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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-18-r c, -6�-'� Town and County of Nantucket ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE Meeting of 18 November, 2014 Training 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 4:09 pm. In attendance were Leslie Forbes (arrived at 4:09 pm), Joe Marcklinger (left at 4:38 pm), Allen Reinhard, Bert Ryder (arrived at 4:09 pm), and Lee Saperstein; there was a quorum at all times. C r� Guest: Mike Burns, Transportation Planner rn Absent: D. Anne Atherton, Nat Lowell, and John Stackpole B. The agenda was approved by acclamation; a motion to approve the minutes frpm October 21, 2014, was made by Joe Marcklinger and seconded by Bert Ryder. Approvahwas tmanimous. C. Public Comments. There were no public comments. ' 2. Mill Hill Park: new developments and impact on ways. The report in the Inquirer and Mirror newspaper on statements made by members of the Board of Selectmen on the use of all or portions of 47 Prospect Street, a constituent part of Mill Hill Park, has re- opened public issues over the use of public park land. There is a section in the Massachusetts General Laws, MGL, that says that release of a restriction might require a two - thirds vote of each house of the General Court [Saperstein research suggests tentatively that this comes from MGL Chapter 184, Section 32; this will need to be checked]. Obtaining such a release is a very arduous process and would need support from Annual Town Meeting. Since part of the release of a park restriction would involve re- zoning, a super majority would be needed in Annual Town Meeting also according to Allen Reinhard. According to Allen Reinhard, the new proposal from the Nantucket Cottage Hospital for building a new facility involves two private ways into the Historic Coloured Cemetery. Lee Saperstein passed around a set of maps (Town GIS and Land Court Plans) showing the various ways and Allen Reinhard showed where each of the ways was located. He referred to items in recent meetings where Mike Burns, Transportation Planner, shared with us plans for new paths that will be built or improved through Mill Hill Park and Chicken Hill. He showed the photographs that Mike Burns gave us last time; Mike Burns said that these plans will be ready for review by the Board of Selectmen in December or January. Lee Saperstein said that he was concerned that the public might not know about the significance of the ways to the Historic Coloured Cemetery and the impact that various design alternatives might have on them; therefore he moved and Joe Marcklinger seconded that a letter be written to the Board of Selectmen and to the CEO of the 1 Nantucket Cottage Hospital of our concern for maintenance of access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery. This motion passed unanimously. Lee Saperstein and Allen Reinhard will compose and circulate a draft before anything would be sent. [Action. Saperstein and Reinhard to compose a letter and distribute; Such has happened and the draft is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 1]. Subsequent conversation on this topic extended to alternative locations that would not impact Mill Hill Park. Mike Burns contributed opinions on accessibility, including the problems that would occur should a new facility be built anywhere along Old South Road. 3. Sidewalk Survey Project: Review of data so far and next steps. Lee Saperstein shared a print -out of the Excel file that contains the existing data on streets already surveyed. Previously, he had e- mailed a copy to each committee member. Allen Reinhard talked about our next steps and how we might assemble a final report to the Board of Selectmen. Questions were raised by committee members on streets where cars park on the sidewalk. Mike Burns said that his office is actively looking for alternative car - parking places so this practice could be curtailed.. Allen Reinhard agreed that one section in the final report will address sidewalk parking. He also said that there are still some heavily used downtown streets that need to be surveyed. He believed, also, that some streets should be verified by a second survey performed by another person. Joe Marcklinger suggested that we get out this weekend; he said that he would do Hussey Street. Leslie Forbes offered to help but would like some guidance before setting off on her own. Lee Saperstein said that there are several connector roads such as Pleasant and North Beach that should be included. Allen Reinhard agreed that we also need to look at roads that connect the downtown to Mid - Island. An up -date to the list of priority streets is attached to these minutes (Appendix 2). Streets highlighted in green have been surveyed. Lee Saperstein has offered to meet willing volunteers Saturday morning, November 22nd in town. Center Street is an obvious candidate; so are streets around the wharves and the remaining linking streets such as Cambridge. 4. Railroad trail project update. Lee Saperstein shared Paul McCarthy's proposed sketch of a sign to designate segments of the railroad roadbed that would become historic walking trails; Paul is the principal of Nantucket Carving and Folk Art. The sketch will be part of an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness that will go up to the HDC Sign Advisory Committee. [Note: the application has been submitted.] Committee conversation went around where the posts might go. Lee Saperstein said that there were segments on Town land that could be marked. Allen Reinhard said let's locate several segments that could be marked once we have HDC approval. Where would the posts go? Lee Saperstein said that he will report back with some specific locations. [Note: a list of potential locations was developed for the HDC application and is included as an Appendix 3.] 6. Old, New or other business. 2 Allen Reinhard asked Mike Burns about the status of the in -Town bike path and its possible construction start date. His answer was that the consultants are ready to supply final plans to the Town and thence to MassDOT with the possibility that the request for bids will go out no later than September 2015. MassDOT assembles the total design package, which they will send to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for their review of any historical impacts; they will have 30 days to react. He believes that this entire process will happen in a two -month period; adding up all the blocks of time leads him to believe in a bid date by September and its completion by summer of 2016. In response to a question about combining the path with environmental work on the Goose Pond and construction of large, free - flowing culverts, Mike Burns said that he could only hope that they would be done together. Allen Reinhard gave a quick update on several projects on the list of projects in need of advancement. These are placed below. 