit to the Goat Hill neighborhood last fall, and at that site visit a number of issues and concerns were raised by a resident of the neighborhood. Since the last Commission meeting she met with Councilor Slate and reviewed the list of outstanding issues raised during last year's site visit. The list of issues has been categorized by the department/entity responsible for completing each. Many of the issues are not within the purview of the Parking and Traffic Commission, but at least several may be within the Commission's authority and should be pursued. After a brief discussion, Benevento suggests holding a follow-up site visit on Wednesday, November 19th at 2 p.m. Cassidy will provide members with a copy of the categorized list of issues in advance of the site visit that day. 4. Request to designate several on-street parking spaces as one hour spaces on Rantoul Street in front of Weaver Glass (393 Rantoul Street) Shairs states that he met with the owners of Weaver Glass and conducted a site visit to the area. He suggests that the Commission recommend to the City Council that three on-street parking spaces on the east side of Rantoul Street, beginning at the intersection of Rantoul and Roundy Streets and extending approximately 70' southbound to the driveway entrance to Weaver Glass, be designated for one hour parking only, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Bent: motion to recommend to the City Council that three on-street parking spaces on the east side of Rantoul Street, beginning at the intersection of Rantoul and Roundy Streets and extending approximately 70' southbound to the driveway entrance to Weaver Glass, be designated for one hour parking only, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, no one in opposition. Motion carries. 5. Discussion: Traffic and Parking related issues on Story Avenue Shairs updates members by reminding them that Ward 3 Councilor John Burke had requested that the housing development on Story Avenue be designated a "School Zone" to address traffic speed in the area. Shairs informs the members that police personnel conducted several site visits to the area and found that the "Fire Lane" designation signs in the Story Avenue complex were not properly oriented to maximize their utility. Sgt. Shairs reported the matter to Department of Public Services, and that Department has ordered new signs that will be erected shortly to correct that issue. Shairs informs members that observations by police personnel revealed that the average speed of traffic was at or below 30 m.p.h. on Story Avenue and the volume of traffic on the street was light. He also expresses concern about the relative distance between the closest school and Story Avenue. Benevento underscores the last concern and says that the Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 3016 November 12, 2008 meeting MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) probably has established guidelines in this regard, and finds that in fact the MUTCD sets a 100' radius as the reasonable area for a posted school zone. Story Avenue would fall well outside the 100' radius to the Briscoe Middle School. Following a brief discussion, Benevento asks if the Commission has reached consensus on a recommendation on this matter. Bent: motion to recommends that Story Avenue NOT BE DESIGNATED as a school zone because observations by police personnel in July and August, 2008 revealed that the average speed of traffic was at or below the prima facie speed of 30 m.p.h. for school zones and the volume of traffic was light. Also, Story Avenue will not meet the recommended guidelines of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for posting as a formal School Zone, which requires school zone signs to be placed within 100' of a school. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries. 6. Discussion: Handicapped accessibility for MBTA busses near the intersection of Cabot and Winter Streets Cassidy updates the Commission by eXplaining that at the last meeting members considered a complaint registered with the City's ADA coordinator regarding the MBTA bus service. The complainant uses a wheelchair and has been traveling to relatively-distant MBTA bus stops in order to board the bus. The person lives near the Winter/Cabot Street intersection, but the bus stop at that location does not permit the bus driver to pull adjacent to the curbing so that the lift providing handicapped accessibility can be used. She also states that she learned after the last meeting that the person was not told by the MBTA that he had to use the remote bus stops to gain access to the bus. Instead, it appears to be a choice the individual made. Shairs states that he inventoried all of the MBTA bus stops along Cabot Street in both directions between Gloucester Crossing and the bridge. There are a total of 15 bus stops in both directions, including one at the Hess gas station at the corner of Cabot and Dane Streets. This stop should be accessible because the bus can pull up right to the curb. The Commission discusses the nearby stops on the southbound side of Cabot Street and wonder if the MBTA bus can service the handicapped individual at the Cabot Street Cinema stop, since it abuts Judson Street which might provide the access needed for the lift. Daignault agrees to contact the person who complained to inform him of the existence of the accessible stop at the Hess gas station and to suggest he speak directly with MBTA personnel as to whether he can be accommodated at the Cabot Cinema stop in the future. Daignault will come back to the Commission if the matter does not resolve itself. 7. Request to install a new crosswalk on Elliott Street near Greene Street Shairs summarizes the request which was filed by Ward 1 Councilor Maureen Troubetaris. Cassidy says that she believes the City Council's committee voted to take no action on the request already. Shairs says he believes a number of people including Councilor Troubetaris Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 4016 November 12, 2008 meeting are still interested in pursuing the matter including Ward 1 School Committee member David Manzi, Ward 3 Councilor John Burke and School Superintendent Jim Hayes. Shairs suggests having a meeting of the interested parties to discuss the matter and Benevento offers to attend as a representative of the Commission. Shairs will try to schedule the meeting at a time convenient to all and will update the Commission members at the December meeting. 