12/11 -

FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES - DRAFT - To be approved at the December 2007 meeting
November 20, 2007

PRESENT: Gary Profenno (Chair) Rich DeGrandpre Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police Rodney Regier
Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer

EXCUSED: Andrew Manning Chris Parker
Jim Gorman

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Profenno at 7:38 a.m.


ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 16, 2007
MEETING

Motion (Schofield/ DeGrandpre) to accept the minutes of the October 16, 2007 meeting as printed. Approved 4-0.


ITEM II: REVIEW PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE REGARDING TRASH COLLECTION TIME RESTRICTIONS

Mr. Presgraves noted that copies of the agenda for this meeting, the proposed Ordinance Amendment, and the Zoning Map had been sent to all of the licensed trash haulers in Freeport at least one week prior to the meeting. There were no haulers in attendance at the meeting, so it appeared that there was not a strong disagreement with the proposal. A letter from a resident on Royal Avenue supporting of the proposal was distributed to the Committee.

Motion (Regier/ DeGrandpre) to recommend that the Town Council approve the proposed Ordinance Amendment that would restrict commercial trash collection to the hours of 6 am to 6 pm in the Village-1 and Village Commercial-1 planning zones. (See Proposed Amendment attached.)

Approved unanimously.


ITEM III: UPDATE ON THE PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A SPEED TABLE AND CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON BOW STREET

Mr. Presgraves said that the proposed improvements were still expected to be built this year by the contractor for LL Bean (who is developing the Leon Gorman Park and the crosswalk improvements.) However, he said that there was some risk that the weather and availability of asphalt paving material may prevent the project from being constructed this year.

ITEM IV: UPDATE ON PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON DESERT ROAD BETWEEN THE RR BRIDGE AND CAMPUS DRIVE

Mr. DeGrandpre noted that the area of concern actually extended further to the west on Desert Road, and all agreed. Mr. Presgraves reported that the Town Manager had spoken to the management at LL Bean, Inc., where a new company policy prohibited smoking of cigarettes on company property. This conversation resulted in an effort by the company to educate employees about not parking on the public streets in a manner that could create potential safety issues. Several committee members noted that the parking in this area had become less of a problem since last month. Mr. Schofield agreed to speak to the security staff at LL Bean about monitoring the situation going forward. There was a general consensus that no further action was required at this time.


ITEM V: DISCUSS PARKING SITUATION ON HEDGEHOG MOUNTAIN ROAD

Mr. Presgraves introduced this topic by noting that an e-mail had been sent to the Committee about the traffic and parking problems caused by a football event at the Pownal Road field on October 20, 2007. There were apparently many more vehicles at the event than had been anticipated, and cars were parked on both sides of Hedgehog Mountain Road for some time, creating problems for traffic going to the Transfer Station.

Mr. Ricky Harrison commented that it was a problem at that event, and that more parking could be provided along the shoulder of Hedgehog Mountain Road, or possibly by building a gravel parking area in the woods on the west side of the road. He estimated that the parking lot at the field could accommodate about 80 or 90 cars, but that the event generated about 150 cars.

Mr. Profenno said that if the original Site Plan approval for the playing field did not anticipate this type of use, a revised Site Plan should be developed that would accommodate future traffic and parking needs.

Mr. DeGrandpre noted that both the Conservation Commission and the Recreation Committee had investigated some options for adding parking spaces for both the Pownal Road field and for the Hedgehog Mountain trail, but that they had not been implemented. Mr. Regier said that this problem should be referred to one or both of these committees for addressing the problem because of the familiarity of those committees’ members with current and projected site use. Use of the Pownal Road field is under the control of the Community Education Department, so it should also participate in solving the public safety problem caused by spill-over parking. In the meantime, there may be some temporary arrangements that could be made to provide parking or turn-around space at the Transfer Station, or require that any event provide personnel to monitor parking. Mr. Schofield thought that it would be appropriate to make some temporary accommodations until a more permanent solution is developed. Mr. Profenno thought that when use of the field is scheduled by Community Education, they should assess whether parking and traffic issues will be a problem, and notify the Police and Public Works Departments. No one thought that permitting temporary parking along Pownal Road was a good idea.

Motion (Regier/ DeGrandpre) to (1) recommend that if the Community Education Department determines a requested use of the Pownal Road field could reasonably be expected to exceed available on-site parking capacity, then notice shall be given to the Police Department and Public Works Department to help reduce safety conflicts; and (2) request that the Planning Department review the history of the site plan approval for the Pownal Road field, and determine if additional parking should be provided for uses similar to the use that occurred on October 20.

Approved unanimously. Mr. DeGrandpre also said that he would notify the Town Council about this issue.


ITEM VI: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Schofield said that there had been some complaints about deliveries to businesses on West Street Extension. He guessed that the business owner may be requesting a review of the no parking restrictions on the street.


ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (DeGrandpre/Profenno) to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, December 18, 2007,
7:30 a.m.

Approved unanimously.



PROPOSED AMENDMENT

CHAPTER 28 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE



Article 2, Waste Haulers

…..

Such waste haulers licensed by Freeport hereunder shall:

1. Pick up residential waste between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and
pick up commercial waste in Zoning District Village-1 and Zoning District Village Commercial-1 between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

….