7. Adjournment came at 5:25 pm. Next meeting: December 16, 2014, 4:00 p.m., 2 Fairgrounds Road. Roads and Right of Way Committee Outstanding Projects List: Projects Under Way: • Downtown Sidewalk Survey Project • Nantucket Central Railroad Trail Project • In Town Bike Path from Washington St. Ext. to Rotary Projects in need of advancement: • First Way Pedestrian/Bike Access and Road Improvement Safety Project: Grading has been done on First Way to improve road conditions. This represents some progress but more is needed to protect student pedestrian traffic. Mike Burns added that he has consulted with the School Committee about transportation requirements for the construction of new primary school; they are looking at pedestrian access as part of the plan and this includes an upgrade to First Way. Allen Reinhard also asked him about a path around Newtown Cemetery to connect the schools to the shops on Sparks Avenue. He said that he would look into this. • Nantucket Open Space Plan Update: Allen Reinhard also asked Mike Burns if there was any progress on the timing of the release of the plan. Mike Burns said that there had been some delays from the consultants but he expected it soon. • Boulevarde to Airport road takings and reconstruction as Public Ways: This item is on the BOS agenda for tomorrow night. • Installation of sidewalk from Prospect St multi -use path to Upper Vestal Street: This is on the capital projects agenda for approval at Annual Town Meeting. • Bike path linking Surfside Hummock Pond & Madaket Bike paths via Mill Hill • Nantucket Greenway and Footpath System 3 • Spruce Street viewing_ platform: Bert Ryder asked about the potential for construction of the viewing platform. Allen Reinhard said that we're working with PLUS for a platform on East Creek Road. We might be able to use CPC funds that were set aside for a platform. • Surfsidepaper road/abutters way takings • Harbor walk • Update Potential Takings List and process used to evaluate priority for takings Completed projects needing implementation and follow M. • 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 Submitted by Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary. 4 Minutes of November 11, 2014: Appendix 1 Roads and Right of Way Committee Town and County of Nantucket 16 Broad Street Nantucket, MA 02554 November 19, 2014 Libby Gibson, Town Manager Board of Selectmen 16 Broad Street Nantucket, MA 02554 Dr. Margot Hartmann, CEO Nantucket Cottage Hospital 57 Prospect Street Nantucket, MA 02554 Libby, Selectmen and Dr. Hartmann, I am writing to alert you to an issue considered by the Nantucket Roads & Right of Way Committee regarding access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery and possible plans to use a portion of Mill Hill Park as a site for the new hospital. At our November 18 meeting, the Committee, charged with reviewing issues of access to public lands, considered the potential impact on access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery adjacent to hospital property. The way between 47 Prospect Street, a portion of Mill Hill Park, and 57 Prospect Street, the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, while apparently an abutters' way, is the only way to the cemetery that can be managed by a car. There are several other ways, essentially footpaths to the cemetery but they cannot accommodate a vehicle should someone who is disabled wish to visit. The Committee voted unanimously to bring this issue of access to your attention with the hope that designs for this or any other construction option will maintain free and easy access to the Historic Coloured Cemetery. On behalf of the Committee, Allen Reinhard, Chairman Minutes of November 11, 2014: Appendix 2 PRIORITY STREETS TO SURVEY Listed as October 28, 2010 Priority One Broad treet Cambridge Street Candle Street Commercial Street Easton Street Gardner Street Harbor View Way Hussey Street India meet Liberty Street Lily Street North Union Street New Whale Street Salem Street South Beach Street KNOWASY Whalers Lane Winter Street Priority Two: Links to Mid - Island or the Beaches Cliff Road North Beach Street Pleasant Street Union Street Washington Street 0 Minutes of November 11, 2014: Appendix 3 POTENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR NANTUCKET RAILROAD HISTORIC MARKERS Subject to Approval by Land - Controlling Authorities 1. Steamboat Wharf. On separate post or on side of Fast -Ferry Passenger Shed, which is close to the former passenger station of the Railroad. 2. Easy Street Basin. On post. Site of former trestle 3. Easy Street and Main. On building, subject to permission. Club Car bar is original car from the Railroad. 4. Washington Street opposite Fayette Street. On post; NILB parklet is the site of the former car barn and locomotive shed 5. Goose Pond causeway. On post, perhaps in conjunction with other signs to be erected by the Town. 6. Alongside Cape Cod Five at Dave's Street. On post or on bus shelter. Once legalities are cleared, the NILB intends to create a parklet along the route of the railroad. The plan is to place the former Tom Nevers depot at Dave's Street (the Maria Mitchell Aquarium Building) as a bus shelter. 7. At the pedestrian crossing on Old South Road in front of 2 Fairgrounds Road. On post at entrance to railroad road bed that crosses the Wyer's Valley property of the Wannacomet Water Company. 8. At western end of drivable portion of Hinsdale Road by NILB land and park. On post; Hinsdale Road was the maintenance way for the railroad and the road bed is just north of it. The road bed and layout for Hinsdale proceed across the airport in a nearly straight line to Tom Nevers. 9. Intersection of Hinsdale Road and Nobadeer Farm Road. If roadbed is cleared, this post would go at the roadbed. On post. 10. At Bunker Road by Hinsdale Road layout (north entrance to new VFW club parking lot). On post. I I .At intersection of road bed with Russell's Way. On post 12. At end of Gloucester Street, Tom Nevers, where there is a walking trail to the railbed. On post. Lancashire Avenue, which connects the ends of all the roads in new Tom Nevers, parallels the railroad. VA 13. At intersection of Tom Nevers Road and Old Tom Nevers Road within the layout of the roads. On post. This was close to the site of the Tom Nevers depot. 14. At end of Wanoma Way. On post. The railroad roadbed extends from here to Low Beach. 15. At Gully Road, `Sconset. On post. The `Sconset terminus was just east of the footbridge. 16. et al. Others as may be suggested.