The Internal Traffic Committee met in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room at 78 Main Street, Hudson, Massachusetts. At 10:00 the Committee called the meeting to order.
Present: Chief Richard Braga, Chief Fred Dusseault, DPW Director Tony Marques, and Building Inspector Jeff Wood
Street Light Request
Present: Carl Lembo, 125 Brook Street
Mr. Lembo explained that he lives on a very dark stretch of road approximately halfway between Chestnut and Shay Roads. He is concerned about the safety of his family at night in this area, as the closest street light is about 100 yards down the road. Mr. Lumbo does have motion security lights on his house, but the house is set back enough that the security lights do not give enough light when Mr. Lumbo and his family walk to the street. He requests that the Committee install a street light on the telephone pole directly in front of his house.
Mr. Marques explained that the Town does not put streetlights on every pole. He noted that the road is a rural one, and that there are some lights on the road. Mr. Marques stated that he would look at the area and will return to the committee and make a recommendation. He added that the decision would rely ultimately on whether the DPW’s current budget has room to pay for the electricity for the light.
Chief Braga noted that the straight stretch of road in question is not considered to be a particularly dangerous stretch.
Speed limits on Causeway
Chief Braga stated that cars drive very quickly down this recently resurfaced street. He has received requests from residents that speed be posted. To post the speed would require a traffic study to determine the actual speed limit of the Causeway Street. Chief Braga feels that the requests from residents are reasonable, and would welcome input from the Board. Mr. Wood, Mr. Marques, and Chief Dusseault noted their support of the item.
Chief Braga, seconded by Anthony Marques, moved to request that the Board of Selectmen authorize speedzone study on Causeway Street from its intersection with Marlboro Street to the Marlboro town line.
Vote: 4-0-0, Unanimous.
No Parking
The Committee visited Port Street and Palmieri Drive prior to the meeting, to review parking zones.
Tony Marques, seconded by Richard Braga, moved to recommend the following language to the Board of Selectmen for addition to the Traffic Rules and Orders:
ARTICLE IV STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
SECTION 2: No Parking Zones
PORT STREET
Northerly side from the intersection of River Street to end, a distance of seven hundred ninety five feet (795) feet.
PORT STREET
Southerly side from the intersection of River Street, a distance of one hundred seventy (170) feet.
PALMIERI DRIVE
Westerly and Northerly sides from the intersection of Cox Street a distance of seven hundred thirty six (736) feet.
PALMIERI DRIVE
Easterly and Southerly sides from the intersection of Cox Street a distance of seven hundred forty seven (747) feet.
Vote: 4-0-0, Unanimous.
Hillside Retirement Community
Present: Tom McCarthy, Southborough Ventures
Kevin Quinn and Carl Hultgren of Quinn Engineering
Bob D’Amelio, Chairman, Planning Board
Don Garcia, Chairman, Economic Development Commission
Mr. Quinn presented the plans and reviewed revisions made since the first submission. Per Mr. Wood’s comment that some units are violating setbacks, the units in question have been modified and he believes the changes comply with the zoning by-laws. Mr. Quinn has modified the secondary emergency access road to a grade of 9.9%, and has modified the road entrance to be wider, to ensure that any vehicle can enter from this road.
Mr. Quinn has revised lighting of the project per Chief Braga’s comments, though this change is not reflected on the plans submitted for review at this meeting. There are streetlights at every intersection, and between intersections at a distance approximately of 300 feet. There is a light at the pump station on Wheeler Road.
Four parcels comprise the whole project. Parcel “A” is Conservation land, mostly wet with some upland. Parcel “B” is 2.83 acres deed to the Town for the purpose of extending the Forestvale Cemetery. Parcel “C” is approximately 31 acres. There is a 2.83-acre easement giving residents access to Tech Drive. To have the secondary emergency access come from Broad Street would require that emergency services cross the middle of the remediation area where hazardous materials will be deposited and capped.
Chief Dusseault noted the easing of the slope at the Wheeler Road access point, as well as the reworking of the radius. The access at Technology Drive is excellent, although Route 85 is becoming a heavily congested area, which will add to emergency response time.
Mr. Marques asked if the developer would consider Wheeler Road as the primary ermergency access? Mr. McCarthy responded affirmatively, adding that whatever Chief Dusseault feels makes the most sense is fine with Southborough Ventures. The developer’s intent was to discourage residents from using the Wheeler Road access road, as part of a commitment made to the Board of Selectmen, along with the commitment to provide no access from the community to Broad Street.
Chief Dusseault greatly appreciates the efforts on the part of the developer to modify the Wheeler Road access road to satisfy the concerns of emergency services, and noted that he is still primarily concerned with needs of residents. He would like to know with certainty that Dorman Street absolutely cannot be used as an access point.
Mr. McCarthy explained that Dorman Street involves a 25-foot vertical drop onto Southborough Ventures property. Mr. Quinn added that wetlands comprise a large part of the parcel in question, including a river, which means that the developer would be prohibited from working within 100 feet of a river, and would be held to special requirements within 200 feet of the river. To try to put an access road in this area would be highly problematic.
Chief Dusseault stated that he expected the municipal fire alarm system to be extended throughout the project. Mr. McCarthy agreed, and noted that all units would be sprinkled as well.
Chief Braga stated that the lights as shown on the developer’s large set of presentation plans satisfy his concerns with regard to lighting. He questioned whether the road width should be 30 feet as opposed to 24 feet.
Mr. Wood agreed, and noted that he has a legal opinion on this issue from the developer’s attorney. He will request an opinion from Town Counsel as to what governs road width. Said opinion will be useful for the future as well.
