2012-08-14CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: August 14, 2012
LOCATION: Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rich Benevento, Russ Rollins, Bill Fiore,
Richard Hutchinson, John Somes, Tina Cassidy
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Bent
RECORDER: Tina Cassidy
Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m.
1. Discussion: Traffic Concerns regarding Woodland Avenue / resident
Lois Johnson
Cassidy reminds members that discussion of this issue was tabled at the July
meeting because Mr. Bent was not in attendance. The matter was tabled to this
meeting with the expectation that Bent would be here today, but his recent sudden
illness has kept him from this meeting.
Knowing that Bent would not be here today, Cassidy says she emailed Ms. Johnson
yesterday to inform her that the Commission was unlikely to hold substantive
discussion on this issue at this meeting. Ms. Johnson fully understood the need for
further postponement and as a result is planning to attend the September
Commission meeting instead.
2. Update /Discussion: Possible truck exclusion for Cole Street / Sgt.
Rollins
Members discuss this matter briefly and in general terms, noting that Bent's
involvement and advice are greatly needed in drafting the proposed exclusion
request. Cassidy suggests that rather than trying to address this matter as a routine
agenda item during a regular meeting, the Commission should consider scheduling a
meeting specifically on this issue. Members agree that she should email out some
prospective meeting dates and times for a dedicated meeting on this subject, and
Cassidy agrees to do so between now and the next meeting.
3. Discussion: Council Order #4: Conduct of traffic and parking study in
the vicinity of the proposed commuter rail parking garage
Cassidy reminds members that Councilor Slate introduced this Order a number of
months ago and the Commission or its chair have attended several meetings on this
subject since then. A meeting of various City staff (including the planning, finance
and public services directors, purchasing agent, city solicitor and mayor) and
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Councilor Wes Slate and Parking & Traffic Commission chair Rich Benevento is
being scheduled for sometime within the next two weeks to continue the discussion.
Though there are a number of subjects on the meeting agenda that do not directly
relate to the garage's construction, all agenda items are in some way related to
parking in the downtown.
Cassidy and Benevento promise to update members at the next meeting. Beneventc
suggests it would be a good idea to disseminate copies of any functional design
report Dewberry may have created for the Rantoul Street project, as well as any
traffic analysis that the T's consultants might have done as part of the MEPA review.
4. Discussion: Order #141: Request for Parking and Traffic Commission
to evaluate and recommend traffic circulation and safety improvements
for Essex Street (Cole Street to Corning) / Councilors Houseman, Martin,
and Schetszle
Rollins asks Councilor Schetszle to provide the Commission with some background
behind the request. Schetszle explains that though the Order may have originally
stemmed from the planned 40R project on Essex Street, the issues raised in the
Order are still valid. He mentions several existing conditions /problems that lead to
traffic congestion in the area today, including:
• Delays on local roadways due to MBTA train operations (closure of roads
when trains at station);
• Blind entrance /exit drive to the YMCA;
• Intersection of Colon and Essex Street; and
• Left turns onto Essex Street from both Cole and Brimbal.
General discussion takes place on these points and possible solutions such as traffic
signals at the YMCA driveway or Colon / Brimbal intersection and prohibiting left
hand turns from Brimbal to Essex.
Benevento suggests that the Councilors' request is tantamount to a corridor study.
He mentions the Brimbal Avenue project which he believes will positively impact
traffic on Brimbal Avenue and in the proposed study area (traffic signals cause gaps
in traffic which in turn allow other movements).
Members agree that a site visit is in order and decide to schedule one for Thursday,
September 13, 2012 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. This site visit will be held just prior
to the regular monthly Commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. that morning.
Cassidy will send out a site visit reminder notice that will specify where the group is
to convene.
S. New or Other Business
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a. Follow up on 740 Hale Street complaint
Fiore informs members that he has conducted several site inspections since
this matter was first raised some months ago. He suggests that several street
signs in the immediate area may be contributing to the parking issue because
the signs are either faded /illegible or otherwise unclear to motorists on Hale
Street.
Rollins states that he has made numerous trips to the site and had several
conversations with the operators of the commercial establishments. In
particular he spoke with the owners about some of their previous practices
related to delivery vehicles and employee parking on the side of the building.
Neither Rollins nor Fiore reported recently observing in the field any of the
troublesome issues Ms. Pope initially raised, nor has the Commission
received any additional complaints regarding this area over the summer.
Members agree that Cassidy should draft a letter summarizing the work of
the Commission's members on this issue and including Fiore's
recommendation regarding the signs. Rollins agrees to review the City
Ordinance to determine if replacement of these signs will require
authorization from the City Council and if so he will submit a formal Order to
do that.
Cassidy will draft a letter for review and distribute it.
b. Update on last months' Planning Board meeting and discussion
relative to Walgreen's on Conant /Dodge Street
Benevento informs members that he addressed the Planning Board directly
at its July meeting to ensure the Board members understood the
Commission's position on this site plan and the wisdom of incorporating its
recommended conditions into any Planning Board approval. He is happy to
report that the Planning Board chair was very interested in having him
address the Planning Board and the Board did in fact incorporate all of the
Commission's recommendations into its approval of the site plan.
C. Update on additional Planning Board filing on Cummings' planned
Balch Street parking deck
Cassidy informs members that planning staff discovered a last minute
problem with this site plan just prior to the scheduled July hearing. A
provision of the zoning ordinance limits the number of driveways from any
lot at two. As a result Cummings technically needs a special permit in order
to have an exit from the proposed deck. Cummings has applied for the
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special permit which will be considered at the September Planning Board
meeting.
Cassidy asks members if the fact that the Balch Street deck needs a special
permit would in any way change their conclusion. If so, Cassidy can place the
special permit application on the Commission's upcoming meeting agenda
and invite Steve Drohosky from Cummings to the meeting to explain.
Members briefly discuss the matter and decide not to review the proposal a
second time.
6. Approval of Minutes: June 5, 2012 regular meeting and June 8, 2012
site visit to Woodland Avenue
Benevento asks members if there are any changes or corrections to make to the
draft minutes of either meeting. There are none.
Hutchinson: motion to approve the draft minutes of the Commission's June 5 and
June 8 meetings, seconded by Somes. All members in favor, motion
carries 6 -0.
7. Adjournment
Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct.
There is none.
Cassidy: motion to adjourn, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, motion
carries 6 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
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