HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-18 d/ J
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Town and County of Nantucket r I 1--(9( 7
ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE r
Meeting of 18 April 2017
Conference Room of 2 Fairgrounds Road d
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FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES — Z
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1. Call to Order, Approval of the Agenda,Approval of Minutes,and Public s
Comments. P.P. C6
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A. Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. In attendance were Nelsofr'1
(Snookie)Eldridge, Leslie Forbes,Nat Lowell (arrived at 4:06 and left at 5:20 pm),Allen
Reinhard, Chair, and Lee Saperstein;there was a quorum at all times.
Absent were Bert Ryder, John Stackpole, and Stephen Welch.
Guests: Mike Burns, Transportation Planner and Tom Erichsen, Smith Point Association.
The agenda as distributed was modified by unanimous consent to consolidate Item 6.Ames
Avenue,Madaket follow-up with Public Comment to accommodate Tom Erichsen,who
indicated that these two items were why he was attending the meeting.
B. Public Comment(including Item 6. Ames Avenue,Madaket Follow-up). While Allen
Reinhard, Chair, introduced Tom Erichsen, Lee Saperstein, Secretary,projected the GIS map of
Nantucket's west end. Tom Erichsen explained that he was present to talk about erosion at
Smith's Point and its potential impact on the public roads in Madaket. He related that he had
measured the distance from the intersection of the sidelines of the Madaket Road and Ames
Avenue to the edge of the solid bluff and from October 1,2016,to April 1, 2017, it had receded
13 feet leaving only 47 feet between the intersection and the beach. He said that earlier years
had similar losses. It is uncertain how much time is left before erosion impacts that intersection;
his concern is with possible loss of access to Ames Avenue, a Public Road, and,by extension,to
a series of public ways(Ames,Rhode Island,New Jersey, and Massachusetts). He wants us to
be aware of the potential roadway problem that may arise sooner than later.
Allen Reinhard replied that there is broad awareness of the erosional losses at Madaket. Dave
Fronzuto,Emergency Management Coordinator, is the point person for implementation of the
2014 Coastal Management Plan.. Allen Reinhard has spoken with Andrew Vorce, as promised
at the last meeting, about the situation at Ames and Madaket, and,while the Town Planners are
looking at many possibilities,there is no active decision to deal with access to Millie's Bridge
should the Ames Avenue-Madaket Road intersection become impassable. When the Town's
planning becomes more concrete for this location,the Committee will definitely resume
discussion.
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Allen Reinhard thanked Tom Erichsen for his comments and indicated that the committee will
maintain a watch on this item.
C. Minutes. Approval of minutes from March 21, 2017. Nat Lowell moved approval of last
month's minutes,this was seconded by Snookie Eldridge, and the vote in favor was unanimous.
After the minutes were approved, Leslie Forbes added that the Madaket residents have had a
series of meetings with Dave Fronzuto,who reviewed for them the Coastal Management Plan
actions,both planned and underway for mitigating the impact of erosion. Should Hither Creek
open to the sea, she reported that the Coastal Management work group thinks that Millie's
Bridge is structurally sound and would survive.
2. Saratoga Lane Abutter Request for Taking.
Lee Saperstein displayed the GIS map of Saratoga Street on the screen while Allen Reinhard
explained that the Board of Selectmen,through the Town Manager,has asked for our opinion on
the abutter's request for it to be taken as a public way. Nat Lowell reminded the committee that,
during a much earlier discussion of possible connections among the bicycle paths to the beaches,
we had discussed the issue of Saratoga's one-way direction and its possible reversal so as to get
bicycles from Mount Vernon Street to Saratoga to Winn Street,thence to the Madaket Road
bicycle path.
The issue before us is whether or not we wish to add this street to our Potential Takings List,
which,when last revised, had input from the Director of the DPW. Allen Reinhard asked Mike
Burns whether any consideration had been given to reversing the direction of Saratoga as once
suggested by John Stackpole. He also asked if there were transportation planning reasons for
taking Saratoga; Mike Burns replied,"not to his knowledge."
Allen Reinhard said that he recalled that the Town was considering Winn Street for taking so as
to provide access for infrastructure. Since Winn Street was scheduled for infrastructure access
and had sufficient width for two-way traffic,the Committee supported Winn Street for a taking
and not Saratoga.
Allen Reinhard said that he would inform the Town Manager that,before we could give another
opinion,we needed a lot more information about traffic volume and usage on Saratoga that could
be obtained by our Town Planners. Our feeling at this time is that, if Saratoga is to be a Public
Way, it needs to be able to accommodate two-way traffic. We should also ask the Town
Manager that, when she replies to the petitioners, she should suggest that it would help if they
surveyed their neighbors; a request by a majority of abutters is better than that of one person.
