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2011-01-04CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: LOCATION: City Hall Conference Room DATE: January 4, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Richard Benevento, William Bent, Richard Hutchinson, Bill Fiore, Sgt. Bill Page. MEMBERS ABSENT: Tina Cassidy, Ilia Stacy OTHERS PRESENT: Lee Dellicker, Charlie Wear, Attorney Mark Glovsky, DPS Director Mike Collins, Ward 2 Councilor Wes Slate RECORDER: Eileen Sacco Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes Benevento asks if there are any changes that need to be made to the draft minutes of the November 30, 2010 meeting. Bent: motion to approve the minutes of the Parking and Traffic Commission meeting held on November 30, 2010 as amended, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, the motion carries. 2. Discussion/Recommendation to Planning Board: Site Plan Review Application for 38 Unit Apartment Building at 363 -393 Cabot Street (Former Kelly Infiniti Site) Dellicker addresses the Commission and explains that he had previously proposed a residential project for this site but withdrew it due to the economy. He explains that Windover now feels that the economy is coming back and would like to move forward with the project. Dellicker explains the plan and the scope of the project. He notes that they are proposing a four story wood frame building with 38 one and two bedroom units. He explains that the original project was to be low income housing but now they are proposing 100% market rate rental units. Several of the units will be affordable though, as required by the City's Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. Wear addresses the Commission and explains the parking scheme and traffic flows on and off the site. He notes that the site is entirely paved and they will be maintaining the grade, noting that the existing building will be razed and a new four story building will be constructed. He explains that the proposed parking will be under the first floor of the building and on the ground outside the building. Benevento asks if they will be meeting the parking ratio requirements. Dellicker explains that they are proposing 38 parking spaces for the site. The zoning would typically require 46 parking Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes January 4, 2011 meeting Page I of 5 spaces. He also notes that a parking study was done by the Beverly Planning Department that suggests that .7 space per unit is more appropriate for this type of building. He further notes that the study commissioned by the Planning Department indicated that 1 space per unit is appropriate. Windover will be asking for a variance to provide 8 spaces less than what zoning would require. He notes that Windover did a similar study and found that prospective buyers want 1 space per unit and he thinks that Planning Director Cassidy would support this. Benevento notes that the Commission has visited the site and notes that residents come in multiple driver age tenants. He also notes that people park everywhere in the winter months and there should be some proposal to accommodate those kinds of issues. Dellicker notes that Cassidy's study was directed at Rantoul Street as part of revising zoning districts and areas such as Hale Street would be a different situation. Benevento agrees. Page questions if there is any provision for visitors or overnight guests. Dellicker states that they do not intend to designate spaces. He also notes that there will be two handicap spaces on the site. He also notes that they are planning to stripe 4 new street parking spaces along the street, and relocate the crosswalk slightly. Fiore questions where the snow storage areas are on the site. Wear explains the location on the plan and notes that excess snow would be removed from the site. Benevento asks if there is an adequate turning radius for emergency vehicles. Wear explains that emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks as well as UPS trucks can get through the 24 foot driveway in the back of the building. Benevento opens the meeting up for public comment at this time. Collins questions the moving of a crosswalk and asks if it is a mid -block crosswalk, noting that the city has eliminated some of those. Benevento agrees and notes that if it is not needed it should be removed. Bent agrees as well and notes he would have no problem if it were removed. Bent suggests that the Commission could defer to the Planning Board as to the determination of the final amount of parking spaces for the site. He notes that if the Planning Board is going to approve .7 space per unit they should consider changing the requirement. Benevento asks Dellicker what his time frame is for the project. Glovsky explains that they will be going to the Planning Board on January 18, 2011 and the ZBA on January 10, 2011. Benevento notes that the Commission has not seen the parking study done by the Planning Department and he would like more information from Cassidy. Glovsky requests that the Commission approve the parking and traffic for the project subject to the Planning Board approval. Page states that he has reservations about 1 space per unit noting that most families have two cars. He states that he would like the Commission to table this matter until more information is Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes January 4, 2011 meeting Page 2 of 5 received on the parking study. He also notes that they may be able to get 5 -6 more spaces in the rear of the property if they used the proposed grass area for parking. Benevento asks if the two handicap spaces are included in the proposed 38 spaces. Dellicker states that they are included. Benevento notes that it would really be 36 spaces for 38 units. Benevento suggests that the Commission table this matter until such time as the Commission gets more information from Cassidy. He notes that he wants the Commission to be on the same page as the Planning Board and he is a bit concerned that the two handicap parking spaces are included in the overall parking total. He states that he feels that each unit should have at least one space. Councilor Wes Slate addresses the Commission and notes that this is not a new idea and notes that the Planning Board has some work to do on this. He further notes that Windover has a track record that is top notch and he is glad to see the project back on the table. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Benevento suggests that the Commission table action on this matter. Bent: Motion to table the matter until more information is received regarding the parking study. Fiore seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries (5 -0). 3. Discussion: Of Site Visit Regarding Neighborhood Concerns Regarding Intersection of Hale and Corning Streets Sgt. Page and Councilor Kevin Hobin Benevento reports that he visited the site at Hale /Corning Streets and looked at the volume of traffic. Bent states that he was tasked with looking at the Mass Highway crash data for the area but was unable to open and read the document. Benevento notes that the neighbors were concerned about speeding, noise and construction vehicles in the road. Page notes that he has been out there with radar and did not find any violations. He states that he talked with Councilor Hobin and he expressed concern that the "STOP SIGN" is bent and requested replacement of the stop signs and installation of a flashing light with a beacon. Page recommends that the City replace the two stop signs. Benevento states that the City could put a flashing beacon out there but that would affect the pavement geometry. Bent agrees and states that he would be in favor of replacing the stop signs but not the installation of a flashing beacon without the data to support it. Benevento suggests that a letter be sent to Councilor Hobin informing him that the Commission looked at the site and there are no obvious operational deficiencies at the site and they are recommending that the stop signs be replaced and that stop lines be repainted. Chris Shipkin addresses the Commission and notes that he is President of the Neighborhood Association and states that he would like to see the accident data for the area compared to similar intersections in the City. He also notes that people use the church parking lot as a cut through Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes January 4, 2011 meeting Page 3 of 5 and that is a problem. Benevento states that he will have Cassidy get the data when she gets back. 4. Discussion/Recommendation: Discussion of Site Visit and Potential Change of Traffic Flow Direction on Kittredge and Russell Streets / DPS Director Mike Collins Benevento reports that he looked at the plans and he has some comments. He explains that he would recommend reversing the traffic flow but that is not possible at this time. He explains that Cassidy sent members a plan for this section of Route IA. He suggests that a gate be installed at Russell Street if the traffic is exiting onto Cabot Street. Collins reports that he would like to formalize the traffic pattern with an island instead of using the paddles. He notes that a fairly extensive traffic study was done for the high school project. Benevento suggests that a memo be sent to Mike Collins indicating that the Commission will address the questions raised in email of 12/13/10 noting that traffic flow as it currently stands should remain and they should consider swapping them completely. It should also be noted that the Commission recommends that they consider closing Russell Street at Cabot. The memo should be sent to Mike Collins and a copy sent to Ward 3 Councilor Jim Latter. 5. Discussion: Previous Discussion to Post "No Right Turn on Red" at Essex/ Dane Street Intersection Benevento notes that this is a recurring item on the Commission's agendas. Councilor Slate addresses the Commission and notes that he goes that route all the time and the sign is doing what it was intended to. He explains that there is a one -cycle delay. Page notes that he looked at the data for the area and there was an inordinate amount of accidents in the area. He also noted that there was a problem with the house and hedges at the corner. Bent: motion that the "No Right Turn on Red" sign at Essex and Dane Streets shall remain intact and that no further action by the Parking and Traffic Commission is needed at this time. Page seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5 -0. 6. Discussion: Previous Vote to Recommend Two Hour Regulation and Metering of On Street Parking Spaces on Essex Street in Front of the Beverly Public Library Councilor Slate addresses the Commission and explains that he talked with Councilor Hobin and they are requesting that this matter be tabled until such time as they can talk to Pat Cirone, Director of the Library so that she can poll the friends of the Beverly Public Library as to whether they prefer signs or meters. Sgt. Page notes that he cannot monitor signs as he does not have the manpower to do so. He explains that he has to actually send someone out there to monitor signs where meters indicate Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes January 4, 2011 meeting Page 4 of 5 violations, so his personal preference would be meters. He also notes that Cassidy is looking into whether there are any of the new meters available to install down there. Benevento suggests that there should be a time restriction on the parking spaces. Slate notes that he is fine with restricting the time on the parking spaces. New /Other Business Mike Collins informs the Commission that he cannot put the paddles out on Dodge Street because they interfere with snow plowing. He states that he wants the Commission to be aware of this in case the issue comes up again. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any further business for the Commission to conduct at this meeting. There is none. Fiore: motion to adjourn, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, the motion carries 5- 0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes January 4, 2011 meeting Page 5 of 5