PORTSMOUTH
TRAFFIC & SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
8:00 AM – Thursday, January 17, 2002
City Hall - Council Chambers
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Alex Hanson called the meeting to order at approximately 8:00 a.m.
II: ROLL CALL:
Members Present:
City Councilor Alex Hanson, Chairman Charlie Jones, Fire Department
Deputy Police Chief Mike Magnant Herb Bunnell, Member
Steve Parkinson, Public Works Director Ronald Cypher, Member Ralph DiBernardo, Member Ted Gray, Member
III. ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES:
IT WAS VOTED on a Motion by Ted Gray to accept the minutes of the Traffic & Safety Committee (TSC) meeting of November 15, 2001. Seconded by Ron Cypher. Motion passed.
MOTION made by Ralph DiBernardo to accept the proposal as presented with the stipulation that the trees be of a height that does not obstruct traffic and the location of the plantings be approved by the City’s Traffic Engineer. Seconded by Deputy Police Chief Mike Magnant. Motion Passed.
(B)
Foster’s/Athenaeum – Parking Issues – Ladd Street – Ron Cypher referred to the on-site committee review
and noted that the driveway was blocked by a parked car at the time of the
review, which eliminated access to the parking area from the drive.
MOTION made by Ron Cypher to prohibit parking on both
sides of the driveway. Seconded by Ted
Gray.
Discussion by Ralph DiBernardo who considers the situation dangerous as
it obstructs public safety and requested that the Police Department have this
done immediately followed by the Ordinance process.
AMENDED MOTION by Ron Cypher, seconded by Ted Gray to recommend
that the Police Department prohibit parking immediately using emergency powers,
which would be followed by the City Council Ordinance process. Motion
Passed.
(C)
Portsmouth High School – Proposed Expansion – Alumni Drive
– Representatives
of Appledore Engineering, the site designer, McMann Associates, the traffic
engineer and the High School were on hand to present the proposed project. A number of improvements will be made
including the elimination of curb cuts on Alumni Drive and the construction of
a new student drop off area separated from the bus drop off area. Deputy Police
Chief Mike Magnant stated there is a posted sign “Only Buses”. “Parent drop
off” signage will be erected. There will also be new visitor parking areas.
Previous plans for head-in parking in front of the school have been removed and
replaced with 6 parallel handicap spaces.
Charlie Jones of the Fire Department requested that along with the
one-way that the access roads around the easterly and southerly sides of the
building be maintained for fire access with no parking and that the barricades
continue to be placed on Alumni Drive from 6:30 – 7:30am.
MOTION made by Ralph DiBernardo to approve the traffic and
parking pattern as presented with the stipulation that effective immediately,
the School Department provide an appropriate traffic control person at the
opening and closing of school at the two main intersections being Lafayette
Road and Alumni Drive and Summit and South Streets each school day during the
peak period. Further, the access roads
around the easterly and southerly sides of the building shall be maintained for
fire access with no parking. The
barricades will continue to be placed on Alumni Drive to maintain one-way
traffic from 6:30 – 7:30am. Seconded by
Herb Bunnell. Motion passed.
Before taking up the next agenda item Alex Hanson stated that Temple
Israel has requested an additional handicap space on State Street due to the
work that will be going on behind the Temple associated with the City’s Court
Street project. The parking lot will be impacted by the project resulting in
the need for an additional space on State Street.
MOTION made by Ralph DiBernardo to approve the additional
handicap space on State Street as part of the construction project. Seconded by Ted Gray.
Steve Parkinson asked when this action would go into effect. Alex Hanson stated that it should be
installed when the Court Street construction project begins.
(D) Peverly Hill Road – Residential Subdivision – Attorney Bernie Pelech referred to the proposed plans and stated that the required site distance is 246 ft. at 35 MPH and that there is 265 ft. of sight distance. Basically the roadway to the subdivision is a short city street off of Peverly Hill Road designed to City standards with a 50 ft. right-of-way and 32 ft. wide paved surface. He stated that they do not have a problem if the Committee wants to recommend or make an indication to the Planning Board that they feel the 32 ft. is not necessary. Attorney Pelech stated they did make known to the Planning Board that they do not think 32 ft. of pavement is necessary as it is basically a driveway for 2 homes. This started out as a much larger sub-division and was reduced to two lots at the request of the Planning Department. It does meet DOT approval and they are asking this Committee’s approval to go back to the Planning Board next week for final site plan approval and subdivision approval.
Ted Gray stated he was concerned with the site distance for vehicles
traveling north, trying to get out of the driveway, or a truck coming over the
hill traveling fast. There are signs
posted there and additional signs could be placed, or perhaps a flashing yellow
light.
Ralph DiBernardo stated he has real safety concerns and stated he felt
this was the worst possible location to access this property.
Deputy Police Chief Mike Magnant stated that two stealth reports were
done on May 15, 2001 and June 29, 2001, both at the crest of the hill and 85%
speed was 35 MPH and 36 MPH respectively.
The maximum speed was 56 MPH and another at 47 MPH and a minimum at 10
MPH with an average of 35 MPH.
Steve Parkinson asked if the larger subdivision was now totally
dead. Attorney Pelech answered only the
two lots were buildable as there are wet lands there.
MOTION made by Ralph DiBernardo suggesting tabling this
until the next meeting in March when both the applicant’s and City’s traffic
engineers are present. Seconded by
Steve Parkinson. Motion passed.
(E) Kearsarge Way/Market Street Extension – Proposed 100–Room Hotel
Tabled at the request of the petitioner.
(E)
Portsmouth Boulevard and Osprey Drive – Proposed Speed Limits
– This is a new roadway where no speed limits
have been posted.
MOTION made by Michael
Magnant recommending a speed limit of 25 MPH.
Seconded by Herb Bunnell. Motion
passed.
V.
OLD BUSINESS:
(A)
Winchester St. –
Stealth Speed Survey – Referred back to the Police Department and John
Burke to review whether stop sign warrants are met.
(B) Clinton Street - Amy Bernger of 139 Clinton Street was present as a follow up to the traffic issues in the Clinton Street neighborhood. The Committee referred the matter to Deputy Chief Mike Magnant and John Burke to review whether or not stop sign warrants are met. Alex Hanson stated that the report should be brought back for the next meeting.
Alex Hanson explained the stealth speed box to Mrs. Bernger and asked for her opinion as an ideal location for placement of the Stealth speed box to be placed for recording speed. She responded Stark Street. Alex Hanson suggested she come to the March meeting for a report back.
VI. (A) NEXT TRAFFIC & SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING - There will
not be a Traffic & Safety Committee meeting in February.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted: ______________________