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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-3-18Town and County of Nantucket COMMITTEE ON ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY RECEIVED Meeting of 18 March 2014 m4 r,9Y 22 P n 1P, 53 4:00 pm in the Training Room of 2 Fairgrounds Road 1IMITUCKETTO'h'i11 CLER" FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES 1. Call to Order, Approval of the Agenda, and Approval of Minutes 'L7� A¢ A. Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. In attendance were D. Anne Atherton, Joe Maroklinger, Sylvie O'Donnell, Allen Reinhard, Bert Ryder, Lee Saperstein, and John Stackpole; there was a quonun. Not in attendance: Nat Lowell Guests: Leslie Forbes, vice-president of Madaket Association, Elise Linscott, I & M, Charlie Walters, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee B. The agenda was accepted unanimously after a motion made by D. Anne Atherton and seconded by Joe Marcklinger. There were no comments from guests on issues not on the agenda. C. Approval of minutes from February 18, 2013. Approved by acclamation 2. Core district sidewalk survey project: Survey form, sample results and neat steps. Chair Reinhard reminded the committee that at our last meeting we talked about how we would proceed with the sidewalk survey. Joe Marcklinger, Allen Reinhard, and Lee Saperstein would test the trial form devised by Lee Saperstein. During the trial period, Allen modified the form and Lee used Allen's modifications to revise the form yet again. The final version of the form was distributed electronically to the committee members and is also attached to these minutes. Joe Marcklinger surveyed Academy, Quince, and Gay Streets. He indicated that the form worked well but without detailed knowledge of the road boundary, it might be difficult to determine the actual right of way and, thus, encroachments. He used Allen Reinhard's form and found that it was a little crowded. Allen Reinhard surveyed from Straight Wharf to Caton Circle (Quaker Road) and back on Main Street. Lee Saperstein surveyed Orange Street from Back Street to Main and back again to Spring Street. Allen Reinhard said that he had looked at Lee's revisions to the form and that it contained spaces for all needed information and was more spacious. Chair Reinhard suggested that the purpose of the project was to identify truly bad places: impassable encroachments, treacherously poor surfaces, places where poor maintenance has made them unsafe, etc. Areas that have been rated with scores of one and two would not be a problem; higher scores, i.e. in bad condition, would represent sidewalks that need attention today. These should be reported promptly to the DPW. Compilation of information onto a single report would be of value. Lee Saperstem said that he would put the information onto an Excel spread sheet. Allen Reinhard said that he would ask Nathan Porter, Town IT, to create a sidewalk map onto which we could impose the respective scores from the survey. Joe Marcklinger asked about streets with no sidewalks or with walks on which parking is tolerated. Lee Saperstein said that this was an excellent question and suggested that we give these streets poor scores and then identify them specifically in the report along with a recommendation about how to provide signage or policies for these streets. He also asked whether or not we will comment about streets with car encroachments that prevent ADA access. D. Anne Atherton suggested that data entry needs to be done is such a way that the work will be useful. She asked if we can obtain funds to pay for a data -entry person? Joe Marcklinger commented that a spread sheet is easy, while Bert Ryder suggested that the proposed sidewalk map may be the tool that we need. D. Anne Atherton said that she thought that the purpose of the survey was to identify encroachments accurately. Lee Saperstein said that he used a tape measure and his observations were accurate to within an inch; Allen commented that he used a tape also. Both Allen Reinhard and Joe Marcklinger said that the form's comment section was useful for noting encroachments. Allen Reinhard said that he had found a substantial privet encroachment on Centre St. Joe Marcklinger suggested that, for accuracy and to identify responsible parties, eventually we will need to find property boundaries. Allen Reinhard then asked, "What's next?" Joe Marcklinger said that he had identified a volunteer. Allen indicated that many people in the community had approached him to say that they are interested and could be coupled as volunteers. Lee Saperstein said that we need a street list on which we can post volunteers' names. Allen agreed and said that he will get a GIS person to create a list. Charlie Walters, guest, said that he is on the bicycle committee chaired by Jason Bridges and that he would be pleased to provide liaison between the two committees; he will share the blank survey form with the bicycle committee. In response to a question of how long this all will take, Allen and Lee both said that they had done their streets in two hours. Lee repeated that he will do data entry onto the spread sheets. He will start with the three sets that he has now but, eventually, will need to receive survey sheets as they are completed. This means the recruitment of additional volunteers and giving them blank copies of the forms. As data are entered onto a master spread sheet, it will be easy to see which streets have been done. Joe Marcklinger asked, inasmuch as we have been talking about encroachments into the sidewalk, what is the status of our proposed encroachment policy? Allen Reinhard said that it is still in the hands of Kara Buzanoski, Director of the DPW. D. Anne Atherton said that we are still waiting for progress on takings of the lateral ways on Baxter Road. She thought that it would be a good idea to invite Kara Buzanoski and Andrew Voice to future meetings of our committee. Allen Reinhard said that he has a meeting scheduled in two days with Kara Buzanoski and Libby Gibson and will bring up the issue of stalled materials. 