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PTC Minutes 1 14 16CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES 1. BOARD OR COMMISSION: Special Meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: January 14. 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, Fire Inspector Chris Halloran, Richard Hutchinson MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Greg St. Louis, City Engineer, RECORDER: Eileen Sacco Benevento calls the Special Meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission 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 hands out a letter to the Commission received from Mr. Joshua K. Morris, 38 Budleigh Avenue requesting transportation related condition to be added to the Site Plan Review application #113 -14 and Special Permit 139 -14 for North Shore Crossing — 140 Brimbal Avenue. Clausen explains that the Commission requested that The Engineering Corp. (TEC), the peer reviewer for the City review the VISSUM analysis presented by the applicant at the last meeting and they have responded in a letter to the Planning Department dated January 12, 2016. Clausen reads the letter to the Commission and states that that TEC has reviewed the VISSUM Analysis files for inputs related to the off -site traffic accommodations for the project and have found that they reasonably and accurately presented the geometric network of roundabouts and driveways, incorporated the build traffic volumes, and used reasonable parameters for other traffic operations and operator characteristics. They believe that the simulation presents a reasonable depiction of the traffic conditions that can be expects following occupancy of the site and are consistent with the level of service analysis results previously. Attorney Thomas Alexander with offices at 1 School Street, Beverly addresses the Commission and explains that they asked for a continuance at the last meeting pending the information requested from the Peer Reviewer and to give the Parking and Traffic Commission time to review it. He also notes that they were also waiting for information from MA DOT regarding the changes to the radius of the Sohier Road roundabout and Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 7 January 14, 2016 since that time they have received that information and confirmed that the applicant will be responsible for the cost of that improvement as recommended by MA DOT. Atty. Alexander introduced Ron Muller the Engineer for the project to make a presentation to the Commission. Benevento asks if the VIS SUM simulation take into consideration the changes in the radius to the Sohier Road roundabout. Muller states that it does take the changes into consideration. Benevento states that at the Mayor's meeting it was noted that if the radius is adjusted, there would need to be an adjustment to other features of roundabout. Muller reported that they are working with MA DOT on that. Muller reports that the simulation shows the p.m. peak hours estimated for six (6) years from now. He explains that it is a 4 -5- minute period during peak hours providing a representation of the traffic during peak hours. He further explains that the anticipated speed entering the Sohier Road roundabout is 25 miles per hour and the reduction in the radius will bring that down to about 23 miles per hour. Clausen states that the letter from TEC indicates that they looked at inputs used for this model and explains that what they are basically saying is that what is built into the model is reasonable. Sgt. DiRuzza states that Fire Inspector Halloran had a concern about making the left turn to Building C with fire truck 1. Muller explains that they have addressed that and there should be no problem with fire access. Benevento opens the meeting up for public comment at this time. Louis Bourgeois addresses the Commission and states that he is concerned about the bicycle path location in the vicinity of the 128 overpass and the direction of travel to Sohier Road. He states that it may be part of the City project, but he is not sure that this application is their responsibility. Muller explains that there is a share path is 12 feet wide and notes the location on the plan. He explains that pedestrian and bicycles will share it and further notes that there are crosswalks in the area as well. Bourgeois notes that there are a number of vacant buildings on Sohier Road that will be occupied at some time and notes that the additional traffic should be included. Muller explains that the traffic projections account for new properties and the re- occupancy of existing buildings are counted in the growth rate. Bourgeois states that the VISSUM model doesn't seem to be to scale and notes that the area looks a lot different in person. Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 2 of 7 Benevento explains that the professionals at the states and local level have to look at the scale and notes that the Peer Reviewer has reviewed it and believe the information applies to the data. Rick Marciano addresses the Parking and Traffic commission and states that he is sorry to tell them that the model is not to scale. Clausen explains that the model is a way to show the geometry and the Level of Service analysis, noting that it is a visual to see how it works. Binns questions what the Parking and Traffic Commission is being asked to approve. Benevento explains that the Commission needs to make a formal recommendation to the Planning Board on the modifications to the Special Permit and the Site Plan Review. He notes that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has requested that they tighten up the radius near the Sohier Road roundabout. Clausen explains that part of the application is the access and egress to the connector road and notes that MA DOT did not approve the egress for all uses and limited it to truck traffic only. He notes that the lay out for the egress is laid out in the MA DOT letter on the project. Dan DeAngelis stated that it appears to him that there will be more traffic on Brimbal Avenue than on the connector road. He also notes that the simulation does not depict cars slowing at the roundabout. Benevento states that the Commission wants to see the worst case scenario of what the traffic flow will be. DeAngelis notes that a matinee at the North Shore Music Theater will increase the traffic. James Matz, a member of the Beverly Planning Board addresses the Commission and notes that 75% of the traffic will exit on Sohier Road and states that he does not see that reflected in this model. Atty. Alexander states that they looked at the number of vehicle trips going in and out of the site and explains the calculations. He notes that they are showing more traffic than the traffic analysis shows. Matz questions what the internal cueing will be on the site. Muller notes the area on the plan and states that it will be about 5 cars. Mr. Bourgeois states that there is an incline at the Northridge driveway and notes he is concerned about the elevation. St. Louis notes that this plan does not change the grading or the elevations to the site. Marciano hands out a copy of a letter dated December 21, 2015 that he sent to Matthew Beaton at the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and states that Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 3of7 he requested that the lane be extended for safety at the exit and the traffic merging into the Sohier Road roundabout. Catherine Barrett, a member of the Beverly Planning Board addresses the Commission and expresses her concern about truck traffic and questions if all of the truck traffic on the site will be exiting onto the connector road. Mr. Cohen explains that one Whole Foods truck per day will be using the exit onto the connector road and the rest of the delivery trucks will use the other exits on Brimbal Avenue or Sohier Road. Barrett