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2015-03-03CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: March 3, 2015 LOCATION: City Council Chambers, Third Floor City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento, Chair, City Planner Aaron Clausen, Richard Hutchinson, Sgt. Steve Tanzella John Somes MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: City Engineer Greg St. Louis, Sean Ciancarelli, RECORDER: Eileen Sacco 1. Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m 2. Continued Review/Discussion: 12 Month Traffic Review for Traffic Operations Associated with the Construction of Walgreens — 48 Dodge Street — Westwood Apple Orchards LP Benevento explains that the applicant has submitted an email request to postpone this discussion until the April or May meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission. Benevento asks if there have been any reports of issues in the area. Tanzella reports that there no more than usual. Benevento also notes that there is an issue of a sign that was required at the off ramp for 128 for a "Right Turn Only" that has not been installed. Clausen: motion to continue the matter to the April or May meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission. Somes seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0). 3. Recommendation to Planning Board: Special Permit Application #143 -14 and Site Plan Review Application #115 -15 — Construction of the a Six Story Mixed Use Development at 181 Elliott Street- Beverly Commerce Park LLC Steve Drohosky of Cummings Properties addresses the Commission and reviews their request. He explains that in 2004 or 2005 they received permits to build a hotel on the proposed site. He states that they have done a number of studies over the years and have determined that a hotel is not feasible for the site, noting that all of the studies indicated that there is no market for hotel in Beverly at this time. Drohosky explains that the proposed building will be the same size at the previously approved building for the hotel. He further notes that the traffic generation from the new building will be significantly less that what would be generated from a hotel. He submits a traffic generation report to the Commission. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes March 3, Meeting Page 1 of 5 Drohosky explains that they are going to the Planning Board for a Special Permit to build in the IR Overlay District and a Special Permit for Inclusionary Housing. He explains that they are proposing a payment in lieu of providing the inclusionary housing on site. Drohosky states that the traffic generation study shows that condos creates less traffic than apartments. He reviews a map of Route 62 with the Commission noting that the traffic pattern is subject to several sets of lights and a train crossing and stop signs. He also notes that he commutes to Beverly and notes that the traffic from Danvers to Beverly backs up at the Starbucks light and it is tough getting through there and if the train comes through the is a bigger delay. He notes that the Starbucks light seems to be overly used to get people out of the parking lot. Benevento states that he does not see how they cannot do a traffic study for this proposal. He notes that nothing has been done in that area since the Cummings Center was built and suggests that counting cars and looking at accident data is necessary. Drohosky questions whether the city has looked at the timing of the lights and that they are working properly. Clausen states that at this is point where a traffic study should be done to see how the project will affect the area. Benevento agrees and notes that a lot has changed since the Cummings Properties were built and notes that there is a lot of retail use in the Cummings Center as well as office space. Dennis Clark, CEO of Cummings Property addresses the Commission and states that they donated the front 2.1 acres to the City and also notes that there is a Right of Way and easements that have been granted in the McKay Street area. Benevento states that he feels that a traffic study needs to be done. Councilor David Lang addresses the Commission and states that when this matter was before the City Council Legal Affairs Committee he voted against it, but noted that he was under the impression that a traffic study would be done as part of the process. He states that it is incumbent on the applicant to provide a traffic study with the design. Clark states that the last thing they want to do is get into an argument on a traffic study noting that they have been in the city for almost 20 years and they have shown a willingness to contribute and they have had a good productive relationship with the city. He also notes that surplus funds get donated back to communities and notes that $2 million has been donated to area communities. He further states that they know the area and they think that the traffic works with the exception of the Starbucks light. Benevento states that a traffic study should not be done during the summer or during school vacation weeks. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes March 3, Meeting Page 2 of 5 Benevento also states that the Commission is not one to impose mitigation because they can and notes that they are looking at this and they need to understand what is going on there. He notes that they can maybe make sure the timing of the lights is appropriate but notes that there is a potential for increased traffic and at the end of the day it should be the same or better than what is there before the project. Clark states that the hotel project would have generated more traffic than what is proposed. Clausen notes that the hotel was approved 10 years ago and since then a lot has changed. Drohosky asks what the scope of the traffic study should be. Benevento states that he would like to see a study of the entire Elliott Street corridor from Rantoul Street to the light at Starbucks. Clark questions why start at Rantoul Street. Benevento explains that all of the streets are interconnected. Clausen notes that there is a functional design study that was done for Rantoul Street that they can look at and a traffic analysis for the reuse of the Memorial School off Balch and Cabot Street. Benevento asks if members of the Parking and Traffic Commission have any questions. Hutchinson states that he believes that there should be a study of the traffic light and some adjustments to the timing could be made. Somes asks if they have any estimates on who would live in the apartments and work at the Cummings Center. Clark states that there is an assumed percentage. City Engineer Greg St. Louis states that he has copies of the plans for the Route 62 upgrade and Rantoul Street and 62 and the Windover traffic report. Clausen states that he will look to see if there is anything from the MBTA Garage project that would be helpful, noting that they did do some for Bridge and River Streets as well. Councilor Lang states that he gets a lot of calls from residents about traffic in the area and he would like to see some solution to the existing problems as a benefit from this project. Clark questions what the city would be doing if they were not here with this project. Councilor Lang states that generally Cummings has been a good neighbor and he is hoping that the study shows that the light at Starbucks has to go. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes March 3, Meeting Page 3of5 Drohosky notes that a lot of traffic that is generated in the area is not generated by the Cummings Center. Drohosky states that they will be presenting their plans to the Planning Board at their March 17, 2015 and notes that they will probably start the presentation with the Board. Benevento thanked Drohosky and Clark for attending the meeting. 4. Approval of minutes The minutes of the Parking and Traffic Commission meeting held on February 3, 2015 were presented for approval. Hutchinson moved to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2015 meeting as presented. Clausen seconded the motion. The motion carries (5 -0). 5. Old/New Business Councilor Lang reported that he has had a request to install a flashing light at Bridge Street at the school crossing at Winthrop Street. He notes that cars are speeding down the hill and a crossing guard got hit in that location. He further notes that the stop sign is ignored and there is no enforcement of it. Benevento states that the best design is still not going to be good enough for the people that drive recklessly in school zones. He reviews various traffic calming measures that can be taken. Clausen suggests that a rapid flashing yellow beacon is hard to ignore and gets people's attention. Lang also notes that they ignore the stop signs on the school buses as well and suggests that enforcement would make people think twice about ignoring it. Benevento states that we need to educate the people driving in the area and enforcement should be a part of that. He also states that the signage near the crosswalks should be high intensity fluorescent yellow green. Clausen will check on the yellow flashers and the status of the issues at Woodland Street. 6. Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes March 3, Meeting Page 4of5 7. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Hutchinson: motion to adjourn, seconded by Somes. All members in favor, motion carries 5 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes March 3, Meeting Page 5 of 5