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.
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Guest: Mike Burns, Transportation Planner
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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
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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.
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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
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• 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.
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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
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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.