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Home My WebLink About2014-7-15-F Tew -�,� U' Town and County of Nantucket COMMITTEE ON ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY Meeting of 15 July 2014 4:00 pm in the Training Room of 2 Fairgrounds Road FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES 1. Call to Order, Approval of the Agenda, and Approval of Minutes is r I A. Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. In attendance were D. Anne Atherton, Leslie Forbes, Nat Lowell, Joe Marcklinger (left at 5:11 pm), Allen Reinhard, Bert Ryder, Lee Saperstein, and John Stackpole; there was 100 - percent attendance and, naturally, a quorum. Guests: Phil Gallagher, Kevin Kuester, and Deborah Timmermann; all are members of the Nantucket Historical Commission, NHC. B. The agenda was approved by acclamation; a motion to approve the minutes from May 20, 2014, was made by John Stackpole and seconded by Joe Marcklinger. The Minutes were approved unanimously. The meeting of June 17, 2014, was canceled for lack of a quorum. There were no comments from guests on issues not on the agenda. 2. Annual Committee Reorganization and Prioritization of Projects. 2.A. Annual Reorganization Chair Reinhard told the group that this was the annual reorganization meeting: the first of the Town's Fiscal Year. As such we would elect officers and review projects to be undertaken in the year to come. John Stackpole, Joe Marcklinger, Nat Lowell all moved for re- election of the current officers; with this number making the motion, the chair accepted that the motion had been moved and seconded. The vote was unanimous and that meant that the officers for FY 2015 were Allen Reinhard, Chair, D. Anne Atherton, Vice - Chair, and Lee Saperstein, Secretary. Chair Reinhard welcomed Leslie Forbes to the committee; she serves also as Vice President of the Madaket Residents Association. Lee Saperstein moved that the committee send a letter of appreciation to Sylvie O'Donnell in recognition of her long years of service to the committee and Nantucket; the letter is attached to the minutes. All members agreed with the motion and the letter was circulated and signed by all. 2.13. Prioritization of Projects, "Roads and Right of Way Outstanding Projects List" (see list at end of the minutes, which was also on the Agenda) Projects Underway: Two of these four projects are agenda items for this meeting and the other two (Open Space and Greenways) will be taken up at a forthcoming meeting. Projects in Need of Advancement: First Wa Project: Allen Reinhard has asked the Department of Public Works (DPW) about creating a dirt footpath along First Way and is waiting for a response. Boulevarde and Connecting Roads: The Board of Selectmen has included a $100,000 allocation for the FY 2015 budget, which would be used for project planning and design. Installation of sidewalk from Prospect St. multi -use path to Upper Vestal Street and Bike path linking Surfside, Hummock Pond & Madaket Bike paths via Mill Hill (these items were taken up together): The Prospect Street sidewalk has had no action nor is any likely. Nat Lowell asked, "Why is that ?" and Allen Reinhard explained that it had to do with the proposed subdivision of land alongside Mill Hill Park. The proposed subdivision will include a paved access road alongside St. Mary's cemetery. This way, along with Mill Hill Lane will provide for a bike path/route that ends up on Hummock Pond Road. Allen Reinhard has talked with Andrew Vorce, Town Planner, about getting the Prospect St. sidewalk back onto the capital projects plan. This sidewalk will allow walkers to proceed from the end of the Mill Hill path to Upper Vestal Street and from there to Winn St and eventually to the Madaket Road. Nat Lowell reminded the committee that there are telephone poles right against the road and they would need to be moved. Allen Reinhard said that he had examined this route some years ago and it would be three poles and one hydrant that need to be moved. D. Anne Atherton recalled attending a meeting of the Capital Program Committee and causing some dismay by the number of us present. She moved that we send a memorandum to Town Manager in favor of this sidewalk and Allen Reinhard agreed. [Action: Letter to Town Manager re: Prospect Street