Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-10-06-CRC-min RECEIVED SELECTMEN CENTER REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE MEETING 1963 October 6, 1983 The meeting was called to order by Acting-Chairperson Robert Sacco at approximately 12:00 noon. Attending members of the C .R.C . were: Robert Sacco , John Powell , William Gothorpe , Jacqui Bateson, Karsten Sorensen and Laura Nichols Attending members of the Land Use Sub-committee were : Norma Bogen. Attending in the audience were : Robert Bowyer, Wally Ton- aszuck, Angela Frick, residents of Forest Street (including Faye Bussgang, Frank Cavatora, Helen Kilbridge) and residents of Han- cock Avenue (including Sarah Schulman) . The agenda for the meeting was as follows: 1 . Review minutes of the August 5th meeting 2 Report on parking survey 3 . Forest Street Concerns 4 . Appointments 5 . Progress Report/ New Business 6 . Adjournment The minutes of the August 5, 1983 meeting were accepted with corrections . PARKING SURVEY Mr Sacco reported on the findings of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce-Retail Division's parking survey which indicated a shortfall of 222 all-day employee parking spaces . FOREST STREET Mr. Sacco read an excerpt from the minutes of the 8/05/83 C .R.C . meeting relating to this topic . He then read a letter from Julian Bussgang, 2 Forest Street, which had been sent to the Board of Selectmen requesting a NO PARKING regulation on Forest Street between Muzzey and Waltham Street . Mr Sacco explained that the Selectmen decided to refer to the C .R.C . on this request, asking that they reach a decision within 30-60 days . Mr. Tonaszuck spoke about the policy in effect whereby residential streets adjacent to the CBD should be protected. He stated that the regulation which would apply to Forest Street was NO PARKING 6a.m. - loa.m./ 2hr. parking 10a.m. - 6p.m. Mr. Bowyer read a memo concerning Norman Abend's comments on Forest Street which were that Forest Street should remain a two-way street and that parking, if at all , should be limited to one side only. Mr. Sacco asked the residents if they understood the impli- cations of the regulation which would apply to Forest Street, that being that they would have in-and-out parkers as opposed to all- day parkers . Discussion followed and the following comments were brought out: residents voiced the following concerns: speed, visability, heavy volume of traffic , trucks using the street , d 0 ; ri of U -2- driveways being blocked, narrowness of the street making it difficult to pass with cars parked on one side (especially in the winter months . Mr. Bowyer reminded those present that the original parking plan was designed to provide short-term customer parking near the stores which displaced all-day parkers to the residential streets . Mrs . Nichols stated that it 's difficult not to impact residential neighborhoods as business expands . Mrs . Bussgang stated that she would prefer the 2-hr. parkers to the all-day. Mr. Cav- atora stated that he wanted to see a no parking regulation on For- est Street . Mr. Tonaszuck advised that changing the regulation could take up to 3 months , since approval from the state would be required . He suggested that the residents try the 2-hr. regulation before asking the Selectmen to consider a No Parking regulation. Mr. Sacco pointed out that he did not want to see Forest Street made an "exception" by adopting a No Parking regulation, expressing concern about the effect this could have on other residential streets presently operating under the 2-hr. regulation. Richard Michelson asked the C .R.C . to consider where the 14-17 parkers on Forest Street would be displaced to . Mr. Cavatora stated that the residents should not have to shoulder the responsibility for the CBD 's shortfall of parking spaces . Mr. Sorensen echoed these thoughts . Mrs . Bussgang suggested that spaces be reallocated noting that the Edison Way lot is rarely full except at lunchtime . It was also suggested that the 1-hr. meters on lower Waltham Street be changed to 10-hr since they are not being used for short-term parking. Chairman Sacco took a vote on a motion to post the signs on the south side of Forest Street, where the signpasts already exist, to provide for 2-hr. parking from 10a m. - 6p.m. The vote was 5 to 1 in favor. Mr. Sacco thanked the residents for coming and asked that they consider the separate issue of permit parking on Park Drive . APPOINTMENTS Mr. Sacco advised that David Wells has requested that he be appointed to the Parking Garage Sub-Committee . This received unan- imous approval . NEW BUSINESS Mr. Tonaszuck asked the committee to think about how much money he should be asking the Capital Expenditures Committee for parking projects He outlined several plans for Park Drive which, if developed, could add upwards of 54 spaces to the inventory of permit parking spaces . Mr. Bowyer reinforced the idea of fine tuning the parking program. Mr. Tonaszuck said he will have some recommendations at the next meeting. He also reported that 26 new spaces will be available at Meriam Street within a month. Mrs . Schulman asked the Committee if they are looking into making Hancock Avenue a thru-way. Mr. Tonaszuck advised that the DPW is looking into the physical layout of the area . Mr. Sacco stated that if anything was to be done the neighbors would be notified . r -3- The meeting was adjourned at 2:30p.m. Respectfully submitted,2uiJaB eson