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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-9-18T 0Vgid CLE: Town and County of Nantucket ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE 2818 OCT 19 AM 11: 12 Meeting of 18 September 2018 Conference Room of 2 Fairgrounds Road FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES 1. Call to Order, Approval of the Agenda, Approval of Minutes, and Public Comments. A. Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. In attendance were Rick Atherton (4:05 pm), Nelson (Snookie) Eldridge, Leslie Forbes, Nat Lowell, Allen Reinhard, Lee Saperstein, and Stephen Welch (left at 4:46 pm); there was a quorum at all times. Absent: Bert Ryder Guests: Malcolm Condon and Catherine Slattery B. Approval of the Agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously. C. Minutes. Snookie Eldridge moved and Nat Lowell seconded approval of the minutes of the meeting of August 21, 2018, and they were approved unanimously. D. Public Comments. Catherine Slattery, who was joined slightly later by Malcolm Condon, introduced herself and said that she had concerns about a private way behind her house at 261 Madaket Road. It is called Washington Avenue and, according to her, may be a paper road. Her neighbor to the rear at 62 Washington Avenue has made landscaping moves that could be seen as encroachments into the way. She asked specifically whether or not Washington Avenue was a paper road and had it been subject to a "yard sale." She explained that she had been told to approach the Select Board or to come to the Roads and Right of Way Committee for advice. Several members of the committee suggested that the planning experts in PLUS might have more specific information about Washington Avenue. Nat Lowell explained about the elimination of paper roads through the yard sales process. Stephen Welch suggested that she check with experts on public versus private ways, paper versus actual roads, and the status of the way under the derelict -fee statute and then go to your attorney. Lee Saperstein added that if a private road is used for public access, it generally may not be sold in a yard sale. 2. Master list of Public and Private Ways Update: Can the Nantucket Data Platform Help? Allen Reinhard reported that he had talked with Alan Worden about the Nantucket Data Project and whether it could help the Committee in its search for an accurate and revisable list of Nantucket roads and their ownership status, i.e. private versus public. Alan Worden replied that they might be able to help create a system to get this information without reading deeds. Allen Reinhard suggested that Alan Worden check with the leadership of the DPW and PLUS to find out their needs in such a listing of ways. Lee Saperstein mentioned that the Nantucket Fire Department updates its maps regularly from an internet mapping service; he also said that the Town will update its Geographic Information Service, GIS, with a recently conducted aerial survey. 3. Update: Pleasant Street, Prospect Street and Cliff Road Sidewalk Improvements. Allen Reinhard reported that the Town's Traffic Planner, Mike Burns, was still engaged in preparations for the Special Town Meeting and hoped to meet with us soon afterwards. He also reported that the vacant plot on Pleasant Street may soon have a plan for a subdivision. If it does, then the Town's planners could insist that the plan include a multi -use path alongside Pleasant Street. With respect to Prospect Street, he will have a walk -around with Town officials and planners on Wednesday to assess needs for that street. He expects to be able to report on this at the next meeting of the committee. Although there are plenty of ideas on how to create a pedestrian way alongside Cliff Road in the stretch between Highland Avenue and the bicycle path start, we are still waiting an expert assessment from Mike Burns. Lesley Forbes suggested that the sidewalk could be paired with a no -parking requirement. 4. Harbor Walk Latest Plans: Update. Allen Reinhard met with Rachel Hobart of ReMain and Rob McNeil, DPW Director, to discuss the long-term harbor walk plan that has been developed by VHB Consultants for ReMain Nantucket. He had previously sent copies of the short-term and long-term plans to committee members. The former, which involves signage and road striping is nearly completed. The long- term one coincides with the committee's 2008 right-of-way improvement plan and subsequent discussions. ReMain has asked their consultant to determine what hindrances exist to it happening. This information led to committee members talking about individual properties that might be in the way. Allen Reinhard asked for a projected schedule and Rachel Hobart answered that it could be ten years or so. Rick Atherton suggested that we bring the long-term plan up as an agenda item at a future meeting. All agreed that we should recognize ReMain's leadership in developing plans for the walk. 5. Updated Potential Takings List to Select Board and DPW. Allen Reinhard reported that he had checked with the Town Administration on a possible date for our report to the Select Board. In this report, we would give them the updated potential road takings list and the motion for the Town to assume responsibility for a local Chapter 91 Licensing program. He was told that it would come only after the Special Town Meeting on October 10th. Rick Atherton asked if Winn Street is still part of a targeted route for a bike path connecting Milk Street to Madaket Road. Answered that it was, he said, "Let's add that to the comment section on the spreadsheet". The edited spreadsheet is attached to these minutes. 