Sidewalk These improvements would work toward linking the three beach bike paths. In Town Bike Path from Washington Street Extension to Rotary: With the indulgence of the committee, we incorporated this item with agenda item 4. "In -town bike path Phase 1 project discussion," to accommodate the schedules of our guests. D. Anne Atherton asked that this go onto the agenda because of new information that had been examined by the Nantucket Historical Commission on options for paving surfaces, i.e. the allowance by MassDoT of soft paving options for bike paths. Because the issue was before the Board of Selectmen (BOS) at their meeting of July 9, 2014, she believed that timing was very short; she had hoped that we could have discussed this before the BOS voted on a draft letter to the State on the design of the path. She felt that we had not discussed "new information ". Because she had sent an e -mail to the Chair asking that we find a way to consider the issue of path surface, she wanted clarification of whether or not the committee had discussed it and, if not, then we should clarify our position on path surfacing. 14 John Stackpole said that he did not think that we should concern ourselves with selection of surface. Allen Reinhard said that he reviewed what D. Anne Atherton had sent to him and felt that it was not necessarily new information. The Land Bank has also looked at surfaces for paths and with this experience he felt that the information given to us by the Town Planning staff earlier was comprehensive. Allen Reinhard felt that a delay of a year bothered him considering the safety implications involved for bicyclists by not acting now. D. Anne Atherton said that the issue was not over his personal opinion but that he had spoken at the BOS meeting for the committee, which had not yet discussed surfaces. She spoke about a revision in Mass rules that might have allowed soft surfaces for rail -to -trail projects. She felt that the committee's credibility was at question. She also found on the Town's web site a 1991 plan that referred to "packed earth" as the surface for this bike path (attached, httj2:// www. nantucket- ma.gov /DocumentCenter /View /5806). Kevin Kuester spoke about his concern with credibility also and that the State might question the design process. More choices are available for the path surface and might not have been considered. Allen Reinhard said that the only missing information is that the DOT would consider soft surfaces on historic paths. Kevin Kuester said that he thought that this information might suggest returning the design to the Conservation Commission. He felt, however, that his personal opinion of choice of surface was not worth revealing. He was not considering a delay but making the path more appropriate to Nantucket's history. Deborah Timmermann said that maybe they were seen as coming out of nowhere but they were interested in doing things in a better way. Allen Reinhard asked what that meant. She wants to be a voice for Island residents who feel that things go on without their input. Kevin Kuester says that it was the applicants' responsibility to bring forward historic information. He had seen no presentation of archaeology and historic layouts. Deborah Timmermann wants this project to be sensitive to its position against the harbor. She felt that a ten -foot width for the path is too broad. John Stackpole wanted to know why the NHC is coming here at the last minute. Deborah Timmermann said that she learned about work on rail trails at Harwich and Watertown in 2011 but did not hear from Mike Burns about plans for the railroad bed until 2013. She felt that the commission, NHC, was learning as it goes. Allen Reinhard suggested that this ended up by delaying things. D. Anne Atherton said that was not the case but that we might have come together if we had talked. Kevin Kuester said that Massachusetts Historical Commission will probably ask that the parties discuss all options before they approve the Nantucket plan. D. Anne Atherton believes that Allen Reinhard made a statement on behalf of the committee to the BOS that did not reflect a vote taken. Nat Lowell said that we must come together to obtain State TIP funding because we do not have a donor as we did for the Hummock Pond path. D. Anne Atherton repeated that she felt that our committee's credibility is at issue. 