Loading...
2010-07-06 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: LOCATION: DATE: MEMBERS PRESENT: Parking and Traffic Commission MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDERS: City Hall Conference Room B Tuesday, July 6,2010 Chairman Richard Benevento, Bill Bent, Tina Cassidy, Richard Hutchinson, Sgt. Joe Shairs, Bill Fiore Sheila Field Councilor Judith Cronin Eileen Sacco The meeting is called to order at 8:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes: June 1, 2010 Benevento asks if there are any changes that need to be made to the minutes of the last meeting. Cassidy notes that a quorum is not yet present (8:30 a.m.) so Benevento elects to table this issue until later in the meeting. Additional members arrive and a quorum is now present. Benevento asks again if everyone has read the draft minutes and whether there are any changes that need to be made to them. Cassidy: motion to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2010 Parking and Traffic Commission meeting, seconded by Bent. All members in favor (5-0), the motion carries. 2. Discussion: City Council Order #112: Review and recommendation to City Council on current egress/access to Cole Street community gardens / Councilor Judith Cronin Councilor Cronin addresses the Commission and explains that neighbors have raised concerns regarding the current egress/access to the Cole Street Community Gardens. She notes that there is a blind corner and it is difficult to get through. She suggests that more sight distance is needed for the driveway. Benevento asks who determines where curb cuts can be installed. Cassidy notes that the Engineering Department decides that. Cronin explains that she is looking for a recommendation from the Commission as to what might be a solution to the problem. She questions whether the access could be moved to an area that is not as busy as the present location. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting Cassidy suggests that representatives from the Engineering Department and the Public Services Department be invited to the next Commission meeting. Benevento agrees and suggests that the Commission visit the site before the next meeting and members decide to hold a site visit on July 23,2010 at 8:30 a.m. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter Benevento asks if someone is prepared to make a motion. Bent: motion to continue discussion on the issue of egress/access for the Cole Street Community Gardens to the next Commission meeting on August 3, 2010, pending a site visit by the members of the Commission on July 23, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. Cassidy seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5-0. 3. Discussion and recommendation to Planning Board: Modifications to Site Plan Review application #40-98 and Special Permit application #123-10 / Aero Mfg. on Sam Fonzo Drive Peter Ogren of Hayes Engineering is present for the applicant. Benevento reports that he visited the site and looked at the stakes that were set showing the proposed driveway location. He asks if the existing hedges on the property are going to be cut down. Ogren replies that they will be cut down and says they would accept a condition that all of the weeds be cut down along the site's frontage. Benevento notes that the driveway is on a curve of the road and if there was a concern they would be asking for site distance calculations but he feels that everything is fine. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter Benevento asks if someone is prepared to make a motion. Cassidy: motion to recommend approval of the proposed site plan subject to the conditions that (a) the plant growth along the site's frontage west of the proposed driveway location be removed and (b) landscaping be accordance with local ordinances and that nothing higher than two (2) feet in height at maturity shall be planted within 24" of the back edge of the sidewalk. Shairs seconds the motion, all members are in favor. The motion carries 5-0. 4. Discussion: Finalize letter regarding appropriate School Zone sign age and potential crosswalk relocation at Centerville School; potential changes to on- street parking regulations and discussion regarding policies on dismissal procedures and drop-off and pick up locations with school business manager / Councilor Judith Cronin Benevento reports that the Commission visited the site and looked at the crosswalk locations, existing signage, and the parking on and off street in the area. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting Cronin reports that she met with School Committee member Maria Decker and they reached an agreement about signage and traffic patterns. Cronin also explains that there was some discussion about limiting weekend parking in the area to address the parking concerns. She notes that school drop off and pick up times are school department issues but the installation of some signage might be a good first step toward addressing the parking issues. A resident of Hull Street addresses the Commission and requests that cones be placed at the end of her driveway to prevent parked cars from blocking her driveway. Shairs recommends that when that situation occurs she should call the police because that is a violation of a city ordinance that requires five feet of clearance on either side of a driveway. Cronin notes that there are site distance problems as well and says she previously asked Bruce Doig to distribute literature to sports organizations regarding parking in the school parking lot versus on Hull Street. Shairs notes that if cars start getting towed from the area the word will spread not to park there. Benevento explains the proposed signage for the area. He suggests that the crosswalk be widened to a standard width as a short-term solution. He notes that there are not a lot of good long-term solutions with respect to parking. Cronin again notes that solving the signage issue would be a good first step and she can work on the parking issues going forward. Benevento suggests that the Commission send a letter recommending that signage be installed and that the crosswalk be upgraded to standard crosswalk width with appropriate handicap compliant access. He also notes that the weekend parking issues need to be addressed by the Park and Recreation Department and that parking for events at Cahill Park should be directed to park at the school. Benevento suggests that the city could collect a fee from the sports teams and hire a park ranger to direct parking. Cassidy states that she will draft a letter with the Commission's recommendations. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Benevento asks if someone is prepared to make a motion. Bent: motion to send a letter to the City Council recommending that signage be installed as discussed and that the crosswalk be upgraded to standard crosswalk width with appropriate handicap compliant access. Motion seconded by Fiore, all members in favor. The motion carries (5-0). Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting 5. Discussion and recommendation to Planning Board: Comments re: OSRD site plan/subdivision creating three new lots at 1 Lake Shore Avenue / One Lake Shore Avenue Realty Trust Attorney Thomas Alexander and Bob Griffin are present for the applicant. Alexander addresses the Commission and explains that there are several plans that have been suggested for the site, noting that one was for a nine lot subdivision and the current proposal which proposes half the number of lots shown on the conventional plan. Griffin addresses the Commission and explains the site plan, noting that 50% of the land would be designated as open space and is next to Sally Milligan Park. He reviews that plans and the locations of the driveways. He notes that there are a total of four lots shown; three would contain new houses and one would contain the existing house. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter Benevento asks if someone is prepared to make a motion. Bent: motion to recommend approval of the plan as drafted to the Planning Board. Cassidy seconds the motion, all members are in favor. The motion carries 5-0. 6. Discussion: Posting of some or all of north side of Kathleen Drive as "no parking" / citizen's request (Cassidy) Cassidy reports that she has some information regarding how the neighbors feel about this and the reaction is mixed. She requests more time to talk with the neighbors. Bent: motion to table the matter, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, the motion carries 5-0. 7. Discussion: Schedule night meeting to discuss possible crosswalk installation at Spring Street and Odell Avenue and on Hale Street as requested by area residents / Councilor Hobin and Sgt. Shairs Shairs explains the request and issues with people crossing to get to the train station and the Hannah School and notes that the Public Services Department has only recently made improvements to this intersection. Cassidy notes that there could be an issue with money and whether or not the city wants to tear up what was just done in the area. She recommends getting some information from the Mayor and the Department of Public Services and if they agree the Commission could then consider this. Benevento agrees, noting that he is not inclined to report this out without some input from the city. Discussion was held regarding holding the August 3, 2010 meeting at 7:00 p.m. and the Commission ultimately decides not to schedule an evening meeting yet. Cassidy will send a letter to Councilor Hobin suggesting he consult with the Mayor and Collins before Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting pursuing the Odell/Spring St. crosswalk matter further, and Shairs will inquire as to whether Hobin has canvassed the Hale Street neighborhood sufficiently to date to schedule an evening meeting. If he has, the meeting will be held in the evening. If not, it will be held at its regular morning time. Bent: Motion that the Commission inform Councilor Hobin that it is generally in favor of the concept of adding additional crosswalks to the Spring Street/Odell Avenue intersection but recognizes that financial considerations and the fact that the City has recently finished constructing sidewalk improvements in the area may preclude consideration of further work in this location for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the Commission respectfully recommends that the matter be discussed with Mayor Scanlon and DPS Director Mike Collins. If it is determined that City resources are available for this work, the Commission stands ready to assist the City as needed to move the project forward. Shairs seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5-0. 8. Discussion: Replacement of existing "Lane Ends Merge Left" with "Lane Ends Merge Right" on Elliott Street just west of McKay Street / Sgt. Shairs Shairs explains the issue centers around the "warning" signage for westbound motorists on Elliott Street regarding the upcoming lane merge. The existing signage incorrectly instructs motorists traveling on Elliott Street to merge left. In fact, through traffic should merge right, since the left lane is a turn lane that ends. Bent agrees that it is not laid out well and should be restriped. Hutchinson: motion to send a letter to DPS Director Mike Collins recommending that the City consider replacing the existing sign at this location with one that either reads "Merge Ahead" or "Lane Ends, Merge Right". Cassidy seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries (5-0). 9. Discussion and recommendation to City Council: Elimination of on-street parking in front of 122 Water Street, opposite Jubilee Yacht Club / Sgt. Shairs Shairs explains that parking is technically permitted in front of 122 Water Street at the moment. There are traffic conflicts and difficulty with turning vehicles when trucks and boats try to enter or exit the Jubilee Yacht Club property and the space is in use. Eliminating one on-street parking space would address the issue but would require an ordinance change. Bent: motion to recommend that the City Council amend the City Ordinances to prohibit on-street parking in front of 122 Water Street, opposite the Jubilee Yacht club. Cassidy seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5-0. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting 10. Discussion and recommendation to City Council: Possible prohibition of on- street parking on Laurel Street between Budleigh Avenue and Dodge Street / Sgt. Shairs Shairs explains his suggestion (to prohibit on-street parking on Laurel Street, between Budleigh Avenue and Dodge Street). He explains the parking issues on the street including the negative impact on-street parking can have on the double-lane setup on Laurel Street. Bent: Motion to recommend to the City Council that the City ordinances be amended to prohibit on-street parking on Laurel Street between Budleigh Avenue and Dodge Street. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. The motion carries 5-0. 11. New or Other Business Benevento notes that the green turn arrow on the traffic signal at Balch and Cabot is no longer there. Shairs explains that the signal box was hit by a motor vehicle a month or so ago and believes it was replaced with a temporary box only until a new one comes in. 12. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on August 3, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. 13. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Bent: motion to adjourn, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, the motion carries 5-0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 6 of6 July 6, 2010 Meeting