3. Review Outstanding Projects List: Status update and priorities Allen Reinhard said that we won't spend a lot of time on this topic but he wanted to identify projects in need of advancement (see list below). First Way is a prime issue and an example of things that are badly in need of action. The discussion focused on how to get action now. For First Way, we should not wait for a complete project; first aid is needed now. All of these projects on which we have offered advice share Town involvement. We believe that our high priority projects are important; how do we apply pressure? Bert Ryder said, though, that we are an advisory board. Allen Reinhard responded that this is true but that our reports can include information on delays. D. Anne Atherton asked if we have too many projects and should we rank them and work only on the top three per year? Sylvie O'Donnell wanted to know how much pressure should we apply. Lee Saperstein suggested that we report to the Board on a regular basis, perhaps once every two months. Allen Reinhard said that the last time he reported he used the public comment period. John Stackpole suggested that we go beyond public posting of our minutes and send each Selectman a copy. Joe Marcklinger said that we should be regular attendees at Board meetings. D. Anne Atherton, in a repeat of something said at our previous meeting, that we should go to the School Committee for joint action on First Way. They meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 pm. Allen Reinhard agreed to talk with Andrew Vorce about a public schedule of actions. D. Anne Atherton suggested that we ask a Board member to meet with us so that we can share our frustrations. 4. `Sconset bluff discussion: Beach and road access memo to BOS. At our last meeting D. Anne Atherton asked the committee to consider issues of access to the beach below the `Sconset bluff in light of the erosion - control project there. The committee had asked her to draft a letter to the Board of Selectmen that described her concern. She drafted such a letter and gave copies to members present; she had also sent copies to the members of the Committee electronically. She said that Lee Saperstein had suggested a modification that kept the letter focused on issues of access and it is now included. She read out the modified last paragraph. Joe Marcklinger asked if there is too much about erosion control that overwhelms the concern for public access? The response was that the modification brought attention back to public access. Allen Reinhard said that, in his opinion, the letter rightly reminds the BOS of the promise made in the Memorandum of Understanding between the `Sconset Beach Preservation Fund, SBPF, and the Town to re- install the footpath; the acquisition of the One Big Beach easements is also good. John Stackpole moved that we forward this letter to the Board of Selectmen and Sylvie O'Donnell seconded the motion. The committee members were unanimous in favor of the motion. Allen Reinhard will transmit the letter to the Board of Selectmen; it is also attached to these minutes. 5. Nantucket RR Trail: NHA Food for Thought presentation March 27 Lee Saperstein said that the information was correct and that the NHA Food for Thought series takes place on Thursdays in the shoulder season and that it is free for all comers. He showed Bert Ryder's sketch of a proposed sign to be used to mark the route of the railroad when we start to open up this historic trail. A copy of the talk was circulated. 6. Hooper Farm Road status and proposed Sachem's Path development. Allen Reinhard said that residents along the dirt portion of Hooper Farm Road, which is the southerly portion that intersects Surfside Road, had indicated their concern that the road will become more heavily used after the Affordable Housing 40B Project, Sachem's Paths Development is built and occupied. They are also concerned that there will be a demand to pave the road and, consequently, displace today's traffic route along Surfside Drive to Hooper Farm Road. They see the potential for an unsafe increase in traffic density. Bert Ryder, who is completing a home on this road, said that the Zoning Board of Appeals is the only authority that controls development of 40B projects. Allen Reinhard acknowledged that owners have concerns; given that we have the remit to give advice, should we consider this? At the moment, since there is no Town plan under discussion, the answer is no but we will keep an eye on it. 7. Old, New or other business: First Way condition and situation. The Committee has already discussed our concerns for lack of progress with First Way but we should all think of a strategy to get more action from the Town. There was no other new business. S. With the agenda completed, the committee to adjourn at 5:20 pm . Next meeting: April 15,2014,4:00 p.m., 2 Fairgrounds Road. R &ROW Committee Outstanding Projects List: Proiects Under Way: • Downtown Sidewalk Survey Project • Nantucket Open Space Plan Update • Nantucket Greenway and Footpath System • Nantucket Central Railroad Trail Project • Harbor walk • Update Potential Takings List and process used to evaluate priority for takings Proiects in need of advancement: • Installation of sidewalk from Prospect St. multi-use path to Upper Vestal Street • Bike path linking Surfside, Hummock Pond & Madaket Bike paths via Mill Hill • In Town Bike Path from Washington St. Ext to Rotary • First Way Pedestrian/Bike Access and Road Improvement Safety Project • Boulevarde to Airport road takings, and reconstruction as Public Ways • Spruce Street viewing platform • Surfside paper road/abutters way takings Completed projects needing implementation and follow up: • Access to Sconset Footpath, maintenance and signage • Work with DPW on maintenance plan for public way monuments and trails • Oversight of maintenance West Chester St. Ext., Crooked Lane and Cathcart Road • Chapter 91 Public Access License Enforcement: Harbors Plan Implementation