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PTC Minutes 10 16 17Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Special Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: October 16, 2017 LOCATION: Conference Room B Third Floor City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Richard Benevento, Vice Chair City Planner Aaron Clausen, George Binns, John Somes, John Lozada, Sgt. Antonio DiRuzza Police Department and DPS Director Mike Collins MEMBERS ABSENT: Captain Chris Halloran, Fire Department OTHERS PRESENT: Greg St. Louis, City Engineer RECORDER: Eileen Sacco 1. Benevento calls the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. Continued: Recommendation to Planning Board: Site Plan Review Application #130 -17 and Inclusionary Housing Application #12 -17 — Construct 5 Floor, 28- Residential Unit Building with Retail/Commercial use on the 1 st Floor, with Parking at Grade on nonbuildinp, area of the site — Windover Ford LLC — 199 Rantoul Street 3. Continued: Recommendation to Planning Board: Special Permit Application #162 -17 and #163 -17, and Site Plan Review Application #131 -17 and Inclusionary Housing Application #13 -17 — Construction of 6-Floor, 100-Residential Unit Building with RetaiI/Commercial, Parking and Common Area on 1 st Floor, Deviation from Building Height over 55 Feet and use of 8017 s.f. lot at Rear 211 Rantoul Street as a parking lot — Windover Ford LLC - 211Rantoul Street Benevento recalls that at the last meeting the Commission requested time to review the construction phasing plan and agreed to hold this special meeting at the request of the developer to review and issue a recommendation to the Planning Board. Attorney Thomas Alexander addresses the Commission and thanks them for holding the special meeting. He reports that he is joined this afternoon by Chris Koeplin, Rebecca Brown, Derek Reitz and Charlie Weir. Benevento reports that he reviewed the plan and notes that signage to accommodate pedestrians was a little lacking. Rebecca Brown of GPI addresses the Commission and reviews the construction phasing plan. She explains that they are proposing to close Wallis Street to traffic during construction. She notes that the area of construction is the entire site. She also notes that the construction entrance to the site will be gated. Pagel of 6 Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 Benevento questions how many parking spaces will be eliminated because of the road closure. Brown states that there will be 10 spaces lost. Benevento notes that there are some businesses that rely on those spaces and he would be concerned about that. Kocplin reports that they have agreed to allow Beverly Bootstraps to use 16 spaces at their 2 Hardy Street site for parking during construction. Brown explains that two -way traffic is proposed for Bow Street on a temporary basis during construction. Lozada expresses concern about the traffic volume on Bow Street. Brown reports that they estimate that it would be about 150 cars in the peak hours. Benevento asks what the traffic volumes are on Wallis Street. Brown reports that there are 75 -120 cars turning onto Wallis Street. Brown reports that they are proposing a temporary crosswalk across Wallis Street and temporary sidewalk with temporary crosswalk on Bow Street. She also notes that they will be using barrels and a temporary access ramp. She further notes that there will be a pedestrian crossing at Rantoul Street and Broadway. Benevento asks if the duration of the shutdown of Wallis Street is 16 months. Brown . reported that they are still proposing to close the road for 16 months. Benevento asks if they have given any consideration to not shutting down Wallis Street. He notes that some Parking and Traffic Commission members and Mayor Cahill have some concerns about shutting down the street for that length of time. Benevento notes that he realizes the complexities of the site and seems like a good alternative but notes that the access is problematic noting that he is concerned about the crosswalk on Wallis Street. Reitz explains that one of the reasons he wants to close Wallis Street was because of pedestrian and vehicular traffic for safety reasons. St. Louis asks if any consideration has been given to opening up the street for vehicular traffic at night. Reitz states that he has not but they could consider that. He explains that they would have to install another series of fences that would have to be removed. Benevento asks where they intend to put the storage trailers on the site. Koeplin notes that the Barnat trailers are kept on Rantoul Street. Page 2 of 6 Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 Clausen states that 16 months is too long to shut down the street and he will not support a recommendation to the Planning Board to shut down Wallis Street. He states that it is not safe for pedestrians and recommends that they start talking about other options. Lozada states that he is concerned about senior citizens who are disabled being able to navigate the area noting that it is right next to Jacicn Towers. He states that he would feel better if they open the street up at the end of every day. Benevento notes that there is a cut through road proposed and questions why they can't use that. Collins notes that if they close Wallis Street at all they should not have to have a cut through road. Collins states that he understands that it is easier to build if they close the road. Binns questions how they would get 70 foot trailers in the back of the site. Reitz explains how they would do that noting the locations on the plan. Reitz explains that if they leave Wallis Street open they will have to sit the trailers on Rantoul Street and use a crane. Binns suggests that they only close Wallis Street when they are putting up the steel. Benevento asks when they are planning to start the project. Koeplin states that they are looking to start on August 1, 2018. Koeplin reports that at a neighborhood meeting the neighbors were concerned about access 24/7 and they have given them that. He further notes that one person attended the last meeting that they held. Benevento asks if they have heard from the fire department. Koeplin states that they have reviewed the plan. Collins asks