Chief Braga asked if there are parking changes. Mr. Quinn responded that public parking is now available for access to the conservation land.
Mr. Wood stated that his concerns had been addressed, and that he would send the opinion request to Town Counsel shortly.
Chief Braga stated for the record that there would very likely be street parking problems with the driveways as drawn. He wondered if the density of the project might be root of the problem. The residents would no doubt have to endure hills of ploughed snow throughout the community, as there is currently not a lot of snow storage space planned, and it may be likely that the developer may have to remove snow from the site. Chief Braga discussed a similar, cluster project in Marlboro that has a similar driveway layout. He noted that there is remote parking available in this project, and insufficient parking available next to the houses.
Mr. Wood suggested that the Committee should perhaps consider the need to be consistent in terms of required road width with projects like this one that are being submitted to the Town. Chief Dusseault concurred.
Mr. Marques stated that there are still issues to be resolved regarding water and sewer, such as volumes and to where output will flow. He agreed that consistency with regard to road width is important so that developers have an understanding as to what is expected in the Town. He wondered if the developer might eliminate some of the space between the sidewalks and the roadways. He urged the developer to take the Committee’s recommendations on road width to heart.
Mr. McCarthy responded that eliminating one sidewalk would not alleviate the dimensional requirement from the end of the paved way to the edge of the road, as spelled out in the Zoning By-Laws.
Mr. D’Amelio informed the Committee that the Planning Board had already started its site plan review process of Hillside Retirement Community, due to the great size of the project. He stated that the Planning Board would await the Committee’s signatures prior to signing the plan. He expressed his professional opinion that the Wheeler Road access proposed is the least disturbing to the surrounding ground.
He discussed that the Planning Board considers comments from the Selectmen, the Conservation Commission, as well as this Committee, and expressed that the situation of finding a site plan that will satisfy all these boards is very perplexing. He noted that the Planning Board has sent plans to EarthTech for peer review.
He said that the Planning Board is reluctant to set precedents, and believes that each project must stand on its own. He agreed with Chief Braga’s assessment of very limited on-street parking. Mr. D’Amelio wondered if the developer could perhaps create a parking lane to alleviate setback requirements.
Mr. D’Amelio reiterated his opinion that Wheeler Road was the best one to use as a second access road into the project. He strongly believes that other roads are unsuitable, and that the project was designed this way to prevent traffic on the other roads. He has personally examined all the access road options very carefully.
Chief Dusseault stated that he would investigate to get a clearer picture of the commitment the Selectmen made pursuant to this project.
Mr. Marques noted the many areas of concern still in evidence with regard to this project, such as secondary access, setbacks, and road widths. He urged the developer to have interim meetings with Fire Chief to resolve individual concerns prior to the next Committee meeting.
Site Plan Review: 503 River Road
Present: Steven Poole, Consolidated Design Group
Michael Casaceli, Casaceli Construction
Mr. Poole summarized the changes made to the plan since the Committee had viewed the first version. The existing house has been removed the proposed building has been enlarged. There are now five units instead of six. He has added floor drains into the holding tank and relocated fire hydrant. He has redesigned the parking lot. All calculations are based on the stone wall as the property line. The hydrant is now on the street. The walkway to house was eliminated with the house. The new building will be sprinkled. The dumpster location has been moved and the dumpster will not be screened as woods border it. No automotive use is planned. Mr. Poole proceeded to compare the new plan point by point with the minutes and comments from the meeting on December 19, 2003.
Inspections:
Mr. Wood would like to see the “plus or minus” notations removed from the plan.
Public Works:
Mr. Marques asked Mr. Poole to consider connecting the two basins and running them back through the system. Mr. Poole agreed to consider this.
Fire:
Chief Dusseault stated that he would prefer to see the natural gas meter placed on the side of the building. Mr. Poole did not see a problem with fulfilling this request.
Police:
All of Chief Braga’s concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction.
Chief Braga, seconded by Chief Dusseault, moved to sign the plans, titled “Site Plan for 503 River Road in Hudson, Mass.,” drawn by Steve Poole of Consolidated Design Group, dated November 3, 2003, and revised on November 19, 2003 and January 9, 2004, once changes including the addition of lights, modification of the size of the drainage pipe, and the possible change to the internal catch basin system, have been made.
Vote: 4-0-0, Unanimous.
21 Church Street
Present: Bob Parente, Ron Young
Mr. Parente introduced the development team and presented the project to the Committee. Proposed is an addition to the Boys & Girls club, to include a gym measuring 87x63 feet, and new program space. Mr. Parente noted that the plan is to fully sprinkle the new addition as well as the existing building. A new fire alarm will be added. All utilities will come through the existing building.
Fire:
All of Chief Dusseault’s concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction.
Police:
Chief Braga asked for clarification on parking and lighting. Mr. Wood stated that although the existing parking spaces are smaller than 180 square feet, there are no parking space size requirements in the C-1 district.
Mr. Parented stated that there would be lighting in back of the building for security.
All of Chief Braga’s concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction.
Inspections:
All of Mr. Wood’s concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction.
Public Works:
All of Mr. Marques’s concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction.
Chief Dusseault, seconded by Dick Braga, moved to sign the plans, titled “Site Plan Review Submission for 21 Church Street in Hudson, Massachusetts,” drawn by Robert J. Parente of Central Mass. Engineering and Survey, Inc., and dated January 12, 2004, and consisting of three pages of plans and a cover sheet, as written.
Vote: 4-0-0, unanimous.
Administration and Adjournment
Minutes
Tony Marques, seconded by Jeff Wood, moved to approve the minutes of December 19, 2003, as written.
Vote: 4-0-0, Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.
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