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HomeMy Public PortalAboutOctober 2013 Traffic Commission Minutes_201311251422154250TOWN OF WATERTOWN TRAFFIC COMMISSION Edward P. Deveau Chief of Police Edward P. Deveau, Chair Mario Orangio, Fire Chief Gerald Mee, Supt. Of Public Works Steven Magoon, Community Development and Planning Mr. John S. Airasian Ms. Kelly Gallagher David Sampson Sergeant Tel: 617-972-6547 November 5, 2013 October 2013 Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes In attendance: Edward Deveau, Gerald Mee, Steven Magoon, Kelly Gallagher, John S. Airasian At the October 30, 2013 Traffic Commission meeting the following items were discussed and voted on: Item 1— Mr. Airasian made a motion to approve the September, 2013 Traffic Commission meeting minutes; the motion was seconded by Mr. Magoon. The motion passed unanimously. Item 2 — Ms. Kelly Devincentis of 19 Ralph Piteri Terrace addressed the Commission to request the installation of a "Handicap Parking Only" sign in front of her residence. Prior to the meeting, Ms. Devincentis provided a letter from her husband's physician. Ms. Devincentis explained that her husband is handicapped and has received a handicap placard from the RMV. Ms. Devincentis described the layout of the exterior of the home and stated that it is easier for her husband to use the front door due to railings on both sides of the stairs, and fewer stairs to climb than the rear stairs. Ms. Devincentis further explained that the street is quite congested due to commuter parking and it is difficult to secure the parking space in front of her home. Sgt. Sampson stated that he visited the area. Sgt. Sampson provided photos of the area, and agreed with the congestion of the roadway and agreed that it would be more difficult for Mr. Devincentis to use the driveway and rear stairs. Mr. Airasian also agreed with the congestion of the street and is in favor of the request. Mr. Magoon made a motion to install a "Handicap Parking Only" sign in front of 19 Ralph Piteri Terrace; seconded by Mr. Airasian. The motion passed unanimously. Item 3 — Sgt. Sampson addressed the Commission to request the installation of a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign on the easterly side of Westminster Ave, approximately 60 feet north of Bemis Street. Sgt. Sampson reported that he has received reports from the current and former crossing guards at this intersection. Both crossing guards explained the difficulty of managing the intersection due to cars being parked on Westminster Avenue just north of Bemis Street. The parked vehicles tend to belong to Middle School staff and visitors. When school is not in session or there are no events at the school, parking near this intersection is not a problem. When there are cars parked too closely to the intersection, drivers traveling west on Bemis Street do not have a good line of sight on the Northerly side of Westminster Avenue. Increasing the sight line would be helpful for vehicles traveling westbound on Bemis Street and make the intersection more manageable for the crossing guards. Mr. Magoon reported that he was concerned about the distance of the restriction and thought that providing too long of a sight line may cause drivers to become less cautious as they attempted to cross the intersection. Mr. Magoon added that if a restriction is too far away from the corner, drivers may not see the sign and would not obey the restriction. Mr. Mee reported that he is not opposed to changing the proposed distance of the sign from the intersection. Mr. Mee is familiar with the area and explained that when the sidewalks were replaced in this area, bump -outs were created on the opposite corners due to problematic parking habits during school pick-up and drop-off times. Mr. Mee reported that this is a congested area and regardless of the distance of the sign, any action to move cars off the corner would be an improvement. Sgt. Sampson reported that he is amenable to any length of restriction. Mr. Mee felt that Sgt. Sampson could look at the area again and determine an appropriate placement for the sign. Mr. Mee made a motion to approve a "No Parking to Corner" sign on Westminster Ave at Bemis Street; seconded by Mr. Airasian. The motion passed unanimously. Item 4 —Sgt. Sampson addressed the Commission to request the installation of 3 parking meters on Mt. Auburn Street at Adams Street, and 2 parking meters on Mt. Auburn Street at Lloyd Road. Sgt. Sampson explained that as a result of recent bus stop modifications by the MBTA there is a need to assign new metered spaces on Mt. Auburn