2014-12-02CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: December 2, 2014
LOCATION: Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento, Chair, City Planner Aaron
Clausen,
Bill Fiore, Richard Hutchinson", Sgt. Russ Rollins,
John S omes
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: City Engineer Greg St. Louis
RECORDER: Eileen Sacco
1. Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m.
2. Discussion on Traffic Study for the Nei hborhood Around Route lA and
Route 97 — Councilor Don Martin
Benevento states that he will meet with Councilor Martin to review the scope of work
suggested
and the Parking and Traffic Commission will review this further at the January meeting.
3. Recommendation to the Planning Board: Site Plan Review #112 -14
and Special Permit #139 --14: Construct a Five Story B_ uildina, Mixed Use
Building at 50 [521 Dunham Road
Steve Drohosky, General Manager of the Cumming Center addresses the Commission
and states that this is the third meeting with the Commission on their proposal.
Drohosky explains that the Commission requested that they take a look at widening the
mouth of Dunham Road and the signalization of Brimbal Ave. and Dunham Road and
they have submitted revised plans showing conceptual plans for the widening of Dunham
Road at the Brimbal Avenue intersection. He also reports that they have submitted
plans for the signalization of the Dunham Road/Brimbal Avenue intersection.
Drohosky states that the timing of these items are important noting that the level of
service with the current proposed buildings are fine. He suggests that when 52 Dunham
Road is built, that may be the time when the changes are needed.
Drohosky states that they are proposing to pay into the City to cover both of these items
in the future. He estimates that the widening of the road will cost $50,737.00 and the
traffic signal $160,150 for a total estimate of $210,887.00. He states that they,are
proposing to give the City $225,000.00 to be used for these projects.
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Benevento states that he reviewed the memo and suggests that the with regards to the
timing of the improvements, the widening work should on Dunham Road should be done
before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. He also suggests that they should consider
pre - planning and for the signal and install the underground conduits at that time as well.
Clausen states that they checked to see if there would be interference for the roundabouts
on Brimbal and or any intersection on that corridor and it will not cause any interference.
Drohosky states that they would put the money in escrow for the city to pay for the
improvements, noting that they are not needed now but the money will be there to pay for
them when they are.
Drohosky states that Phase II of the plan is to make Dunham Road a dead end at the
Salem News Building. He also states that if it is found that the traffic signal is not
needed at that location they are happy to have it used for any traffic improvements in that
area.
Clausen states that both of these pieces of mitigation, the widening of the road and the
traffic signal would have to be complete before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
Benevento agrees noting that widening of the road needs to be done in advance and he
would prefer to see the signal in place as well.
Drohosky notes that the Commission requested that they do a gap analysis which they
completed and it showed that a traffic signal is not necessary in that area at this time, and
notes that they are offering to pay for the signal in the future when it is needed. He also
notes that there are a lot of ideas for economic development in that area that they have
nothing to do with, noting CEA Group and Beverly Hospital. He notes that the widening
of the road is primary and could be added to the project that the city is doing and paid for
by Cummings.
Clausen notes that the cost of construction would be subject to the prevailing wage and
asks City Engineer Greg St. Louis to give a sense of accuracy of the cost estimate.
Benevento asks if there is anyone present who wishes to comment on the project. There
is no one present who wishes to comment on the project.
Benevento states that a warrant analysis needs to be done to determine if and when the
signal is necessary and it makes sense to do it within a year of the project. He also notes
that the widening of the road needs to be done. He notes that the city is grateful for the
donation but they are looking to be sure that the intersection is working properly.
Drohosky states that they are concerned that the experts tell them that a signal is not
needed in that area at this time.
Rod Emery addresses the Commission and notes that _ the warrant � would not include
Cummings.
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Drohosky explains what has been done to the site to date. He notes that the foundation
for 48 is in place but they are not going to construct the building until a tenant is found.
He suggests that would do the widening of the road prior to the occupancy of 48 and
evaluate the need for a traffic signal when 52 is built. He notes that putting money in
escrow insures that it will be done when it is needed. He also notes that the signal may
be unnecessary due to other improvements being done in the area.
Clausen states that he would like the City Engineer to review this.
