HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-15 Parking Advisory and Recommendation Committee MinutesR
Town of Reading
4x' Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2021-09-15
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
READING, MA,
2821 OCT 12 AM Ik 34
Parking Advisory & Recommendations Cmte
Time: 5:00 PM
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Bernard Horn, Sarah Brukilacchio, Dan Dewar, Chris Haley, Jay
Jackson, Thomas O'Connor, Karen Rose -Gillis, John Weston (Remote)
Members - Not Present:
Liz Whitelam
Others Present:
Staff Planner Andrew MacNichol, Police Chief David Clark, Deputy Police
Chief Christine Amendola, Mike Sakraida (remote), Dave Talbot (Remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde and Andrew MacNichol
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm.
Review and approve minutes from September 1, 2021 meetina
The Committee reviewed and amended the meeting minutes of September 1, 2021.
Motion by Mr. O'Connor to accept the meeting minutes of September 1, 2021 as
amended, seconded by Mr. Dewer. Vote B-0-0.
Police Chief David Clark and Deputy Police Chief Christine Amendola were present to discuss
parking observations, issues, and complaints that their department receives. In 2018, there
were 2,600 parking tickets Issued, with over 1,000 of them Issued for overtime parking
downtown. The biggest parking complaints come from employers who want parking next to
their businesses for their employees, and they do not seem as concerned where customers
park. Homeowners in the new residential buildings appear to prefer overnight parking on
Sanborn Street, and Haven Street, and Brande Court over the tight, inadequately -sized
spaces in their garages.
There was a Parking Enforcement Officer budgeted for 18 hours per week, who was also the
Animal Control Officer. But that officer recently retired, and the Police Department has
been trying to monitor parking with patrol officers, who are often needed on other calls, so
it is a challenge to enforce limited time parking. Funding for a full time Parking
Enforcement Officer will be requested in the next budget cycle. More enforcement is
needed in order to ensure people stand by the rules.
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Due to new developments and construction projects, many complaints regarding
construction vehicle parking come in from business owners who say that their customers
are complaining.
Resident parking stickers are for any Reading resident, not just the residents on that street.
Leased spaces were eliminated. There are 150 employee parking permits available for
purchase each year, and businesses are only able to purchase up to five employee permits,
until after February, when they can purchase more if any remain.
Many spots were changed from 2 -hours to 4 -hours, as the services provided by some of the
businesses, such as dentist offices and salons, exceed two hours. A possible solution to add
available spaces would be a parking garage in either the CVS parking lot, or Brande Court
parking lot. Other possible solutions for enforcement Include: technology to help enforce
parking, and kiosks in 4 -hour lots.
The Committee discussed parking for the Commuter Rail. Before the pandemic, if people
did not arrive by 7:10 am for the 7:30 am train, there were no more available spots near
the depot. It is not intended to be a regional parking area for neighboring communities, as
commuters from the region can utilize the ample parking at Anderson Transportation Center
in Woburn. Ensuring there Is enough parking without inundating downtown with commuter
parking can be accomplished with stickers.
Chief Clark explained that staff has tried to come up with different solutions, but it has not
been easy. Adding different types of parking stickers will make It more difficult to enforce.
Mr. Dewar asked if there was a way to create spots by reducing a part of Main Street to one
lane and creating angled parking spaces. Chief Clark and Deputy Chief Amendola explained
that they were not fans of the road diet that reduced Main Street to one lane north of
downtown. They have seen an increase in accidents, as drivers do not know how to use the
middle lane, Amazon drivers park in the middle lane, and drivers are unable to pass slower
vehicles. This has created more traffic on Pearl Street and other local roads.
Next meetina
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29th, 2021. Erin Schaeffer,
Economic Development Director, will be the lead staff presenter.
Meeting adjourned at 6:27 pm.
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