notes that there will be a Whole Foods, a Bank and ten other tenants on the site and all of the trucks making deliveries can enter the site on the connector road but exit the site on Brimbal Avenue or Sohier Road. She also asks if there are any restrictions on the timing of deliveries. Muller states that they are committed to insisting that tenants arrange for deliveries made in off peak hours. Barrett asks if it is a condition of MEPA. Benevento states that the Planning Board can make that a condition as part of the approval. He notes that no retail establishment should have deliveries between the hours of 4 -6 p.m. and the Commission will contemplate a condition regarding deliveries. Benevento states that he has reviewed the letter dated December 23, 2015 from the MA DOT with a draft Environmental Impact Report for the project. He notes that the final EIR will be submitted to MEPA and the Planning Department will get a copy. Benevento reviews the conditions in the EIR. Mr. Bourgeois expresses concern about the fire lane and traffic backing up, stating that the driveway does not appear to be wide enough. It was noted that the driveway has been expanded to 26 feet. Bourgeois notes that additional traffic from the Music Theater during their season and also during the holiday season. Benevento notes that projects are not one event and explains that they are designed for what will happen on a normal day. He further notes that the Commission wants to be sure that the best plan that it can be and that the Commission gives the best advice to the Planning Board. Benevento explains that the applicant will be required to do post monitoring of the traffic for the site and deliveries will be restricted to off peak hours. Benevento reviews the comments from TEC and the applicant's response to TEC. Muller explains that TEC had a concern about some inconsistencies between the site development plans and the connector road entrance exhibit and questioned the location of proposed sidewalks, crosswalks and stop signs at the connector road entrance to the parking lot. He explains that the inconsistencies have been corrected on the site plan. He also explains that TEC had a comment recommending that the crosswalk be located at the Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 4of7 narrow, one -way section of the main drive aisle to minimize vehicle /pedestrian conflicts and that pedestrian crossing warning signs be installed. Muller states that the recommended changes have been incorporated into the plan and notes that the entrance from the connector road will have the right of way as it enters into the parking lot and the crosswalk has been relocated to the narrow, one -way section of the drive aisle, and pedestrian crossing warning signs have been added to the plan. Muller explains that they are committed to future traffic and transportation demand management studies to be conducted on an annual basis for a period of five years following full occupancy of the center. He also notes that they are committed to performing these studies as required by MA DOT and will submit copies of the studies to the City of Beverly. Benevento clarifies that parking on the North and West side of building A is employee parking. Muller confirms that the area will be used for employee parking and notes that there will be signs installed to indicate that. Mr. Bourgeois stated that he lives in North Beverly and he uses the roadway 6 -8 times per day and expressed his concern about people yielding at the roundabout. He states that people make their livelihood travelling that road and he is concerned about the safety of the people. Benevento states that safety is always the first concern of the Parking and Traffic Commission. Dan DeAngelis of IA Laurel Road addresses the Commission and expresses his concerns about the North Beverly train and the impact that the traffic from that area has on Brimbal Avenue. He notes that the previous recommendation included mitigation funds. Atty. Alexander explains that all conditions are continued forward from the original approval. Clausen reviews the conditions recommended by the Parking and Traffic Commission in a letter to the Planning Board dated February 6, 2014 as follows: The project shall be contingent on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) approving access permits required for proposed access /egress drives located on the connector road and Sohier Road. Further, a Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued for the project proposal until Phase I of the Exit 19 Interchange project and Brimbal Avenue improvements proposed by the City of Beverly in partnership with MassDOT and funded through the MassWorks program is substantially complete. Substantial completion of the Phase I work shall be determined by the Commission. 2. The project proponent has offered to contribute a total of $200.000 to the City of Beverly, for which the City will use to implement traffic improvements, in the Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 5 of 7 City's sole discretion, within the project area focused along the Brimbal Avenue corridor. Future traffic improvements associated with the contribution shall be reviewed and approved by the Commission. 3. The project proponent will conduct a traffic impact review at both six months and one (1) year following the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the project and present its findings to the Commission. The scope of the review will include all study locations identified in the applicant's original study area. 4. The project proponent will make payment within 30 days after the Planning Board approval and expiration of any appeal period(s) and the issuance of the building permit. Benevento reviews additional proposed conditions for the project as discussed by the Commission as follows: 1. The project proponent agrees to implement a limitation and restriction of all deliveries to the subject site during the afternoon/evening weekday peak traffic period, specifically, no deliveries of any kind to be allowed weekdays between the hours of 4 6 P.M. 2. Parking spaces proposed north and west of Building A will be restricted to Whole Foods employees only, signage to that affect to be installed on the building and at the entrance of the access drive southwest of the building. 3. The project proponent will work with the City and MassDOT to implement the modified geometry changes to the Sohier Road roundabout if and to the extent required by MassDOT. Any additional costs over and above the $5 million MassWorks grant to implement the design or construction of the modified Sohier Road roundabout will be the sole responsibility of the project proponent. 4. The project proponent shall develop and implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan as proposed in the DEIR to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicle trips to and from the project site. The final TDM plan shall include measures enumerated in the DEIR, approved by the Parking and Traffic Commission, and implemented prior to a Certificate of Occupancy being issued for any of the buildings located on the property. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter: Clausen: Motion to approve the recommendation to the Beverly Planning Board for Modifications to Special Permit #139 -14 and Site Plan Review #113 -14 — 140 Brimbal Avenue — CEA Beverly LLC. Hutchinson seconds the motion. The motion carries (5 -0). Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 6 of 7 Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Hutchinson: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Clausen. All members in favor, motion carries 7 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:15 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission Special Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 Page 7 of 7