Drohosky suggests language for the escrow money and states that the money could be
used for neighborhood improvements in that area regarding the flow of traffic subject to
the approval of the Parking and Traffic Commission.
Clausen if the warrant shows that the signal is not recommended, a broader discussion of
other alternatives for the use of the funds would need to be had.
Drohosky requests that the Parking and Traffic Commission draft a letter of incorporating
today's discussion for the Planning Board so that they can move forward with their
Public Hearing on December 16, 2014.
Benevento agrees and the Commission suggests language for Clausen to draft the letter:
• The project proponent will submit to the City of Beverly fully engineered
construction plans for widening and restriping the Dunham Road approach to
Brimbal Avenue as shown on the conceptual plans by Jacobs Engineering and
fully engineered construction plans for a traffic, signal at the intersection of
Brimbal Avenue and Dunham Road
• The applicant has offered $225,000 to the City of Beverly for which the city will
use to complete the widening improvements in conjunction with Phase I of the
Brimbal Avenue /Exit 19 infrastructure improvement project and the signalization
improvements, when and if at the city's discretion the signalization is warranted.
■ The City of Beverly Engineering Department will review the projected estimates
submitted for the widening improvements and the signalization to confirm that the
contribution will adequately cover the cost of implementation now and into the
future
• A traffic impact review will be done six months and one year following the
issuance of a Certificate of occupancy for the previously approved mixed use
building at 48 Dunham Road, and presented to the Parking and Traffic
Commission for review and recommendation. A warrant an will be
conducted as part of each review at the intersection of Brimbal Avenue and
Dunham Road and the Route 128 southbound ramp to determine if the traffic
signal is necessary.
• In the event that the traffic signal is not deemed to be necessary by the traffic
review and the warrant analysis, or as the result of other roadway alterations that
improve access and mitigate impacts due to development at 50 Dunham. Road, the
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remaining funds will be allocated towards other roadway and traffic
improvements in the general area surrounding that area.
Rollins: motion to approve the recommendation to the Beverly Planning Board for
Site Plan Review #112 -14 and Special Permit #139 -14: Construct a Five
Story Building, Mixed Use Building at 50 [52] Dunham Road. Fiore
seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0)
4. Continued: Recommendation to Planning Board -- Site Plan Review #113 -14
and Special Permit x#139 --14 -- Construct North Shore Crossing consisting of 4
Building Totaling 65,795 s.f. at 140 Brimbal Avenue -- CEA Grou
Atty. Thomas Alexander with Law Offices at 1 School Street, Beverly addresses the
Commission on behalf of his client CEA Group. He explains that they have funded a
peer review study of the traffic study for the project and that has been completed.
Alexander reported that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has reviewed the
plans and requested an access road from the connector road and in response to that
and that they have added a driveway on the Sohier Road side of the site. He
introduced Ron Muller to explain the changes.
Muller reviewed the plans and explained the changes that they have incorporated.
Benevento questions why the driveway why there will be no left turn. Muller
explains that they are trying to minimize left turns and there is a concern about
channelizing the islands.
Benevento states that he is concerned that people will try to make the left turn
anyway.
Muller reports that they have received comments from MEPA and they are reviewing
them.
Muller reports that the original traffic study made some assumptions about area
businesses and their possible plans that are not proposed at this time. He states that
they have contacted Beverly Hospital and they have no plans at the present time for
any prof ect. He also notes that Cell Signaling did a project in 2013 and 50 -52
Dunham Road is in the process of getting permits for their project. He states that they
are changing the assumptions of what future traffic will be like in order to be more
realistic.
Muller also reported that the 20,000 s. f. of office space on the second floor of the
proposed buildings is no longer proposed and they are reanalyzing the data to more
accurately reflect what the traffic is.
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Benevento states that he would prefer to see an engineered proposal to be self-
enforcing.
Atty. Alexander states that the DoT analyzed the access points and they are hope
there would be a condition of permitting and not a precursor to getting a
recommendation from the Parking and Traffic Commission to the Planning Board.
He notes what they are proposing is far better for the site and the city.
Benevento questions what happens if the DoT does not approve the driveway.
