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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-3-19Town and County of Nantucket ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE Meeting of 19 March 2019 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 4:02 pm. In attendance were Rick w - Atherton, Nelson (Snookie) Eldridge, Leslie Forbes (4:10 pm, left at 5:15 pm), Ed Gillum, Nat; Lowell, Allen Reinhard, Bert Ryder (4:17 pm), and Lee Saperstein; there was a quorum at all`' times. Guest: William Grieder, Colleen Whelden, Harold Whelden, and Lily Whelden. B. Approval of the Agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously. C. Minutes. Approval of the minutes of February 19, 2019, was moved by Nat Lowell, seconded by Snookie Eldridge, and approved unanimously. D. Public Comments. The Whelden Family asked if they could speak during the agenda item about Washington Avenue and they were told that they were welcome to do so. Allen Reinhard announced that the next committee meeting would be on April 22, 2019. 2. Latest update: Washington Ave. and Baltimore St. in Madaket. Allen Reinhard said that he had been to Madaket and looked at the conditions on Baltimore Street and then introduced the Whelden family, who live at the end of Baltimore Street. Harold Whelden informed the committee that the road between the Madaket Road and Washington Avenue is blocked by a construction dumpster and, as we had noted before, that the traveled way is not in the road layout. Allen Reinhard also commented that the road is a private way, while Nat Lowell pointed out that land on either side is registered in the Land Court. Allen Reinhard asked Harold Whelden what they would like to see happen to Baltimore Street. His response was essentially to open the road to travel. He is concerned about access for long vehicles such as towed boats and fire engines that require adequate clearance at intersections to make turns. Nat Lowell asked that a copy of the Town's GIS be placed on the screen in the conference room and then pointed out the issues it. Colleen Whelden and Lily Whelden each made contributions that reinforced the family's interest is unfettered access. Lee Saperstein suggested that they ask the DPW to apply the Town's encroachment policy on Washington Ave as the quickest way to get access. He noted that it would take a lot longer to get action if they asked the Town to widen the pavement on Washington Avenue. William Grieder pointed out the severity of the encroachments that could be seen on Washington Avenue when using Google Maps instead of the GIS. Nat Lowell suggested that the neighbors meet with Rob McNeil, perhaps on site, to discuss the potential for relieving the encroachment. Proper clearances within the layout of Washington Avenue would provide access for long vehicles; Allen Reinhard agreed with this suggestion. Returning to the blockage of Baltimore Street, Rick Atherton pointed out that fire trucks would need to travel down Washington Avenue to reach the northwestern end of Baltimore Street. If we cannot get this, then there may be an argument for taking the short stretch of Baltimore Street. The street has been open to passage for decades, which may imply a granting of public access along it. In closing discussions, Nat Lowell reminded the committee that construction has caused the blockage on Baltimore Street and Leslie Forbes remembered that we first learned about this issue from NRTA who foresaw problems this summer with access for the Madaket bus. Nat Lowell said that ultimately this may be an issue for Town Counsel. Allen Reinhard summarized several key points: encroachments on Washington Avenue may be dealt with by the DPW with whom they should meet, preferably on site; ownership of private ways is held by abutters, normally to the center of the way; considerations of taking a private way need to be discussed with Town Management. [Action: The Whelden Family will ask DPW Director, Rob McNeil, to meet with them at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Washington Avenue and Allen Reinhard will inform Town Management of the concerns for blocking the two ways.[ 3. Potential Takings List Discussion. Allen Reinhard asked if we should add Millbrook Road to the Committee's potential road taking list. Marty McGowan's presentation a few months ago brought the issue back to us; at one time, it was on the list. After his presentation, however, we have not heard back from him. Are there any other roads that should be added, he asked. Nat Lowell suggested that we look again at Woodbury Lane. Allen Reinhard stated that it, and other roads in the subdivision, are controlled by the same person who controls the paved portion of Winn Street. We will keep a watch on it. Allen Reinhard asked that we return the discussion to Millbrook Road. Nat Lowell presented two conditions that were acceptable to him. If the road were maintained privately and not paved, that would be OK. If it were taken and become public, it should be maintained to a passable state but not be paved. There is concern that the road would become a "cut -through" if it were paved. Rick Atherton said that the real issue is maintenance. If the Town takes it then they have to maintain it. As a first step, the Town should put the onus on the abutters for maintenance. Alternatively, they should be encouraged to create a homeowners association. Lee Saperstein said that the reality is that it is already a cut -through. Rick Atherton said that, other than Marty McGowan, we appear not to have heard from other abutters. We do not really know the attitude of the majority of owners. Lee Saperstein commented that we would need to know the Fire Department's concern, if any, for access to emergency vehicles. Nat Lowell said that, as far as we know, there are no infrastructure issues on Millbrook. Allen Reinhard said that we need to hear from Marty McGowan before we try to reach consensus. Incidentally, other than Baltimore Street (item 2. above)we have not heard any other suggestions for a taking. 2 4. Pleasant Street and Prospect Street sidewalk Update. With respect to 57 and 61 Pleasant Street, a substantial property with no sidewalks, Allen Reinhard has met with Jill Lentowski, Rob McNeil, and Andrew Vorce about this property. Jill Lentowski is a cousin to the three owners. This segment of Pleasant Street has no sidewalks, which makes walking unsafe. Lately, Allen Reinhard met with one of the property owners who said that the family is sympathetic to a sidewalk. The owner said that Rob McNeil should create a plan for a sidewalk to present to the owners. Allen Reinhard said that walkers along Prospect Street will have relief when the Bike path over Mill Hill Park is built. Ed Gillum asked if we had discussed sidewalks along Cliff Road and North Liberty Street by Gingy Lane. Allen Reinhard replied that we had discussed Cliff Road in particular but that our discussions are on hold while we await installation of sewer and water along those streets. Lee Saperstein noted that we should be watching these infrastructure projects because they will affect road repaving. 5. Historic Coloured Cemetery access issue. Allen Reinhard stated that access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery from the new hospital grounds is being looked at by the Cemetery Commission and this committee. The engineers and managers for reconstruction at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital promise to create access from their roadway, which was an aagreement made in 2015, when the committee acceded to a transfer of an un -named way between the Hospital and the Cemetery to the Hospital so as to increase its land holding and, thus, be incompliance with zoning -required setbacks. They propose to mark the parking spaces alongside the fence for ambulances and cemetery visitors and then create a footpath from there to the cemetery. Rick Atherton suggested that the Committee encourage the Land Bank to open up a path from Vesper Lane. Allen Reinhard reminded the group that the North Mill entrance is still there and has been brush cut for access. 6. Prospect Street, Pleasant Street, and Cliff Road Sidewalk Update. These items were discussed in Agenda Item 4. 7. Old, New or Other Business: Member Comments. Lee Saperstein reminded the committee that we have an outstanding written request of the Select Board for them to request delegation of authority from the State for management of the Chapter 91 (Waterways) licensing process. Allen Reinhard welcomed William Grieder, whose application to join the committee as its ninth member is under consideration by the Select Board and he fully expects him to be a member at our next meeting. 8. Adjourn, The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 pm by acclamation. The next meeting will be at 4:00 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2019. Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary ' M/- ` Date Roads and Right of Way Outstanding Projects ist: 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) • 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 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, Burt) • Nantucket Central Rail Road trail • Map existing island trail and footpath systems and identify missing links • How should maps and information be shared? 4