3. Access to Historic Coloured Cemetery.
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Allen Reinhard reported that he went to the historic Coloured Cemetery this morning. As
Hospital construction moved forward,the boundary between the hospital and the cemetery has
been cleared of vegetation. The Cemetery Commission has been following progress toward
maintaining access to the Cemetery and is pleased with the work done by the DPW to make
North Mill Street and the way to the cemetery accessible by automobiles. The DPW will have a
plan to replace the aging split-rail fence. The entry monument,an erratic boulder,will soon have
the name of the Cemetery incised into it. After the new hospital is built and landscaping begins,
we will need to watch how they will provide promised access from their grounds to the
Cemetery. We may wish to give advice on future vegetation between the hospital and the
Cemetery.
Allen Reinhard gave a similar positive update on access to Founders' Burial Ground.
4. Progress on In-Town Bike Paths and Sidewalks.
Allen Reinhard asked Mike Burns to give an update on the various projects around the Island.
Mike Burns said that,where designs have been completed and contracts let,the DPW is
managing construction. On the In-Town path, connecting Washington and Orange Streets along
the old railroad causeway,most of the work has been done but the contractors have stopped work
for the season. Before they can complete the project,utility work on Orange Street must be
completed; also,the Town is still seeking a second State permit for the work needed to replace
the drainage culvert from the Goose Pond. Once these items are complete,probably in the fall, a
final asphalt layer will be placed on the path along with final landscaping and signage
installation. There is a privet hedge that will need to be re-located so as to maintain minimum
clearance on the new sidewalk.
With respect to other paths, some delays, such as the need to move utility poles for sight
clearance at the Observatory,have pushed projects back. The Milk Street bicycle path utility
work alongside the Prospect Hill Cemetery may not be finished until Memorial Day,hence
paving may wait until the fall. The bicycle path along North Mill Street into Mill Hill Park has a
completed design but work may not start until fall. The contractor for the Water Company
project says that they will improve the entrance to North Mill Street once they are done. The
Boulevarde may get its top coat this spring.
Downtown sidewalk improvements have been reviewed carefully by the Architectural Access
Board, assisted by its consultant,Dan Mulloy of Site Design, Inc., and there are a series of small
but significant issues to be resolved before the project will move forward. Mike Burns said that
they are researching alternative signal systems that will allow Nantucket to keep its historic
appearance while providing a warning of curb cuts and street crossings.
6. Ames Avenue,Madaket Follow-Up.
This item was taken up in combination with Public Comment at the beginning of the meeting.
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7. Old, New or Other Business: Chapter 91 Update.
Allen Reinhard reported that First Way is under construction finally after years of our asking for
it to be improved. School student safety will be improved.
With respect to Chapter 91 Licenses, Lee Saperstein suggested that we re-invite Jeff Carlson,
Natural Resources Coordinator,to visit with us to discuss how we can help him.
Snookie Eldridge said that we should consider adding Bunker Hill Road in `Sconset to our
Potential Takings list. Allen Reinhard agreed that we should discuss it and will put it on a
subsequent agenda. For this discussion,we should get input from the DPW and the
Transportation Planner. Mike Burns said that there had been a review of traffic safety at the
four-way stop among Burnell,New, and Bunker Hill.
Leslie Forbes said that the discussion at the last meeting about Alliance Lane and its use as a
Public Way should be reviewed again in terms of access and safety. The Public Way monument
at the end of Alliance Lane is not readily visible from Eel Point Road making it difficult for the
public to access it. Yet there is no safe access to the beach at the end of the way because there is
a 12-foot drop. Abutters have a metal staircase and although tempting,the public does not have
a right to use it. Leslie Forbes would like the Committee to discuss policy and possible solutions
for difficult public access situations. Lee Saperstein said that this discussion about Public Way
monuments reminded him that we need to bring our spread sheet up to date as well as showing
the new Director of the DPW how it can be useful to his department.
7. Adjourn.
The end of the agenda was reached at 5:35 pm at which time the meeting was adjourned. The
next meeting is scheduled for
4:00 p.m.,May 16,2017,2 Fairgrounds Road.
R&ROW Committee Outstanding Projects List:
Projects Underway and need only oversight until completion
• Downtown Sidewalk Project.
• In-Town Bike Path from Washington St. Ext.to Orange Street, Phase 1.
• Boulevarde to Airport road reconstruction as Public Ways.
• Bike route linking Surfside,Hummock Pond & Madaket Bike paths via Mill Hill.
• First Way Pedestrian/Bike Access and Road Improvement Safety Project.
Projects in need of advancement,completion or encouragement
• Installation of sidewalk from Prospect St. multi-use path to Upper Vestal Street.
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• Installation of Public Way Monuments: Sconset, Hulbert Ave, Eel Point, Surfside.
• Chapter 91 Public Access License Enforcement.
Long Term Projects and projects on hold
• Nantucket Central Railroad Trail Project.
• Nantucket Greenway and Footpath System.
• East Creek Road viewing platform and CPC grant.
• Work with DPW on maintenance plan for public way monuments.
• Maintenance Plan for West Chester St. Ext. and Crooked Lane.
• Harbor Walk.
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