Alexander states that if that happens they will have to come back to the Planning
Board for a change and the PTC as well.
Benevento asks if they are close to a determination from DoT. Alexander states no.
Clausen suggests that that the PTC recommend that if there is any change to the
access to the site that a revised plan will have to be reviewed prior to any changes
taking place.
Steve Cohen addresses the Commission and states that the DoT is looking at the
access for the connector road and they are considering the proposal. He notes that the
alternative is to provide another access off Brimbal Avenue and that is not a good
option. He suggests that the city could convey to the state that they prefer not to have
all of the access and egress on Brimbal Avenue.
Rebecca Brown, Senior Engineer for TEC Inc. addresses the Commission and reports
that they completed the peer review of the traffic study and reviews the findings and
recommendation as follows:
Conclusions and Recommendations
The following summarizes the major findings of TEC's peer review of the North Shore
Crossing development proposal:
• The Site Development Plans should be modified to include the following:
o Add STOP line and a STOP sign (R1-I) on the drive aisle along the
southerly side of the supermarket building (Building A) as it approaches
the intersection with the main drive aisle along the front of the building
o Provide truck turning capabilities for a fire apparatus circulating the
entire site and for truck access to Building C.
o Modify the Brimbal A venue driveway to ensure a. truck can enter without
mounting the vertical granite curbing.
o Consider banking parking spaces to be constructed at a later date if
determined to be necessary.
o Provide adequate space for carriage corals within the parking field.
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RMA should perform the following additional analysis:
o Evaluate sight distances at the proposed site driveways under existing
roadway conditions to ensure that sight distances will meet AASHTO
recommendations prior to completion of the Route 128 Exit 19
Interchange Improvement Project Phase I project. If the proponent is
unwilling to agree to a condition that a certificate of occupancy will not be
granted until Phase I of the Exit 19 Interchange project has reached
substantial completion.
o Provide a queue versus storage or traffic simulation analysis of the site
driveways, Route 128 ramps, and Connector Road intersections to ensure
thatqueues from one intersection will not extend through and impact the
operations of upstream intersections.
o RMA should perform an updated capacity and queue analysis to correct
the following items:
o Update No -Build and Build traffic volumes to include traffic generated
by the proposed 52 Dunham Road development.
o Include the geometric improvements proposed as part of the
52 Dunham. Road development at the Brimbal
Avenue/Dunham Road intersection in the no build and build
analysis conditions.
• PHFs should be reported by approach at each study area intersection.
• Lane widths should be revised to reflect existing and proposed conditions
• Correct the signal timings at the Route 1A Dodge Street intersection to be
consistent with existing timings in the controller
o Utilize HCM201 omethodology to report the capacity and queue analysis
results for all study area intersections.
o Modify the lane configuration on the Brimbal Avenue northbound
approach to the Route 128 SB Ramps to include a shared through/right --
turn lane.
• The capacity and queue analysis results indicate that additional mitigation is
required at some study area intersection to mitigate the impacts of the North
Shore Crossing project. The Proponent should consider additional mitigation
measures at the following locations:
o Dodge Street 1 Laurel Street
o Brimbal Avenue 1 Route 128 S B Off-Ramps
o Brimbal Avenue / Colon Street
o
Brimbal Avenue / Essex Street / Retail Driveway
• RMA has recommended improvements at the intersections of Brimbal Avenue
with Colon Street and Essex Street/ Retail Driveway that should be constructed
independent of the proposed North Shore Crossing development. As the
Project will result in significant impacts to delay and queues, and increase
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vehicle trips through these intersections by 6.0 to 14.5 percent, the Proponent
should at a minimum provide a fair share contribution toward the
recommended improvements at these locations proportional to the percentage
increase in trips generated by the Project. The construction costs associated
with these improvements are anticipated to be on the order of $270,000 to
$325,000, which does not include any costs associatedwith
engineering /design or acquisition of right-of-way.
o Given the number of private and public development and roadway
improvement projects proposed inthe area surrounding the site, the Town
should consider hosting a design charrette with the proponents of the North
Shore Crossing and 48 -52 Dunham Road developments, as well as MassDOT,
to review potential design solutions and appropriate funding for improvements
at the study area locations.