3 D. Anne Atherton says that she asked in her memorandum to Allen Reinhard (attached) for us to discuss the issue. Lee Saperstein said that the request came too late for Open Meeting Law requirements to discuss before the BOS meeting on Wednesday. D. Anne Atherton replied that her memo to Allen Reinhard was on Monday the 7th and the BOS met on the 9th. If we had acted expeditiously, we could have posted a meeting with the required 48 -hour notice period. She wants the minutes to record that we did not discuss the new information provided by the NHC on surfacing options and she made a motion to this effect. John Stackpole said that a friendly amendment was to indicate that the motion should include the shortage of time and D. Anne Atherton accepted. The Secretary has interpreted her motion as follows: The Committee on Roads and Right of Way records officially that it did not meet to discuss new information provided to it by the Nantucket Historical Commission. Time for a meeting was short but theoretically possible. The vote was one in favor (Atherton), six opposed (Lowell, Marcklinger, Reinhard, Ryder, Saperstein, and Stackpole), and one abstention (Forbes). John Stackpole then moved a retrospective affirmation of the chair's presentation to the BOS, which passed: 6 ayes, 1 nay (Atherton), 1 abstention (Forbes). 3. Downtown Harbor Walk Project Discussion. Allen Reinhard said that Tobey Leske had intended to come to this meeting to discuss the Harbor walk but that he was not here so the discussion would be deferred. He will invite him again. John Stackpole wants to add East Creek Road to the viewing platform issue. He felt that East Creek Road has a better potential for creation of a platform than does Spruce Street, which is on the list. Allen Reinhard will add East Creek Road to the projects list. [Action: Revise the projects list] 4. In -town Bike Path Phase 1 Project Discussion. To accommodate the schedule of the Committee's guests, this item was discussed out of order; see above. 5. Recent Town Takings of Paper Streets and Committee Review. Allen Reinhard, reflecting on past consideration of paper - street takings, asked Andrew Vorce to bring the current set of takings to the committee and Andrew Vorce agreed. Nat Lowell asked, "Which roads are we considering ?" Allen Reinhard said paper roads only, not private ways, and that the purpose was to ensure that we do not lose any opportunities for walking trails or other public use of the paper streets. 6. Core District Sidewalk Survey Project Update. 4 Allen Reinhard asked Lee Saperstein to explain his annotated list (attached). Lee Saperstein said that he wanted committee input on those streets that should be surveyed next and those that may not be surveyed but that should be included in the report because they had no sidewalks but were, nonetheless, used extensively by walkers. Nat Lowell suggested that we include New Lane in the survey. Lee Saperstein asked Chair Reinhard for his suggestions on those streets to be surveyed next [Action: Allen Reinhard to list higher priority streets] and, when he gets the list, he will contact some volunteer surveyors. Nat Lowell also reminded us that John Wagley's petition to add cobblestones is in the hands of the BOS who will need to respond to it. He also said that the curbs on Quince Street were an unfortunate case of being too high. We need to recommend an appropriate construction technique for narrow roads so that we do not have Martins Lane all over town. He said, also, that we must understand that parking on sidewalks was necessary on some streets. Allen Reinhard agreed and said that the report will reflect this parking issue. Nat Lowell also suggested that street projects must include supervision of road - surface reconstruction that the streets and sidewalks are not in worse condition after the project. Nat Lowell asked that we meet downtown so that we could look at some of these issues. D. Anne Atherton said that there was a recommendation from the original sidewalks committee to have a standing advisory committee to review projects. John Stackpole said that we should use the Land Bank conference room and invite Mickey Rowland, Chair of the Commission on Disability. Allen Reinhard said that we should use the September meeting for this discussion. [Action: schedule the meeting of September 16, 2014, at the Land Bank] 7. Old, New or Other Business: Chair Reinhard asked if there any additional old or new business and Lee Saperstein asked that we review the "Potential Road Takings List" so that assessments on the degree of need reflect committee thinking. This will help him to edit the spread sheet that contains the draft list so that it reflects the committee's opinion accurately. Nat Lowell said that the Fishers' Landing subdivision raised issues on these assessments. 