2016-01-05CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: January 5, 2016
LOCATION: Conference Room B Third Floor City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair, Richard Benevento, City Planner Aaron
Clausen, Vice Chair, Sgt. Antonio DiRuzza, George
Binns, John Somes, Captain Chris Halloran,
Richard Hutchinson
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Greg St. Louis, City Engineer, Sean Ciancarelli
RECORDER: Eileen Sacco
1. Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m
2. Continued: Recommendation to Planning Board — Modifications to Special
Permit #139 -14 and Site Plan Review #113 -14 — 140 Brimbal Avenue — CEA
Beverly
Clausen explains that Attorney Thomas Alexander has submitted a request to continue the
matter to the next meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission. He explains that the
applicant is seeking a meeting with MassDOT for some clarification on the geometry of
the roundabouts.
Benevento reports that Rod Emery has submitted a sketch of the driveway and he has
reviewed it. He states that it makes sense to him. He also notes that the Commission
received a letter from a resident of Northridge looking for some relief on the driveway
and some other items in the project which are not under the jurisdiction of the Parking
and Traffic Commission.
Clausen reports that the City has been in communication with District 4 of MassDOT and
wants to be a participant in the meeting that the applicant is requesting.
Louis Bourgeois requests to address the Commission. Benevento informs Mr. Bourgeois
that the Commission will be continuing the matter to the next meeting but allows him to
speak. Bourgeois states that he is concerned that the video showing the now of traffic in
the area has no crosswalks in it and there is no pedestrian travel shown on the video as
well. He notes that he has concerns about pedestrian traffic and bicycle travel in the area.
Benevento states that there are crosswalks and sidewalks on the plan and explains that
they will not be seen on the video and notes that it is a vehicle modeling tool. Bourgeois
states that he would like to see pedestrians included as he would like to see what the
pedestrians will have to do to get through the flow of traffic.
Parking & Traffic Commission Minutes January 5, 2016
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Clausen reports that the Planning Board has requested that the Peer Reviewer for the
traffic plan take a look at what was put into the video modeling.
Benevento notes that the applicant has asked for a continuance and suggests that the
Commission vote to continue this at this time.
Binns: Motion to continue the matter to February 2, 2016. Clausen seconds the
motion. The motion carries (7 -0).
3. Recommendation to Planning Board: Modification to Special Permit #114 -07
& Site Plan Review #88- 07 -10 -12 Congress Street – Windover Development
Attorney Thomas Alexander with offices at 1 School Street addresses the Commission
and explains that he is joined this morning by Charlie Weir and Chris Koeplin of
Windover Development.
Atty. Alexander explains that the property is under agreement with Windover
Development and they will be going to the Planning Board for a modification of the
Special Permit and the Site Plan Review that was approved in 2007 for 10 -12 -16
Congress Street. He explains that the applicant is presently allowed to build 72 units
containing 164 bedrooms and the modification they are seeking would reduce the number
of units to 62 and the number of bedrooms from 164 to 87.
Atty. Alexander explains that the approved plan calls for .88 parking spaces per bedroom
as opposed to the modified plan which provides for 1.0 parking space per bedroom. He
further explains that the reduction in parking under the Request for Modification is in
keeping with a recent City of Beverly study of seven large apartment /condominium
complexes in the downtown area, a total of 521 units, averaging out to 74 units per
complex, which showed an actual parking usage of .89 cars per unit, with the highest
usage, in the Edwards Harborview Condominiums of 1.21 cars per unit. He notes that by
contrast the proposed modified project would calculate out at 1.40 cars per unit, well in
excess of even the highest usage density of 1.21 in the Edwards Harborview and
significantly in excess of the .89 cars per unit average of the largest downtown
condominium/apartment complexes.
Benevento asks why they are reducing the project. Chris Koeplin of Windover
Development explains that the economics of the project with underground parking and
the clean up of the site contributed to the decision. He explains that the modified project
will be less intense noting that the buildings will be lower in height and will open up the
view corridor and the footprint is smaller.
Charlie Weir addresses the Commission and explains the changes to the plan and notes
that there was a lot of underground parking proposed with the previous plans and now all
of the parking will be surface parking. He also notes that there will be more green space
on the site.
Parking & Traffic Commission Minutes January 5, 2016
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Benevento asks if they need a Chapter 91 License for the project. Weir explains that a
Chapter 91 license will be needed for the filling of the tidelands along the edge of the
property where they propose to keep the rip rap and the public way and notes that nothing
has changed at the water that would trigger any change to the Chapter 91 requirements
for the project.
Clausen explains that the Planning Department looked at the number of multi family
projects in the downtown area to see what the parking use was in reality. He explained
that they looked at cars registered to the properties and notes that it does not factor in
leased vehicles.
Clausen explains that the Burnham building and the Enterprise building both had low
activity with an estimated one car per dwelling unit. He further explains that as a result
of the study, the Planning Department recommended that two spaces per dwelling unit is
too much and would reduce the aesthetics of the property. He also notes that the site is a
half mile from the Beverly Train Station.
Benevento states that from a circulation point of view the site would operate better. Weir
states that it may be a little easier. He explains the changes to the plan and how they
improved the access to the site. He notes that three corners of the building are accessible
and asks if a water boat can access the back of the water side of the buildings.