Benevento recommended that signage be placed on 128 to indicate the flow patterns
approaching. Mueller states that direction signage will be added to the site.
Clausen questions if there should be two lanes included for the Dunham Road signal.
Benevento suggests that the widening may be enough and suggests running the warrant
with the light to see what it looks like.
Benevento that there are a lot of moving parts to this and suggests that since some
of the best people in the business are working on this they should be able to get together
and work through this.
Benevento opens the meeting up for comment from City Officials at this time.
City Engineer Greg St. Louis addresses the PTC and questions if Whole Foods will be
using locking grocery carts and suggest that grocery carts should be taken into
consideration with the grading of the site.
Benevento opens the meeting up for public comment at this time.
Judy Martin addresses the PTC and states that she is concerned about the new proposed
access from Sohier Road. She states that there are many safety concerns and suggests
that the Sohier Road access be restricted.
Clausen explains that the MEPA traffic analysis always considered this a local project
and notes that the study was based on a larger project than what is proposed. He states
that he feels that the language refers to projects which would require variances.
Chris Snow of Northridge addresses the PTC and questions where the location of
employee parking will be on the site. Cohen explains that the employee parking will be
along the back side of the building.
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Snow also expresses concern about the , n ew.proposed S ohier Road access, noting that the
site is some of the worst areas of the landfill. He also notes that the entrance will be next
to the K building in the Northridge property.
Benevento reminds those present that this meeting is pertaining to traffic issues only and
there are and will be several reviews of the other details of the project.
Dan D'Angelis of 207 Brimbal Avenue addresses the PTC and states that he has concerns
about the Sohier Road entrance as well and the impact on traffic. He notes that left turns
onto Northridge could be a problem and impact traffic.
D'Angelis also reports that there are 480 cars per hour every afternoon on Brimbal
Avenue and this project will result in, significant long lasting changes.
Benevento notes that the traffic study shows the numbers to be less than projected and the
reason for that is because the traffic engineer made conservative assumptions.
Sgt. Rollins notes that both ends of Brimbal Avenue have failing intersections and Whole
Foods is going to add to that.
Benevento states that he does not feel that the PTC is ready to endorse this plan and
suggests that the applicant address the comments from the peer review as well as the
concerns of the City Engineer.
There being no further questions or comments at this time;
S om e s : motion to continue the matter to the January Parking and Traffic
Commission meeting on January 6, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. Rollins seconds the motion. The
motion carries (6 -0).
5. Discussion with Cify Entjneer Grea St. Louis Regarding Hale and Endicott
Streets
St. Louis presented a concept plan of what the suggested striping would look like for the
area of Hale and Endicott Streets. He notes that the traffic entering Hale Street need to
make sure that they stop. He notes proposed locations for the stop sign and notes
potential site distance problems.
Benevento suggests that it be left alone at this time and that the PTC should make a
recommendation to the City Council for striping and a stop sign in that area. Rollins
agrees noting that the striping will address the initial concern.
St. Louis states that he will work on this again and send a draft to members of the Parking
and Traffic Commission.
G. Old/New Business
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for - Time Restricted Parkine on Bow Street -- Pelletier Awnin
Sgt. Rollins reported that he has had a request from the owners of Pelletier Awning to
have time restricted parking in front of his store. He explained that there is no time limit
now and the commuters from the train station are parking there all day and there is often
no space close by for the customer
Benevento agrees that time restricted parking is in order. Fiore agrees as well.
Sgt. Rollins: motion to approve two hour restricted parking on the north and
south side Wallis and Bow Streets between Rantoul Street and Railroad Avenue. Fiore
seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0).
7. - Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the PTC. meeting held on October 7, 2014 and November 4, 2014 were
presented for approval.
Hutchinson moves to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2014 and the November 4,
2014 Parking and Traffic Commission meeting as amended. Somes seconds the motion.
The motion carries (6 -0).
8. Newt Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 830 a.m.
7. Adjournment
Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There
is none.
Rollins: motion to adjourn, seconded by Fiore. All members in favor, motion
carries 6--0.
The meeting is adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
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