2 6. Projects List Update and Time Lines for Progress. Reminding the Committee that we have a list of potential projects appended to each agenda and minutes, he asked that committee members who have volunteered to guide a project to consider a potential schedule and action steps. For example, this fall, he and Lee Saperstein will complete installation of approved monuments and bring the monuments list that is on the web site up to date. Lee Saperstein said that he would like to see renewed activity on the creation of historic railroad walking paths. Allen Reinhard has talked to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, which controls large stretches of the railbed in the Middle Moors, about this. Also, he said that the Land Bank has some railroad right of way on its lands and they may help open these trails. With respect to the Greenway project, he noted that the Land Bank, in cooperation with Nantucket Boy Scouts, may help to create an east -west route. The Boy Scouts' involvement comes with making a connection across Camp Richard. As mentioned earlier, Leslie Forbes and Lee Saperstein are hopeful that the Town will act positively on our motion for a Chapter 91 home -rule petition. Please provide input for our next meeting. 7. Old, New, or Other Business: Cemetery Access, Member Comments, James Street. Allen Reinhard said that the issue in James Street is the width of the proposed easement or way after land is conveyed back to the abutters. Andrew Vorce has been invited to discuss this item and, given the pressure of the Special Town Meeting, may be with us in October. Nat Lowell reported that Spring Street, which parallels Union Street as it comes around from Orange Street to Consue Springs, has a drainage problem and causes problems for pedestrians walking on the narrow sidewalk alongside the privacy fence. Allen Reinhard added that the Land Bank is considering a sidewalk on their side of Union Street. He will mention this problem to Rob McNeil of the DPW. Rick Atherton said that he hoped that there would be public access along North Mill Street as it went south from Candle House Lane to Prospect Street and Mill Hill Park. Nat Lowell reported that a subdivision plan has been filed for the properties that surround North Mill Street and a ten - foot easement along North Mill for pedestrians will be part of it. Finally, Allen Reinhard reported that we need to solicit one new member for our committee to bring it up to its approved membership of nine. 8. Adjournment. At 5:26 pm, Allen Reinhard announced that we had completed the agenda and suggested that we adjourn. Snookie Eldridge so moved, Nat Lowell seconded, and the members agreed unanimously. The next meeting will be at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2018, in 2 Fairgrounds Road. Roads and Right of Way Outstanding Projects List: Public Way Monument Project: (Lee & Allen & Snookie) • Install remaining monuments at Sconset Footpath, Hulbert Ave. • Update file of existing monuments • Move monuments at Westchester St. Ext. & Crooked Lane Sidewalk Projects: (Allen & Stephen) • Prospect St. (bike path to Upper Vestal St.) and on to Madaket bike path • Cliff Rd. Coffin Park to bike path at Sherburne Tpk. • Pleasant St. Gardner Perry Lane to Williams St. • Follow implementation of downtown sidewalk improvements • Bike/Pedestrian connection from Surfside to Hummock Pond to Madaket paths Harbor Walk Project: (Rick) • Identify route and identify sections needing constructed walkway • Concept drawings of construction required • List permits and approvals needed and process to obtain • Funding Spruce Street (East Creek Rd.) Viewing Platform: (Rick) • Choose site • Review requirements of CPA grant • Develop concept and plan • Permits and approvals • Bids Chapter 91 Monitor Project: (Leslie & Lee) • Define goals for project • Make local license information available on line • Chapter 91 licenses along route for the Harbor Walk • Locate other locations on Nantucket and Madaket Harbors requiring licenses Nantucket Greenway and Trail System Project: (Allen, Lee, Bert) • Nantucket Central Rail Road trail 2 • Map existing island trail and footpath systems and identify missing links • How should maps and information be shared? Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary 5 POTENTIAL ROAD TAKINGS UST, As of September 2018 Traversable Access to Road Status, Public Use Road links Public by Public Traffic Public (pub) or of this Two Public Safety Emergency Abutters' Property Circulation Other Benefits to the General Order Road Private (pvt) Road Roads Concerns Vehicles Requests Including Patterns Public Comments Amelia is private and Ticcoma (to Fairgrounds( is public. Expanding commercial developments and narrow roadways limit two-way traffic and suggest that the taking of Amelia and improvements to both are appropriate. Impending traffic studies will affect future Amelia Drive and 1 Ticcoma Way pvt/pub Yes Yes Moderate Moderate Yes No Heavy priorities Taking private portion and rebuilding will provide public access around Quaker Cemetery to beach bike paths, which is a high priority. Private portion of Winr St. is narrow and this may affect 2 Winn Street pvt/pub Yes Yes Moderate Difficult Yes No Moderate ability to rebuild it. Drainage and maintenance problems; input from abutters; DPW concems that drainage fixes Somerset should be comprehensive to be Road/Friendship 3 Lane complex pvt Yes Yes Moderate Difficult Yes, %age No Light effective. Warren's Landing Light to Access to Warren's Landing and =el 4 Road pvt Yes Yes Slight Moderate Yes, FLA Yes moderate Point; Fisher's Landing Assn Letter L