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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting August 5, 1997 The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen George Hines and Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Eleanor Higgott, Henry Higgott, Lori Vinciguerra, Dick Howard, Wayne Dwyer, Cheri Crow, Chief Ed Marchand, Robert Sweet, Jr., Katt Goodwin, William Brown, Don Cowan, John Crosby, Bob Brown, Nancy Graham, Sheila Johnson, Peter Simms, John Coote, Susan DiGiovanni, Adele Blunt, Trudy Asmussen, Jack Russell, Judith A. Perry, Rick Schubert, Bryan Irwin, Anna Foulds, Robert Graham, Jr., Leslie Vant, Betty Cronin, Ryan Condon, Warren Cobb, Gerry Varney, Kathy Greenfield, Matt Lordan, Cyril McWeeney, Joe and Joan Kingston, Bob Owen, Hank Bardol, Donald and Joan Monson, Wilbar Hoxie, Ruth Carmichael, Douglas Randall Cowell, David Jones, Larry Stiles, Virginia Adams, Jonathan Edwards, Jennifer Goebel, Rose Sims, Clifford Sims,Florence Campbell, Sarah Brukilacchio, Debbie McCulley, Linda King, Frank Romeo, Randy Collins, Mike Riordan, Joan Peterson. Hearing on Downtown Improvement Program _ The Chairman opened the meeting and noted that the exhibits had been available since s 7:00,p.m. that evening. She introduced Kathy Greenfield of the Downtown Steering Committee, Randy Collins from Gates Leighton and Frank Romeo from Beta Engineering. Kathy Greenfield noted that this process has taken two years. Primary concerns are pedestrian safety, traffic flow and parking. This has been a consensus building process involving a very diverse group. Approaches have been made to businesses and other organizations interested in and involved in the Downtown. Randy Collins from Gates Leighton reviewed the elements which include traffic, streetscape, funding and final design. They are hopeful that by the end of September to have approval of the project, and from the end of September to the end of January to do final design. The goal is to develop a Downtown that is aesthetic, easy to negotiate, to enhance the character of the Downtown, to improve the environment, improve circulation, improve pedestrian circulation and safety, and make it convenient for local and non-local residents to use. There is no intention to eliminate parking or businesses, but rather to increase both. Frank Romeo from Beta Engineering reviewed the areas involved, including the Haven and High Street intersection, the Gould Street intersection, Ash/Main/Haven Street intersection, the Main Street southbound including the lane drop at Haven Street, Lowell Street, the Main and Pleasant Street intersection including vehicle and pedestrian safety, lower Lowell Street (between Main and Woburn which will be 'made into 26 space Board of Selectmen Meeting—August 5, 1997 —page 2 parking lots), Pleasant Street which would be made one way with angle parking, and Hardnen Street. Following the presentation, the Board members asked questions and then it was open to the public. Dan Ensminger asked if Chute Street was one or two ways (it is one way). Sally Hoyt asked about added traffic from Ash to Main Street, if it is one way. She noted that there are four banks, a Post Office and lots of businesses on Haven Street. She asked about reversing the one way on Ash Street — it's currently difficult for commercial vehicles accessing the American Legion, rubbish trucks, etc. It was noted that there is a negligible change for the American Legion, and Hoyt asked if a trial period was possible. If we keep the proposed intersection, it should be made right turn only onto Main Street MacDonald asked about the Ash and Main Street intersection. The plan appears to show improvements on the private property. Has this property owner been contacted. The owner has been approached and public and private improvements are proposed. Wayne Dwyer asked about Gould and Ash Street. He questioned what benefit there was in giving access to Main Street. There doesn't seem to be a need. (It was noted that the deficiency is not an engineering one but a circulation deficiency. Gould Street will have 50-60 vehicles per hour peak. Signals will be interconnected.) Mike Riordan asked about Ash and Main Street. He felt that we would need a light at the connector. A resident asked about Green Street — there are apartments and no sidewalks. The speaker felt that the situation would get worse if the landfill gets developed (the program has not addressed the issue of sidewalks on Green Street yet). The resident noted that all of Green Street needs sidewalks. Green Street is outside the project area. Randy Cowell noted that he likes the proposal at the end of Chute Street. He wondered if Haven Street can be made two way for its entire length. Bob Graham at the corner of Main and Green Street feels that Green Street should go one way the other way than shown or stay two way. David Jones asked if you can get from Haven to Gould Street and the answer is Yes. He asked if we were widening Brandy Court and the answer is No. He asked what we are doing with the parking lots, and it was noted that it would be evaluated for design, efficiency, and circulation. Eleanor Higgott objected to removal of the tree at Chute and High Street. Board of Selectmen Meeting=August 5, 1997—page 3 Debbie McCulley suggested moving the host Office drop box to Sanborn Street (this was evaluated when there was consideration of reversing Sanborn and Linden Streets but it is not necessary at this time. With regard to Main Street, Sally Hoyt asked if coming South on Main Street, how will vehicles be able to use the Lowell Street connector. It was noted that trucks would not be encouraged to use Lowell Street —they will use the Salem and Main Street intersection. The design is adequate for truck traffic. Dan Ensminger talked about turning from Salem to Main Street southbound. Is there a right turn lane and is right turn allowed on red. (This has not been evaluated with MHD yet.) Bruce MacDonald noted that if you are traveling on Lowell Street towards Main Street, is there a net loss of the "point" on the Common. It was noted that there would be a net gain of green