8. Request to designate several on-street parking spaces as one hour parking spaces on Rantoul Street in front of Panther Pub (278 Rantoul Street) Shairs states that he met with the owners of the Panther Pub to discuss this request and conducted a site visit to the area. He suggests that the Commission recommend to the City Council that three on-street parking spaces on the west side of Rantoul Street, between the Rantoul and Federal Streets intersection and the existing "No Parking Here to Corner" sign, be designated for one hour parking only, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. He also recommends that a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign be posted on the south side of Riverside Street at the intersection of Riverside and Rantoul Streets, and that two one hour parking spaces be created on Riverside Street immediately west of the new "No Parking Here to Corner" sign, with the one hour designation effective between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Benevento asks if there are any concerns with this issue. There are none. Bent: motion to recommend to the City Council that three on-street parking spaces on the west side of Rantoul Street, between the Rantoul and Federal Streets intersection and the existing "No Parking Here to Corner" sign, be designated for one hour parking only, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additionally, the Commission recommends that a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign be posted on the south side of Riverside Street at the intersection of Riverside and Rantoul Streets, and that two one hour parking spaces be created on Riverside Street immediately west of the new "N 0 Parking Here to Corner" sign, with the one hour designation effective between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries. 9. Request to establish a loading zone in front of 369-371 Cabot Street (Beverly Bootstraps) and post a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign at the intersection of Pickett and Cabot Streets. Shairs updates the Board by eXplaining that Ward 3 Councilor John Burke requested the creation of a loading zone in front of this establishment and the installation of a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign at the intersection of Cabot and Pickett Streets to improve line of sight distances for drivers exiting Pickett Street. Shairs states that he recommends against the creation of a loading zone, particularly since the City's ordinance technically allows anyone to park in a loading zone for up to 15 minutes. Instead, he suggests creating short term parking spaces in front of the building. As for the sign, Shairs has discussed the matter with the Department of Public Services and found that the line of sight issue will be Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 5 016 November 12, 2008 meeting improved and effectively addressed when the crosswalk in this location is reconstructed. Based on that, he does not recommend that a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign be erected. Benevento asks if there are any questions. There are none. Bent: motion to recommend to the City Council that two (2) 30-minute parking spaces be created in front of 369-371 Cabot Street, with an enforcement period of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Additionally, the Commission does NOT recommend the erection of a "N 0 Parking Here to Corner" sign at the intersection of Pickett and Cabot Streets at this time, since reconstruction of the crosswalk at this location, in addition to existing ordinance restrictions, will eliminate existing problems with line of sight distances at this location. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries. 10. Update on parking at corner of Pleasant and Park Streets Shairs informs the Commission that the Department of Public Services relocated the existing stop sign at this location and extended the "stop" lines to approximate a crosswalk. This work, coupled with enforcement, has resolved the issue. 11. Update on Hurd Stadium parking issues Cassidy states that the Commission had promised at an earlier meeting to draft a letter suitable for use by the Recreation Department to address the existing problems with on street parking around the stadium during certain events and sports practices. Bent had drafted the letter but it has yet to be revised and forwarded to Commission members for approval and delivery. Benevento will review the draft and forward it to the members before the next meeting. 12. Follow-up on Order #194: Cole Street issues relative to construction of a sidewalk, posting of speed monitoring equipment, and possible truck exclusions for the roadway Shairs says that the speed sign was placed on Cole Street in front of the cemetery last Monday. Cassidy offers to contact Public Services Director Mike Collins to determine when a conceptual plan for a sidewalk on one side of Cole Street might be available, and will place the matter on an upcoming agenda depending on the answer. She states that Ward 6 Councilor Judith Cronin has asked for guidance on the truck exclusion issue, which she intends to pursue on behalf of her constituents. Benevento had agreed to draft an outline of the steps that would be needed to create a truck exclusion route, including the process that would be needed to designate an acceptable truck route as required. Benevento asks Bent if he can draft a list of steps needed to enact a truck exclusion and Bent agrees to do that. Benevento will use that draft to complete a letter of explanation suitable for Cronin's use. Bent says that he will send the bulleted list to both Benevento and Cassidy. Benevento asks if there are any other issues for the Commission to discuss today. There are none. The meeting is adjourned at 12:00 noon. Parking and Traffic Commission meeting minutes Page 6016 November 12, 2008 meeting