HomeMy WebLinkAboutTraffic Safety Work Group Minutes September 7, 2011_201402041317193144TRAFFIC SAFETY WORK GROUP
Public Safety Facility Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
~~ Minutes ~~
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
All or a portion of this meeting is being recorded.
If you plan to record this meeting yourself, please check with the chairman of the board before you begin.
Called to order at 10:33 p.m. Staff in attendance: Terry Norton, Minutes Taker
Members Present: Transportation Planner Mike Burns, Jack Gardner, Arthur Gasbarro, Executive Assistant
to the Town Manager Erika Mooney, Police Chief William Pittman, DPW Foreman John Smith
Members Absent: Fire Chief Mark McDougall, Assistant DPW Director Mohamed Nabulsi, Commission on
Disability Chair Milton Rowland
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
Gerry Scheide – In regards to an accident at corner of Pleasant Street and Williams Street, 84 Williams Street
has a high hedge. Are residents required to keep hedges trimmed? A small black car was obscured by the hedge
and I hit her lightly. Mooney - Hedge supposed to be no more than 36 inches above road grade. Encroachment
letter can be sent giving property owner 15 days of date of mailing to trim hedge. Pittman – Contact Selectmen’s
office to send an encroachment letter to homeowner.
II. OTHER BUSINESS
1. Pittman – CSOs patrolling bike paths and have made a list of missing signs along bike paths. Preparing
a report for Traffic Safety review.
2. Smith – As of late, right of way versus stakes as a result of construction crews parking all over the
street. DPW removed a number of stakes owners using to try to protect their property when in fact
stakes are on town property. A homeowner has threatened to sue DPW if the stakes are removed;
concerned about liability of Town. Mooney – According to by-laws, cannot place stakes in right of way
and are authorized to remove.
3. Mooney – At Chester and N Water Streets, stop signs being ignored and parking on the sidewalks.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of August 2, 2011 at 10:30 AM were approved as presented.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Discuss making Highland Avenue one-way
Documentation Map of Highland Ave and surrounding roads
Presentation Mooney – Congestion on road is heavy; other roads between Grant and Cliff are all one-way.
Noted this morning that Cabot one-way toward Grant; Nantucket Ave one-way toward Cliff
Rd and Mooers Ave one-way toward Grant. Residents would prefer Highland Ave to become
one-way toward Grant/Lincoln Avenue
Public None
Discussion Burns – Have already made one side of Highland no parking. Gasbarro – Continue to
November? Discussion followed; consensus to wait until construction subsides.
Action Continued to February
2. Request for additional signage on Polpis Road bike path at intersection of Milestone Road
Page 1 of 5
Documentation Email from Celene Menschel
Page 2 of 5
Presentation Mooney – reviewed email requesting additional signage on bike paths indicating major
intersections such as Polpis Bike path and Milestone Road
Public None
Discussion Burns – District 5 has been contacted
Action None
3. Request for speeding enforcement, prohibiting parking, and improved sight lines on Winn Street (end by
Madaket Road)
Documentation Email from John Sherman
Presentation Mooney – John Sherman of Madaket Road wants no parking on Winn Street and better
enforcement of speeding
Public None
Discussion Pittman – Speeding enforcement does not need to come to this committee. Tell Sherman the
issue has been passed on to the NPD for enforcement. Gardner – Not that many cars park
there.
Action Sherman’s concerns passed on to NPD for review and enforcement
4. Request to make South Beach Street Extension Loading Zone only
Documentation Letter from Annie Teasdale
Presentation Mooney – reviewed letter requesting loading zone only on South Beach Street Ext.
Public None
Discussion Pittman – Have told Annie Teasdale that if her drive is being blocked to call NPD.
Action No action
5. Discussion regarding parking on Ocean Avenue, Broadway, Centre Street and Shell Street in ‘Sconset
Documentation Email from Chief Pittman; letter from Sheila Todd
Presentation Pittman – NPD betting barraged with parking complaints regarding Ocean Avenue, claiming it
is so congested emergency vehicles could not get through. Pittman checked and noticed an
SUV that had the road blocked; agreed an ambulance or fire truck could not pass by Summer
House. Pittman attended a meeting of the Sconset Civic Association (SCA) and suggested that
parking be eliminated on Ocean Ave; other options could include eliminating grass shoulder
and widening road to full extent of Town ownership so there can be a parking lane. Banning
parking on Ocean will move parking to the already full side streets. Special events/functions
require someone to park vehicles. There are more events than off-duty police officers can fill.
Suggest creation of sub-committee, to include members of SCA, Traffic Safety and Summer
House, to look at situation.
Public Peter Carlson, owner, The Summer House – said could be more proactive with someone on the
street directing people to parking spaces and bringing attention to those improperly parked.
Traffic jam does affect the business. Valet parking is tricky as many people don’t want their
vehicle touched, and finding a professional valet is not an easy task. Pressure points are Fri &
Sat nights in July & August; willing to have employee manage parking those days only.
Mark Donato, president, SCA – Understand lower end of street went to the town with the
intent that there be parking for 8 vehicles. Like the idea of a sub-committee.
Kit Murphy – Biggest problem with parking is Thursday through Sunday.
Page 3 of 5
Discussion Gardner - People don’t like where the parking is allowed and ignore the signs and yellow lines.
Burns – Private business is causing the issue and could ask if they have any ideas. Perhaps
valet parking that puts vehicles out of the area. Gasbarro – likes idea of improving parking
shoulder, possibly remove grass and install grass crete; come up with a plan to present to SCA.
