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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-28-TMG-minMinutes for Traffic Mitigation Group Meeting November 28, 2006 Members Present: Richard Canale, David Cannon, Jeanne Krieger, Sudhir Murthy, Scott Schilt, Judith Uhrig, Gail Wagner. The Traffic Mitigation Group (TMG) met on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 9:30 AM in Room 111 of the Town Office Building. The following summarizes the discussion. Article XII Updates ➢ The latest version of the by -law is based on input received from the TMG and the Planning Board, and additional research about other by -laws. A guideline for developers describing how the by -law should be implemented is in the initial stages of preparation. ➢ The Planning Board suggested developing a checklist to weed out projects that require a special permit but would not require a transportation analysis, or an assessment of a few components. The checklist would be used at a pre - application conference to determine what would be required. A draft was distributed that consisted only of elements Scott Schilt had brainstormed. More input is needed. D It was noted that a pre - application conference is a good idea, even for small projects. It would help to provide guidance on expectations. The key aspect to consider is to ensure fairness and consistency, and to establish a basis for granting waivers. The checklist could help to facilitate this process. ➢ The Group discussed when mitigations should be required. It was noted that some problems in the network do not necessarily need to be corrected, as congestion or confusion in right -of- way designs often creates safer conditions as drivers are forced to slow down and be more alert. If was suggested that there should not be a "golden rule" for when infrastructure improvements are needed. D The legality and potential challenges to require compensatory mitigations was questioned, and should be investigated further. D It was noted that the pre- application conference and review by applicable boards and commissions is needed to ensure that parameters are set prior to projects going to Town Meeting. Developers should have a clear understanding of what is expected before entering into negotiations. Formulas should determine values for requested mitigations. Clearly defined expectations would allow for a smoother process to negotiate improvements. ➢ The parking section of the By -Law should be reviewed to make sure it supports revisions to Article XII. It was noted that some communities use maximum parking ratios rather than minimums to encourage use of alternative modes. Arlington was cited as an example. ➢ It was suggested that the standards for mitigations should be to either make improvements or contribute to the town's costs. Design of improvements should be consistent with the Town's standards or with the new MassHighway guidelines. D It was questioned about how standards could be applied to contributions for LEXPRESS. It was explained that LEXPRESS routes are based upon service needs, which serves areas not served by the MBTA. It is hard to determine how to make LEXPRESS an equitable factor in requiring mitigations given the hub -based route system and the need to ensure convenient connections are provided for users. D Mitigation requests must consider the per user costs, and must ensure that services are available for people that do not have automobiles. ➢ It was questioned about the legality of requesting mitigation from developers for improvements in other areas of the town. It was noted that mitigation could be based on the traffic generated by the development and the dispersion of the trips. It would have to have a rational nexus to demonstrate that the trip generation would somehow tie into the overall traffic network in town. Updates ➢ The Town has received copies of the studies done by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) for Hanscom AFB which recommend improvements to Hartwell Avenue among other roads in the region. It was noted that the studies were done for the BRAC decision - making, and MassPort was a driver of the process. Some of the findings in the studies may be inflated. Scott will prepare a summary of the elements of the report that apply to Hartwell to distribute to the TMG, as the reports are too large to e -mail. ➢ A presentation by Metropolitan Area Planning Commission of the study of the Trapelo Road Corridor in Belmont/Waltham /Lexington will be held on December 13 at 5:00 PM at Cary Hall. This will be an opportunity for Lexington to have a voice in the study's recommendations. Next Meetings ➢ Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 9:30 AM. > Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 9:30 AM. Minutes submitted by Scott Schilt, Senior Planner on November 29, 2006.