Street. At Mt. Auburn Street at Adams Street, two metered parking spaces were lost. Sgt. Sampson requested the installation of three metered spaces in this area; two metered spaces in front of 537/539 Mt. Auburn Street and one metered space in front of 543/545 Mt. Auburn Street. This would replace 2 lost metered spaces and correct an unregulated space that was in the middle of the line of metered spaces. Mr. Mee reported that he was in support of this recommended change. Mr. Airasian seconded this motion; the motion passed unanimously. Sgt. Sampson then explained a similar situation at Mt. Auburn Street at Lloyd Road; a bus stop was removed in this area. Sgt. Sampson recommended the installation of two metered spaces in front of 588 Mt. Auburn Street. Mee made a motion to install two metered spaces in front of 588 Mount Auburn Street at Lloyd Road; seconded by Mr. Airasian. The motion passed unanimously. Item 5 — Mr. Mee addressed the Commission on behalf of residents of Evans Street to request additional cautionary "SLOW CHILDREN" signs on Evans Street. Mr. Mee believes that these signs could enhance the safety in the area; Mr. Airasian seconded the motion to install the signage. The motion passed unanimously. Item 6 — Mr. Mee addressed the Commission on behalf of residents of Prospect Street to request the installation of a cautionary "SLOW CHILDREN" sign on Prospect Street. Mr. Mee made a motion to install a sign on Prospect Street on the end closest to Belmont Street; seconded by Mr. Airasian. The motion passed unanimously. Item 7 — New Business a. Mr. Magoon addressed the Commission to measure its reaction to having a food truck festival in Town. Mr. Magoon explained that a Town resident who organizes these events would like to hold a festival in Watertown. Although no fees would be paid to the Town, this type of event could attract many people to the area. The organizer's initial idea is to hold the event in the springtime in the area of Whites Ave and Main Street; patrons could purchase admission or wrist bands and eat in the park. This could also be a fundraiser. Mr. Magoon stated that other communities have had these types of events — some used the event to bring attention to community, others used it for a fundraiser. Mr. Magoon asked the Commission whether this event is something with enough benefit to the Town that the Commission should encourage it. Mr. Airasian thought a food truck festival may be a good event for the Town. Mr. Mee questions the location for the event, but as long as the organizers address the impacts of the event (ie. trash), Mr. Mee would support this type of event. b. Sgt. Sampson received a letter from Councilor -at -Large Susan Falkoff to address three issues at the November meeting. The three items will be added to the November agenda. c. Sgt. Sampson conveyed a thank you from Mr. Joseph Chillemi of 143 Grove Street for the Deaf/Blind signage near his residence. d. Sgt. Sampson conveyed thank you from Coolidge Avenue resident Mr. Fabio Mariano for the installation of a crosswalk at the intersection of Coolidge Ave and Grove Street. e. Mr. Mee reported that he, Sgt. Sampson, and Mr. Magoon are working to improve the line of sight on Church Street at Palfrey Street due to a private tree which needs to have some limbs removed. f. Mr. Patrick O'Brien, resident of Middlesex Road, addressed the Commission regarding the possibility for a Resident Permit Parking pass system. Mr Airasian explained that there are issues of density, public safety and many other issues surrounding parking permits. He further explained that there are many reasons why the Town holds onto the two hour regulation. Mr. Magoon explained that there have been parking complaints brought to the Commission about parking on Middlesex Road. He further explained that all high school students that park in the area would be Town residents and have permits; there would still be a parking problem in the area. In addition to other issues, there is a large cost associated with administering a permit parking system. Mr. O'Brien explained that other communities (Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville) have systems. Mr. Mee agreed with Mr. Airasian and Mr. Magoon and also has concerns about permit parking. g. Sgt. Sampson reported that there will likely be a request for the installation of a "Handicap Parking Only" sign on Paul Street on the November 2013 agenda. Mr. Airasian made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Magoon. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Sgt. David Sampson Assistant to the Traffic Commission