Gardner – years ago liquor licenses requires having an establishment’s staff person in charge
of parking. Mooney – To place a stipulation on the license, a letter must be submitted to Board
of Selectmen with comments before the seasonal license is renewed in March. Sheila Todd
submitted request to ban parking Broadway, Centre Street and Shell Street as well.
Action Possible form sub-committee consisting of members of Traffic Safety, SCA and Summer
House to address parking issues on Ocean Ave. No action on request for no parking on
Broadway, Center and Shell Streets.
6. Request for traffic sign at intersection of Burnell and Clifton Streets in ‘Sconset
Documentation Email from Alice Malone
Presentation Mooney – Since it was paved, Burnell Street has been used as a cut through to avoid Sconset
village and vehicles are speeding. This specific request is for installation of stop or yield on
Clifton street going west as it intersects Burnell and a yield sign going south on Burnell so that
motorists can anticipate a dangerous intersection.
Public Kit Murphy - she lives on corner of Burnell and Coffin – cars do speed down the road now that
it is paved; requested a stop sign at Coffin and Burnell. After a second summer, something
really needs to be done at that corner.
Donato – in agreement with Murphy
Discussion Traffic Safety discussed appropriate uses for stop and yield signs. Pittman – a yield sign could
possibly be warranted at that intersection. There seems to be a lot of foot traffic out there.
Hesitant to put up stop signs because people don’t look at them anyway; but yield signs are a
different story. Could place a “slow-children” sign. Gasbarro – suggested installation of stop
sign on Clifton; cut back brush and install intersection sign on Burnell.
Action Place a stop on Clifton at intersection of Burnell and yield on Burnell and cut back vegetation.
7. Request for stop sign on Miacomet Road at intersection of dirt road and Pond View Drive; reduced
speed limits; four-way stop at Miacomet Road and Surfside Road.
Documentation Emails from Chief Pittman, John Devaney, Sandy MacDonald
Representing Mooney – reviewed emails, re: issues with speeding, request for stop sign, 4-way stop at
Surfside Rd/Miacomet Rd intersection
Public None
Discussion Gardner – Had a stop sign coming out of Pond View; if it is gone, should be put back.
Resident at that corner removes sign because it obstructs view of pond. Smith – speed limit is
posted. Pittman – can’t post as 10 PMH
Action Install stop sign on Pond View as intersects with Miacomet Rd. No action on 4-way stop at
Miacomet & Surfside.
8. Request of yellow line at 46 Easton Street
Documentation Letter from Anne Stinnett; map of property
Presentation Gardner – Resident wants yellow line; claims she cannot get out of driveway. Suggest she not
back out; lot is big enough to turn around in.
Public None
Discussion Smith – will check to make sure yellow line is in place and proper width
Action Yellow line will be widened if Smith feels current line is too short
Page 4 of 5
9. Request to limit parking on one side only on Walsh Street between Easton Street and East Lincoln
Avenue.
Documentation Email from Linwood Butler
Presentation Mooney – Butler of the Brandt Point Area Plan Work Group asking for limited parking. Need
to come up with area plan first then address parking issues.
Public None
Discussion Pittman – Suggest if banning parking, ban it on W side of street. Need to base this on area
plan.
Motion No action to be taken until Brant Point Area Plan approved as don’t want this request to
impact other aspects of plan.
10. Request for yellow lines at corner of Derrymore Road.
Documentation Map of subject corner of Derrymore Road
Presentation Jim Cranston – Requested yellow lines on both side of street from Delaney Road around the
corner to the fire hydrant. A car has been parked there all summer which makes taking the
corner safely difficult. Traffic is increasing on that road.
Public None
Discussion Gardner – A high hedge adds to the issue. Smith – there was a yellow line at the hydrant. The
McAuley’s mail box also extends into the right of way.
Action Paint lines as requested; have Diane O’Neil send encroachment letter to McAuley/20
Derrymore Rd to move back mailbox
11. Review curb cut request for 8 Pine Street resulting in loss of on-street parking.
Documentation Curb cut application; property maps; photo
Presentation Gasbarro recused. Mooney – Curb cut will not eliminate a parking space but requires a hydrant
to be relocated. Will follow up with Bob Gardner to discuss hydrant relocation.
Public None
Discussion None
Action Mooney will speak with Bob Gardner about hydrant relocation.
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Review prior recommendation regarding Macy’s Lane in light of abutter letter.
Documentation Emails from Orla Murphy-Lascola, Robert Sarkisian, Town Manager; Traffic Safety 7/26/11
recommendation to Board of Selectmen; map with recommendation
Presentation Mooney – Traffic Safety recommended in July to BOS to make no parking on west side of
Macy’s Lane. Resident Burt Ryder now has “buyer’s remorse” and wants no parking on the
east side. Do we want to keep it as originally recommended or change to east side?
Public None
Discussion Burns and Gardner - Did the right thing.
Action Leave as originally recommended.
2. Berkley Avenue – discuss possible widening and posting as no parking.
Documentation Email from Louis Gerstner; map; photos
Presentation Mooney – Traffic Safety discussed widening road after site visit but abutters think that is not a
good idea. In favor of widening.
Public None
Discussion Gardner – Like all beaches and we need more parking. Pittman – Had a situation where cars
were parking down by Monomoy beach and a resident complained. Monomoy beach is Land
Bank property, which wants to ban parking by the stairs. Smith – Parking and turn around by
the beach stairs has been discouraged.
Page 5 of 5
Action Mooney will speak with Town Manager. Consensus of Traffic Safety is to widen Berkley Ave
and providing additional spaces for parking
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn at 11:55 AM
Submitted by:
Terry L. Norton