Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-20 ad Hoc Parking Task Force MinutesAd Hoc Downtown Parking Committee Meeting September 20, 2006 The meeting convened at 7:45 pm in the Town Hall Berger Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading MA. Present were Chairman Gil Rodrigues (GIL); Vice Chairman Jack Russell (JR); Members George Katsoufis (GK), Tom Quintal (TQ), David Talbot (DT); and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner (PH). Also in attendance was Adele Blunt and Chris Vaccaro. 1. Minutes. The minutes from the meting of August 19, 2006 were discussed and approved. 2. Parking demand determination GIL: Since many years, parking demand in the downtown has been higher than parking supply. It is important for businesses to have available parking for customers and staff. To a great extent, downtown businesses rely on repetitive customers. Also, having a pedestrian friendly environment is an important feature of reading's downtown. TQ: The Chamber of Commerce survey parking data (survey data) need to be revisited, as some figures appear to be escalated. GK: Proposal to compare the survey data against the theoretical parking supply data (inferred from the zoning bylaws and each building's area) in the downtown and tabulate the results. As a second step, this committee should attempt to "calibrate' the data, even if this means requesting further feedback from certain businesses. The objective is to come up with parking demand information that the committee feels comfortable with. This effort will be consistent with the proposed work-plan for this committee. Task #J: GK and TQ to assemble tabulated data on a per block basis for next meeting. 3. Parking supply determination GIL: Need to get accurate number of parking spaces on a per block basis, in order to correlate demand and supply. Task #2: DT and GIL to perform a count of private spaces by using the data shown in the town's parking map (from town's GIS) and updating with field observation. GK to provide necessary graphics to them for this effort. 4. Group needs TQ: Concerns of the residents need to be involved in the discussion. GK: There are three distinct groups involved in our study: customers, employees and residents. It is important to itemize the needs of each group. GIL: Guest parking for residents could also be an issue. DT: Other concerns are generated traffic, creating of private parking lots, visual issues Task #3: TQ to investigate what residents consider important and what tops the list, 5. Shared parking The outcome of this committee's approach of larger employers that could potentially agree on a shared parking plan backed up by the town was inconclusive, perhaps negative to some extent. It was agreed that a more formal approach, first aimed at property owners, is necessary to gain better input on this issue. Task #4: A to craft a letter to the Reading business community about shared parking possibilities in the town. 6. Sanborn property A general discussion occurred about the application of the Sanborn property with the Zoning Board, its status and possible ZB action. It was concluded that it is premature to discuss the future of the Sanborn property, before achieving an all-around understanding of the problem and potential improvements, following the charter assigned to this committee. 7. Satellite parking (remote lots) The committee discussed briefly the idea that if Town Hall employees parked in a remote location, many spaces downtown in the Town Hall lot would open up. This is an inexpensive and do-able proposal. In future meetings, this topic will be further investigated. 8. Next meeting The next meeting of this Committee is scheduled for October 18, with the following items to be discussed: _ - organize the supply/demand analysis up to date and schedule a briefing of the CPDC - review the proposed outline of this committee's Final report, as distributed by GIB evaluate the exclusion from parking requirements for businesses within 300 ft. of a municipal parking lot, as it exists in the zoning bylaw. Task #S: GIL to craft an agenda and distribute to the committee a few days before the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9.30pm.