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APPROVED
Chilmark Planning Board Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, May 22, 2017
Present: Janet Weidner, Chair, Peter Cook, Joan Malkin
Not Present: John Eisner
Public: Max King, Tim Rich
Staff: Jennifer L. Christy
Meeting called to order at 3:04PM:
- Menemsha Master Plan: Tim Rich, former and interim Police Chief
- Mr. Rich addressed the sand that piles up in the lot and if this sand was regularly swept and controlled then the cars would park closer into the edge of the beach dune/sand and in a more clean way.
- Mr. Rich addressed the need to keep cars moving and the traffic flowing.
- Mr. Rich addressed the need to take a look at the organization of the spots in the center of the beach parking lot so that they are easier to enter and exit as well as maximized to fit as many cars as possible.
- Mr. Rich suggested reviewing the parking area across from and parallel to the Homeport Restaurant. He suggested that chevron parking may be more useful than what is there now.
- Mr. Rich addressed the issue of cars driving down to the Galley to turn around and/or patronize the Galley.
- Mr. Rich counseled against the establishment of an emergency parking spot since there has never been a problem with emergency vehicles getting into and addressing needs in Menemsha. Discussion occurred about this topic. Mr. Rich explained that a dedicated spot for emergency/law enforcement vehicles would be a wasted space due to the main fact that the space may not be convenient to the emergency and the spot has not been needed in the many years that he was Chief of Police. Mr. Rich stated that he would defer to the Fire Chief and Emergency Service Chief on this topic due to the fact that he was last Chief seven years ago and things have changed. Mr. Cook suggested placing only emergency vehicles in the center area and eliminating the parking spaces there. Ms. Malkin suggested possibly a hybrid of this idea that
eliminated only 7-10 spaces in the center of the lot. Ms. Weidner stated she thought it would be a “hard sell” to propose the elimination of many parking spaces in the center. Mr. Rich suggested, if the members are set on making a spot for emergency vehicles, that it might be placed abutting the gas station on the north side where there is a picnic table and would therefore allow for reconfiguration as needed.
- Mr. Rich reiterated the need for better flow in the area of the Home Port. He stated that Will Holtham at one time had been open to the idea of traffic flow through the Home Port parking lot.
- Mr. Rich stated that when he was Chief he had scheduled three parking officers to Menemsha with one on a bike and, at the time, this arrangement worked. However, the type of visitor may be changing (from a month or summer long stay to shorter stays for example) and this may have had an effect on the knowledge of visitors to Menemsha of the parking possibilities.
- Mr. Rich suggested that the signage and information about the off-site parking area needs to be better. He suggested that a person at the top of North Road, before heading down into Menemsha, be stationed so that drivers could be informed of the off-site parking area availability. Discussion occurred about the possibilities for better signage and informing visitors of the park ‘n ride off Tabor House Road.
- Mr. Rich suggested that a sign could be placed at the Crossroad/ North Rd. intersection that could say “Lot Full”, and a directional symbol pointing towards parking at the off-site Tabor House Park ‘n Ride. Mr. Rich stated that it may be helpful if even 2/3rds of drivers/visitors divert to the Park ‘n Ride lot instead of heading down to Menemsha.
- Discussion occurred about how visitors could be informed of how often the VTA buses go back and forth from the Community Center and the Tabor House Park ‘n Ride and therefore maybe be more likely to utilize the bus.
- Mr. Rich suggested that sidewalks on Basin Road and abutting the Greenebaum property be considered. He also suggested better lighting in the existing dark spots.
- Mr. Rich stated that making smaller spaces for motorcycles in the Menemsha parking lot may be helpful.
- Mr. Rich stated that the new fishing party boat with a possibility of 30 people using the boat twice a day may have a detrimental effect on the availability of parking. Ms. Malkin stated she would address the issue of whether these boaters would be required to use the Park ‘n Ride lot with Selectmen. Mr. Rich suggested that the VTA shuttles to the Park ‘n Ride and back are coordinated with the boat trips.
- Ms. Weidner summarized what point the subcommittee is at in regards to the completion of a master plan. Ms. Malkin volunteered to write up the discussion with Mr. Rich in order to provide to Chief Klaren and the traffic consultant that will be visiting the Town on June 8, 2017.
- Mr. Cook stated that lighting/illumination in Menemsha and the topic of the 40 foot right of way parallel to the Home Port are at least two topics that the subcommittee had not heard yet.
- Menemsha Master Plan: Max King’s VTA Bus #12 Map, Discussion:
- Ms. King presented a revised map of Menemsha that shows the in-Menemsha area more clearly and larger as compared to the island shape. The subcommittee noted the need to:
- Refine the colors of the map bus routes and change the yellow to a different color.
- Show that there are buildings in the center of Chilmark, but it is not needed to identify specific business.
- Show where the ATM machines are.
- Include a Legend and identify that this map is a welcome to Chilmark’s Menemsha.
- Show specific types of things as symbols much like the VTA map utilizes symbols.
- ATM
- Bathroom
- Market
- Restaurant
- Bus Stop
- Highlight the Menemsha Area detail map and make it the primary area of the map.
- Ms. King suggested that a legend on a map can present some readability difficulties and symbols can project a more corporate feel and less of a Menemsha feel.
- Discussion occurred about the development of a map with a separate legend that provides a key to more information that a traveler may access if desired.
- Ms. King encouraged the subcommittee to envision the map at 5 ft. long which is what it would be at the bus stop at the Park ‘n Ride lot off Tabor House Road.
- Ms. Malkin asked if Ms. King could produce a map to size so that the subcommittee could gain an understanding of what the visitor/travelers may experience.
- Ms. Malkin also noted changes to the dotted line.
- Mr. Cook suggested eliminating the word Chilmark in the center of the map. He also stated that the map, when enlarged, may not need a legend.
- Ms. King stated that she wanted to maintain the playfulness of the map, but would be willing to include a few symbols in a small size.
- Mr. Cook stated his feeling that the areas should either be named or be identified with a symbol. Discussion occurred. Mr. Cook suggested that actual names personalizes the area a bit. The subcommittee stated that the center of Chilmark should have the symbols that are utilized in the Menemsha map area.
- The subcommittee reiterated that the symbols need to be consistent between the symbols that are on the center of Menemsha and the center of Chilmark.
- Ms. King agreed to attend the next meeting of the subcommittee on June 5, 2017 to present a final draft of the map for consideration.
- Ms. Christy read the email from Ms. Barbara Armstrong and the subcommittee asked Ms, Christy to contact Angie Grant to see if she would provide the data that Ms. Armstrong has requested be sent to the consultant.
- The minutes from May 8, 2017 were not reviewed.
Adjourned at 4:29PM.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer L. Christy
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