space. George Hines asked about Salem and Main Street if Lowell Street is one way. Will northbound Main Street get a left turn priority? (Yes, it would be added to the phase signal.) _ Bill Brown noted that we are gaining eight parking spaces. How much is the project going to cost and what is the cost per parking space. It was noted that cost estimates have not yet been done but the cost is not just to gain eight spaces — it is to improve the entire Downtown. The consultant noted that Main Street should get Federal funding. Hank Bardol noted that if we discourage traffic on Lowell Street, we will be driving cars onto Sanborn Street and Sanborn will become a speedway. (It was noted that the Salem and Main Street intersection is currently level service E, and it will become level service C which would help clear the intersection better than currently.) Bruce MacDonald noted that southbound traffic going onto Salem Street will have a redesigned intersection which will help. Dan Ensminger noted that traffic calming measures could be put on Sanborn Street, Linda King asked if one could turn left from Salem Street onto Lowell Street southbound. She also asked about the intersection of Lowell and Woburn, and it was noted that we do not anticipate or want to have enough traffic to warrant a light at that location. Randy Cowall expressed concern about taking the light out of this location and having people stack across the intersection. Signs prohibiting blockage of the intersection would be needed. P__ Susan DiGiovanni noted that what was going on is fantastic — trying_to turn around the Downtown. She works in commercial retail and works with Towns trying to turn around their downtown. The demographics of Reading would entice business uses but the visual Board of Selectmen Meeting-—August 5, 1997 —page-4 and circulation vital of Reading discourages it. These improvements should improve property values throughout the community. Reverend Robert Sweet expressed his appreciation to the Downtown Steering Committee and the consultant. He feels they have done a very good job. He expressed a concern that the impact of the Route 129 improvements will have an impact on Old South because they will lose parking spaces on the Common side of Salem Street. It is important not to lose all the parking on Lowell Street. Sunday morning is not the only time when there is an issue. There are only 14 parking spaces behind the church. It is not unusual to have 50 people per night using the church. Once a week, there are over 100 people using the church and once a month, there are over 150 people. These are for a combination of church and community activities. There is a preschool of 100 kids who use the facility. A traffic light across Lowell Street near the Town Hall will be a big help. Eleanor Higgott noted that additional street lights would be helpful. Jennifer Goeble presented a petition of 90 parishioners at Old South opposing the closing of Lowell Street. They like the proposals being recommended by the Downtown Steering Committee. Bryan Irwin spoke. He felt that we need to create a civic space in Downtown. To link the Common to the Town Hall is a significant public space that can be used. The Common right now is a little more than a traffic island. He understands the churchconcerns about parking but if the Common is linked to Town Hall, there must be another way to solve the parking. The parking lot behind CVS could gain 12 to 15 parking spaces if the property owners cooperated. We could still put parking back on Salem Street — it would take another eight feet from the Common. He feels it would be worth the effort. He noted that licensed daycare facilities have to have off-street parking, and was surprised that Old South does not have adequate parking for this purpose. Joan Peterson from the Congregational Church spoke with regard to parking on Sanborn Street. She will be concerned about a lot of traffic because Sanborn Street is used for parking for the Congregational Church. People sometimes go the wrong way up the street. Closing Lowell Street would cause more problems. Virginia Adams read a letter from the Historical Commission recommending the plan as proposed by the Downtown Steering Committee. Anna Carol Foulds read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce recommending the plan as presented by the Downtown Steering Committee. Dick Howard from CPDC noted that the process has been impressive. He feels that the solutions proposed are practical. Cheri Crow came to this meeting because of concerns that the Board of Selectmen wants to close Lowell Street and felt that this would be a ridiculous move. _. Board of Selectmen Meeting— August 5, 1997—page 5 David Jones noted that if cars are parked on both sides of Lowell Street in front of the CVS, how would emergency vehicles get through (the aisle width is 22 feet). Wilbar Hoxie spoke about truck traffic trying to use Haven Street to access the Atlantic parking lot. Kathy Greenfield noted that there is still a lot of work to be done. We have to view this plan in its entirety. The project needs a vote of support from the Selectmen so the process can move forward. Camille Anthony noted that Gates Leighton has done a terrific job. Reverend Sweet asked when the Board would make a decision. Randy Collins noted that the Gates Leighton contract with the Town of Reading expires in January--the sooner a decision is made the better. Dan Ensminger hasn't heard opposition and felt we should move ahead. George Hines felt that we should meet within the next two weeks and give the Committee direction. There are several issues that the Committee needs to come back to the Board of Selectmen on: Sanborn Street; removal of the signal at Lowell and Woburn Street; emergency access at Ash and Main Street and whether Green Street and Chapin Street should be made one way. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines, the Board moved to close the public hearing by a vote of 5-0-0. The Board agreed to put this on the Agenda for their next meeting. On motion by MacDonald seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, J / ., t ,,Secretary