8. Adjourn at 5:30 pm. Next meeting: August 19, 2014, 4:00 p.m., 2 Fairgrounds Road. Submitted by Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary R &ROW Committee Outstanding Projects List (as listed on the meeting Agenda): Projects Under Way: • Downtown Sidewalk Survey Project • Nantucket Open Space Plan Update • Nantucket Greenway and Footpath System • Nantucket Central Railroad Trail Project Projects in need of advancement: • First Way Pedestrian/Bike Access and Road Improvement Safety Project 5 • Boulevarde to Airport road takings, and reconstruction as Public Ways • 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 • Spruce Street viewing platform • Surfside paper road/abutters way takings • Harbor walk • Update Potential Takings List and process used to evaluate priority for 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 2 Committee on Roads and Right of Way County and Town of Nantucket 16 Broad Street Nantucket, MA 02554 July 15, 2014 Ms Sylvie O'Donnell 259 Madaket Road Nantucket, MA 02554 Dear Sylvie: Attachment 1 At today's meeting of the Committee on Roads and Right of Way, there was given spontaneously an unanimous vote of thanks for your many years of service on the Committee. Your intimate knowledge of the ways on the western side of our island has been invaluable to the committee's discussions. There are public way markers in Madaket that would not have been there without your valuable input. You are always welcome to the committee's discussions as an honored guest and we hope that you will come by whenever there is a Madaket issue. I am privileged to be able to write this letter on behalf of the Committee. Cc: L. Gibson, Town Manager Yours, Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary 7 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Diane W. B. Coombs, Chairman Carl F. Borchert, Vice Chairman Nancy J. Sevrens, Secretary Bernard D. Grossman Wayne F. Holmes TO: Brian Wiese/ Jeff Willett FR Lee Bourgoin (ir�LB) OM DATE: May 24, 1991 RE: In -Town Bikepath Routes Attachment 2 TOWN OF NANTUCKET Town and County Building Nantucket, MA 02554 Telephone (508) 228- 7255 Fax (508) 228- 7272 Lee Bourgoin, Executive Secretary At the meeting of May 22, 1991 at 7:30 PM, the Board of Public Works approved the initiation of in -town bikepath routes as described by Mr. Wiese at the meeting. The initiation work would consist of signage and work on preliminary routes, including the grading and hardening of a roadside bikepath along the Mill Hill Park. Please coordinate with Mr. Wiese in order to proceed with this work. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 8 In -Town Bikepaths Preliminary Action Plan April 30, 1991 Immediate actions: Standing signs and street stencils: "Bicycle route to..." (Major intersections / route choices) Broad /S. Beach (to Cliff Road, Madaket) s. Beach /Easton Easton /Cliff Centre /Hussey (to Surfside, Madaket, 'Sconset) Hussey /Gardner " n n India /Gardner (back to Town) N. Liberty /West Chester (Oldest House: to Cliff Road, Madaket) Cliff Road /N. Liberty (returning) West Chester /New Lane (to Madaket, surfside, 'Sconset) Main Street /Civil War Monument (to Madaket, Surfside, 'Sconset) Milk Street /New Dollar Lane New Dollar /North Mill Street (to Madaket, Surfside, 'Sconset) Prospect /Mill (returning) Pleasant street /Atlantic Ave. (5 corners: to Surfside, 'Sconset) Pleasant /High Street (returning) Hillers' Lane /Fair Street (returning) Atlantic Ave. /Prospect /Sparks (at High School: to Surfside, 'Sconset) * Milestone Rotary ('Sconset, Polpis, Airport) Old South Road/ Fairgrounds (to Surfside) Washington Street /Main street Washington Street Extension Orange Street /Goose Pond Lane Future actions: I Packed earth bikepaths: Washington Street extension, across old railroad bed, meeting Orange Street at Goose Pond Lane. (Need Con Com determination)_ Prospect street -- Mill Hill Park. Need easements across Nantucket Cottage Hospital property to Vesper Lane. Vesper Lane -- Holdgate's to Surfside. Sidewalk repairs, curb cuts: Sparks Avenue: curb cuts, patch or repave, move phone poles, guy wires. Fairgrounds Road: repave, widen or add separate bikepath. Orange Street: Extension from East Creek Road to Polpis Bikepath. Survey and construct: Survey Town land on creeks for bikepath extension from Goose Pond Lane /Spruce Street to East Creek Road, to connect with orange StreetjPolpis Bikepath. (Note from Secretary: The 2014 transcription has altered some formatting but not the wording) 10 Attachment 3 From: danneatherton@comcast. net [ mailto :danneatherton @comcast.net) Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 7:09 AM To: Reinhard Allen Cc: Saperstein, Lee W. Subject: **TIME SENSITIVE ** OUT OF TOWN BIKE PATH OUT OF TOWN BIKE PATH New information about possible design and surfacing of proposed out -of -town bike /multi -use path has been obtained by the Nantucket Historical Commission. Please see message and attachment from Kevin Kuester below. As this project has been a priority for the R &ROW Committee, in addition to our historic RR Walk, I think it should be brought to the attention of the committee ASAP, don't you? I believe the matter in on the agenda for the NP &EDC meeting this evening at 6:00 as an action item, as well as the BOS on Wednesday. For NP &EDC agenda go to http://www.nantucket - ma.Tov /AaendaCenter /V iewFile /Item/1642 ?fileID =2202 How to proceed? Thanks. D. Anne COPY: LEE/RR WALK Begin forwarded message: From: Kevin Kuester <kevinkuester�D-gmail.com> Subject: Message NHC Alert Date: July 6, 2014 at 5:06:06 PM EDT To: Kevin Kuester <kevinkuester(D-gmail.com> 11 NHC Alert door The Nantucket Historical Commission is seeking time to gather full and accurate information for its decision making process. Please read the attached document and if possible attend the BOS meeting this Wednesday July 9th 6:00 PM 4 Fairgrounds. Please forward to interested parties. Thanks D. Anne Atherton 48 Squam Road PO Box 3126 Nantucket MA 02584 508 228 1060 danneatherton@comcast.net 12 Attachment 4 Roads & Right of Way Committee, Sidewalk Survey Proiect Alphabetical Street list of Public Ways in the Survey District (Note: not all public ways have sidewalks) Academy Lane *Franklin Street #Rays Court #Ash Lane Gardner Street #Rose Lane Ash Street South Beach Street *Atlantic Avenue #Green Lane South Mill Street #Back Street Harbor View Way South Water Street *Bathing Beach Road High Street Salem Street ?Beach Avenue #Hillers Lane School Street #Beaver Street *Hooper Farm Road #Sea Street #Bloom Street Howard Street #Silver Street Broad Street Hussey Street *Sparks Avenue #Brocks Court India Street #Spring Street *Cabot Lane #Jefferson Lane SIM Lane Cambridge Street *Joy Street Candle Street #Judith Chase Lane Summer Street #Candlehouse Lane Liberty Street #Traders Lane CenterStreet Lily Street #Twin Street #Charter Street #Lowell Place Union Street *Cherry Street #Lucretia Mott Lane *Vesper Lane C4 eer Street #Lyon Street Vestal Street Chestnut Street Main Street West Chester Street Cliff Road Martins Lane *West Creek Road Cobble Stone Hill #Meader Street #West Dover Street #Coffin Street Milk Street *West York Lane #Coon Street Mill Street #Warren Street #Copper Lane *Mt. Vernon Street Washington Street *Cornish Street #Mulberry Street *Washington Street Ext. Commercial Street *North Beach Street #Wesco Place #Darling Street North Liberty Street Westminster Street *Daves Street North Union Street #Weymouth Street *Derrymore Road North Water Street Whalers Lane #Eagle Lane #New Dollar Lane *Williams Lane #East Dover Street *New Lane *Winn Lane East York Street New Street Winter Street Easton Street New Whale Street York Street Easy Street Oak Street Fair Street Orange Street #Farmer Street Pine Street #Fayette Street Pleasant Street * Not in ROH Federal Street Plumb Street #No sidewalk *First Way Prospect Street (Street added to list) #Flora Street Quaker Road ? Not on GIS Francis Street Quince Street 13