2011-10-04CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Parking and Traffic Commission
October 4, 2011
City Hall, Conference Room B (Third Floor)
Chairman Rich Benevento, Tina Cassidy,
Richard Hutchinson, Russ Rollins, Bill Fiore
John Somes, Bill Bent
Tina Cassidy
Benevento calls the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m., noting that the meeting's start
was delayed by weather.
1. Approval of Minutes
The first item of business is approval of draft minutes for the August 31, 2011
Commission meeting. Benevento asks if anyone has any changes to suggest.
There are none.
Hutchinson: motion to approve the minutes of the August 31St meeting as
drafted, seconded by Rollins. All members in favor, no one in
opposition. The motion carries 5 -0.
2. Review /recommendation regarding Site Plan Review application #104-
11: construction of two industrial buildings at 128 Park Street
Gene Sullivan, representing the current property owners (Dennis and Wayne
Britton) is present to explain the site plan to the members. Two new industrial
buildings will be built on the site and each will contain eight (8) and nine (9)
contractors' shops respectively. The spaces will either be sold (a few may be sold
"up front ") or rented to contractors. Each of the spaces is approximately 2,000
sq. ft. in size.
Benevento asks how many parking spaces will be provided on site. Sullivan says
the zoning ordinance requires 43 spaces be provided and they will have 43
exterior parking spaces. Some area inside each contractor's space will also be
Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes October 4, 2011 meeting
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available for vehicle parking, but none of the potential interior parking spaces
are included in the number (43) for zoning compliance purposes.
Benevento asks what types of trucks are expected on the site. Sullivan answers
box trucks and FedEx -type trucks, but not tractor trailers. Benevento asks
whether the applicant has analyzed the proposed driveway configuration with
respect to those trucks and to emergency vehicles. He explains that the
Commission always recommends avoiding situations where vehicles entering or
exiting a site must cross the centerline in order to make their turning movements.
Sullivan indicates that he has not yet applied the turning "template" for the Fire
Department's newest vehicle to the site plan but will. If there is any issue with
turning movements Sullivan says he can reconfigure the driveway by increasing
the radii on either side to obviate the need for vehicles to cross the roadway
centerline.
Members discuss generally the nature of driveway openings, sidewalks (or lack
thereof) and the demand for on- street parking in this area. Sullivan points out
the proposed new driveway and members ask that the applicant extend granite
curbing to the limits of his property to demarcate the break between the public
right of way and the driveway.
Benevento asks if there are any other issues of concern. Fiore mentions a zoning
concern that has surfaced at a different but similar facility in which contractors
have started living in their commercial rental units. The Commission discusses
the subject generally but decides that the issue of zoning conformance, with
respect to use, is not one within the Commission's purview.
Cassidy: motion to recommend that the Planning Board approve the
proposed site plan subject to the following conditions:
1. That the driveway opening be modified to ensure that
vehicles entering and exiting the site can do so without
crossing into opposing lanes of traffic and that the design of
the driveway meets with the approval of the City's Fire
Department; and
2. That the applicant be required to install straight faced
granite curbing to the limits of the site at 128 Park Street.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes October 4, 2011 meeting
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Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. The motion
carries 5 — 0.
3. Discussion /recommendation to Council on Order #160: Prohibition of
parking on one side of Kathleen Drive / Councilor Maureen Troubetaris
Cassidy explains that the Commission received the above - referenced Order
several weeks ago. Prior to that, she had a conversation with a resident of
Kathleen Drive last year in which the resident expressed an interest in having
parking prohibited on at least one side of Kathleen Drive to address potential
snowplowing problems in the winter. Councilor Troubetaris' order seems to
address this resident's interest.
Cassidy and Fiore provide background information on the number of houses
using Kathleen Drive and existing conditions, including a pavement width of
approximately 18' and a resident's practice of installing barriers in the grass strip
to keep people from parking in front of his house.
Members express concern about any on- street parking on this roadway, given
that it is so narrow (typically 24' of pavement width is considered the minimum
width needed for safe passage of two -way traffic). Members believe that there
should be no parking on either side of Kathleen Road, despite the fact that the
Order asks for the Commission to choose one side for the prohibition.
Hutchinson: motion to recommend to the City Council that on- street parking
be prohibited on both sides of Kathleen Drive, in the interest of
public safety and facilitating emergency vehicle access. Motion
seconded by Fiore, all members in favor. The motion carries 5 —
0.
4. Discussion /recommendation to City Council Order on #160: Erection of
an additional street sign at 129 Livingstone Avenue / Councilor
Maureen Troubetaris
Cassidy updates the Commission stating that Councilor Troubetaris has
requested that the Commission weigh in on the notion of erecting an additional
"Livingstone Avenue" street sign at 129 Livingstone Ave. Fiore explains that the
residents living on the western portion of Livingstone Ave. have had a
longstanding problem with being "found" by visitors, delivery men, and the like
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who don't realize that Livingstone Avenue has two sections, one on either side of
Upland Road. The new street sign is intended to address that problem.
Following discussion, the Commission votes to recommend that Order #160 be
adopted but suggests that the Council confer with the Department of Public
Services to see if there are similar situations here or elsewhere in the vicinity that
need similar remedy.
Fiore: motion to recommend to the Council that an additional "Livingstone
Avenue" sign be installed near #16 or #18 Upland Road (at the
intersection of Livingstone and Upland) so that motorists are aware
that Livingstone Avenue exists on both sides of Upland Road.
Additionally the Commission recommends that the Council check with
the Department of Public Services to determine if there are any other
similar situations and if so whether additional signage beyond that
contemplated by this Order is advisable. Motion seconded by
Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries 5 — 0.
5. New or Other Business
Rollins explains that a resident has asked if the City can install a new crosswalk
on Essex Street, at the intersection of Essex Street and Standley Street. Rollins
has viewed the area and is supportive of the concept because this location is
heavily used by pedestrians.
Benevento is supportive too but expresses concern that it may not be as simple as
just adding lines to pavement. Installing crosswalks can trigger the requirement
that new sidewalks and /or handicapped accessibility be constructed and increase
the project cost substantially.
Members agree to view the site individually between now and the next meeting
and to ask Mike Collins to review the situation and offer comments in time for
the next meeting.
Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Commission to conduct.
There is none.
Rollins: motion to adjourn, seconded by Cassidy. All members in favor,
motion carries 5 — 0.
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The meeting is adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
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