if they have hired the steel company for the project. Koeplin states that they have not hired one yet. Collins notes that they may not have a say in how the steel company wants to do this. Benevento referred to the construction sign summary and notes that they need to be sure that the signs are MUTCD compliant. Clausen suggested that the timing can be coordinated with closing and opening the street at night. Reitz states that they will have a phasing plan noting that they expect 3 months to erect the building and a month for masonry siding. Clausen suggests that they could have the street open for 6 months and shut down for 3 months as needed. Page 3 of 6 Beverly parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 Reitz states that there could be a couple of 4 -6 week closures. He notes that the smaller building site does not present as much of an issue. Clausen states that he would like a schedule and suggests that they should give the city sufficient notification on the road closures. He explains that a timeline does not need to be set but he would like some idea of a minimum time table. He also notes that if they open the street at night it will have less of an effect on the Larcom Theater. Benevento asks if they have a construction schedule. Reitz states that they have a high level construction time table. Benevento asks if they will have winter operations. Benevento states that they are pushing a public / private property usage. Clausen states that their Lawyers would have to advise on that. Benevento states that they have some angst and concern about the businesses that are going to be affected by this plan. Clausen states that he is comfortable with opening Wallis Street at night and suggests that they reach out to the city and the neighbors on Wallis Street and Bow Street. Atty. Alexander notes that historically a lot of these issues are done after the permit is issued. He suggests that they can come back with a schedule on the street closures. Collins states that generally that is ok but notes that a lot depends on the steel company. Benevento states that his concern is if they get in the middle of things and it is not working the traffic will be backed up and unsafe for pedestrians noting that people have to adapt. He notes that as things move forward we will need to have a discussion if it is not working. Atty. Alexander stated that the PTC will maintain jurisdiction and they could meet as the project goes along to be sure. Clausen agrees and notes that continued communication is important. St. Louis suggests that they should check in with the Parking and Traffic Commission every three months and prior to the ground breaking and construction. Koeplin suggests that they come back to the PTC in December for an update. Clausen agreed and notes that it should be before the building permit is issued. Benevento suggests that they should have a public information campaign to inform the public on the closing schedule etc. by making sure that notices are issued to the neighbors and businesses. Page4of6 Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 Collins states that the sidewalk on Rantoul Street should be kept open at all times. Reitz explains that the sidewalk is S feet and they will fence off an area to leave space for their use, probably S feet. Clausen states that he feels much better about the construction phasing plan. He notes that the site plan presented with regards to sidewalks is hard to tell where they start and stop. Koeplin reviews the plan and notes that locations of the sidewalks. Clausen asks how much bike storage they are planning. Koeplin states that they are planning for 30 bikes inside. Clausen notes that the city is looking at a bike sharing program like the one that was recently launched in Salem. Koeplin states that that they are looking at providing T passes for the first month for tenants interested. He also notes that they are including 4 electric car charging stations on the site. Benevento asks if they ever got to a resolution on the crosswalk proposed for Wallis Street noting that Collins has concerns about it. Reitz explains that they have added a bump out to it to make the cross as short as possible. Benevento suggests that they use textured paint and making it wider. He suggests that they discuss this with the DPW and get back to the Commission. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter at this time, Clausen: Motion to recommend approval to the Planning Board of Site Plan Review Application #130 -17 and Inclusionary Housing Permit #12 -17 for 199 Rantoul Street and Special Permit Application 9162 -17 and #163 -17, Site Plan Review Application #131 -17, and Inclusionary Housing Permit #13 -17 at 211 Rantoul Street with the following conditions: 1. Construction Phasing Plan shall be developed and submitted to the Parking and Traffic Commission prior to the issuance of a building permit identifying times for the phased closing and opening schedule for Wallis Street 2. The developer will work with the Planning Department on a plan for the closure of the sidewalk on Rantoul Street A Transportation Demand Management plan shall include interior and exterior bicycle storage onsite wherever possible. 4. Construction of the sidewalk shall include paving as shown on the plan for Wallis and Bow Streets. Page 5 of 6 Beverly Parking and Traffic Commission Minutes Special Meeting October 16, 2017 5. The applicant shall explore joining the North Shore Transportation Management Association. 6. Traffic mitigation during construction shall include notification to the neighbors and businesses in the area. 7. Damage to Rantoul Street shall be the responsibility of the applicant and the condition of the site shall be equal to or better than prior to construction. 8. Pedestrian signage shall be reviewed by the Planning Department prior to the start of construction. Binns scconds the motion. The motion carries (7 -0). 4. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. 9. Adiournment There being no further business to come before the Parking and Traffic Commission this morning, Binns moves to adjourn the meeting. DiRuzza seconds the motion. The motion carries (7 -0). The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Page 6 of 6