Atty. Alexander states that there is plenty of room to get in and out but notes that there is
no boat access to the water back there but notes that the marina at Glovers Wharf has
access.
Hutchinson asks what the height of the buildings will be. Alexander explains that they
have reduced the height of the buildings from 4 stories to 3 stories.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter:
Binns: Motion to recommend approval of the requested modifications to 10 -12 -16
Congress Street Special Permit #114 -07 and Site Plan Review #887.
Clausen seconds the motion. The motion carried (7 -0).
4. Continued: Reauest to Install "No Parking Sign" Intersection of Ober and
Hale Streets going North — Request of Councilor Houseman
Benevento states that he talked with Councilor Houseman and he requested that this
matter be continued to the next meeting of the Commission so that he can consult with
the neighbors.
Binns: Motion to continue the matter for further information at the request of
Councilor Houseman. Hutchinson seconds the motion. The motion
carries (7 -0).
Parking & Traffic Commission Minutes January 5, 2016
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5. Continued: Review of Request for a Crosswalk and Appropriate Signage at
the Intersection of Essex Street at Peabody Avenue — Sgt. DiRuzza
Benevento recalled that a site visit was to be held at Essex and Peabody Streets
individually by members of the Commission. He reports that he visited the site and
suggests that there is definitely a need for a crosswalk noting that there are also sight
distance issues.
Benevento explains that there is a crosswalk at Hurd Stadium and the next closest one is
at the Library. He suggested that he would take another look at it noting the sight
distance issues at the corner and suggests that we may need to move the crosswalk. He
stated that he would look at it before the next meeting.
Binns: Motion to table to the next meeting on February 2, 2016. Somes seconds
the motion. The motion carries (7 -0).
6. Traffic Issues Corner of Elliott and Beckford Streets — D.
Managing Director of Compass Consulting LLC
Benevento reports that the Commission received a letter from Compass Consulting LLC
concerning parking along the north side of Elliott Street. He explains that the letter
indicates that a number of employees have been nearly hit by cars a number of times
while trying to cross the street. He explains that apparently cars are parked along
Beckford Street and the pedestrians cannot be seen while trying to cross the street.
Benevento recommends that a corridor analysis should be done that includes this area and
the crossing areas and parking locations with regard to pedestrian crossings. He notes
that when an analysis was done a few months ago it was to look at the timing of the lights
in that corridor. He asks St. Louis if the timing recommendation of the timing
adjustments by the Commission were ever implemented.
City Engineer Greg St. Louis states that there was a question regarding the software and
he is not sure if the adjustment recommendations have been implemented but he will
check on that.
St. Louis reported that when the train crossing arm is down he has heard reports of
pedestrians jumping out in front of cars when the light is green.
Sgt. DiRuzza reported that he has been sitting out there in the afternoons and has seen
people press the light and cross the street. He notes that he has not seen any issues.
Benevento suggests that the Commission schedule a site visit and suggests that a group
visit would be beneficial noting that it is the most complex intersection in the city.
Clausen agrees and suggests that he will email members with some suggested dates and
schedule the site visit for later in the month.
Parking & Traffic Commission Minutes January 5, 2016
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Benevento states that he thinks that it would be appropriate for the Commission to get
safety vests. He notes that he has one and feels that the other members of the
Commission should have them for safety when they are out in the City on site visits.
Clausen will look into getting some. Benevento states that they need at least three vests.
7. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Parking and Traffic Commission meetings held on September 8, 2015,
October 6, 2015, and November 3, 2015 were presented for approval.
Clausen: Motion to approve the PTC Minutes of the September 8, 2015 and
October 6, 2015 meetings as amended. Binns seconds the motion. The
motion carries (7 -0).
Clausen: Motion to table the approval of the November 3, 2015 PTC meeting
minutes to the next meeting on February 2, 2016. Binns seconds the
motion. The motion carries (7 -0).
The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.
8. New / Other Business
Clausen reports that the Planning Department will be having an intern that will be
working on some PTC projects.
DiRuzza asks what the status of the stop sign at Reservoir Road is. Clausen reports that a
letter was sent to the City Council with the recommendation and he will follow up on
that.
Benevento notes that after each election he usually attends a City Council meeting to
address the Council on the rules and responsibilities of the Parking and Traffic
Commission and the do's and don'ts of Council Orders. Clausen states that he will look
into scheduling that. He notes that there are no new members of the City Council since
the last election.
Binns expressed concern about the traffic at McKay and Balch Streets with the
construction and eventual opening of the new Briscoe Middle School. He states that he
has gotten soft answers about the Level of Service there and states that he is concerned
about the buses backing up the Henry's Market.
Clausen agrees that there is a problem at McKay and Balch Streets and notes that the City
has applied for state funding to study that area and others in the city.
Parking & Traffic Commission Minutes January 5, 2016
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Hutchinson asks if the Parking and Traffic Commission is going to review the new
Middle School project. Clausen states that he will see if he can get a plan for the PTC to
take a look at.
Adjournment
Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There
is none.
Binns: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Clausen. All members in favor,
motion carries 7 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
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