02/1 (corrected) - Minutes - Traffic & Parking - 01/22/2008

To be approved at the next Traffic & Parking Meeting:

FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
January 22, 2008


PRESENT: Gary Profenno (Chair) Rich DeGrandpre Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police Rodney Regier
Jim Gorman Andrew Manning (arrived at 7:48) Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer Chris Parker (arrived at 7:43)

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Profenno at 7:40 a.m.


ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 18, 2007
MEETING

Motion (Schofield/ Gorman) to accept the minutes of the December 18, 2007 meeting as printed.

Approved 5-0. (Mr. Manning and Mr. Parker were not yet in attendance.)


ITEM II: CONTINUE DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK ON MAIN STREET AT THE NEW FREEPORT STATION RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Presgraves distributed several items that were requested at the previous meeting: a plan showing the existing street lighting along Main Street between West Street and Mallett Drive, a table listing the sidewalk widths along Main Street, and a plan of the approved improvements to the existing crosswalk on Main Street at the Freeport Station development. He also said that LL Bean may be interested in having warning lights added to the crosswalk just north of Bow Street if they are going to be installed at the crosswalk under discussion.

Mr. Presgraves described the plan of the approved crosswalk improvements that shows the existing crosswalk will be widened from 8 feet to 10 feet, and granite bollards and chains will be installed along the curb to direct pedestrians to the crosswalk. Mr. Regier noted that the existing bollards at the Bow Street plaza are about 10” square, while others to the south are only about 6” square; he wondered if the problem described at the previous meeting by Mr. Plummer about bollards being broken about once a year was occurring on both sizes of bollards. Mr. Presgraves will talk to Mr. Plummer about this.

Mr. Presgraves reviewed the idea of adding a system of flashing lights imbedded in the pavement along the crosswalk that would be operated by pedestrian-controlled push-buttons. This is not currently proposed, but it is a system that is used in Brunswick at several crosswalks near Bowdoin College as a safety improvement. Mr. Regier noted that the Committee has been told that warning lights have an effect on traffic after they are first installed, but that after a few months, the regular travelers begin to ignore the lights. Mr. Profenno noted that during the busiest times in Freeport, much of the traffic is visitors, so this effect may not occur so much.

Mr. DeGrandpre said that he still did not like the idea of installing this type of lighting system because it would essentially allow pedestrians to control the flow of traffic. Mr. Regier said that he still wanted to consider the idea of installing some type of warning light system at the edges of the Village pedestrian area—probably at West Street and Mallett Drive.

Mr. George Denny was recognized, and he said that he thought it would be appropriate to engage a traffic consultant with experience on pedestrian issues to review options and make a recommendation. Mr. DeGrandpre said that a consultant could be helpful, but the Committee would still need to provide the appropriate local input for a final recommendation. Mr. Regier asked how long this would likely take, and Mr. Presgraves said that it would likely be several months just to select a consultant. Mr. Presgraves also said it had been hoped that a decision could be made soon enough to coordinate with the ongoing construction, but that a good decision was more important than a hasty decision, even if it took longer.

Mr. Gorman offered the possibility that Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. may be able to evaluate the issue and provide a prompt assessment, since they are currently performing a traffic study in the Main Street area between Mallett Drive and I-295 exit 20. The Committee was in favor of this idea.

Motion (Gorman/DeGrandpre) to table the discussion of this item until the next meeting.

Approved unanimously.


ITEM III: REVIEW REQUEST TO CHANGE SOME PARKING SPACES ON DEPOT STREET (AT WILDFLOWER) FROM A 3-HOUR LIMIT TO A 15 MINUTE LIMIT

Mr. Presgraves distributed a plan showing the existing parking spaces along the section of Depot Street between Bow Street and the Hose Tower. Mr. McPhelim presented his proposal to change two spaces in front of the Wildflower store from a 3-hour parking limit to 15 minutes; these are the fourth and fifth spaces from the spaces starting at the Bow Street end. He said that the all of the spaces along this section of Depot Street are typically full, often by vehicles that stay longer than the posted limit of three hours, and his customers have trouble finding convenient places to park for pick-ups and short stays. He would also be willing to have a 30 minute limit if that was more acceptable.

Mr. Manning said that he thought it would be confusing to have two spaces with a different parking time limit in the middle of an otherwise consistent section of parking limits. He suggested that the shorter parking limit should be applied to spaces at the end of the parking zone—either three or four spaces.

Mr. Regier was concerned that such a change be considered first from the standpoint of general policy so that precedent is not established that could lead to a string of applicants each wanting short-term parking in front of their shops. Mr. Schofield said that this section of road had a shorter parking limit in the past, but that it was increased to 3 hours when the shorter parking limit did not seem to be appropriate.

Mr. Profenno said that he wants to see this discussion extended to at least one more meeting, so that area businesses and property owners can be given notice, and so the Committee can obtain input before making a recommendation. Mr. DeGrandpre noted that if vehicles are parked all day in these spaces, it is a violation of the existing limitation, and the limit should be enforced. Mr. Schofield said that there has been some enforcement and discussion with business managers about employee parking.

Mr. Manning questioned the amount of need for short-term spaces—is it really as much as four spaces? Mr. Regier said that it probably makes sense to have some short-term spaces distributed around the Village area. It was noted that all parking allowed on Main Street is fairly short term, mostly 15 minutes, and the parking on Middle Street is 30 minutes. Mr. Gorman thought that it may be a good idea to look at parking space locations and time limits in the larger Village area. Mr. Presgraves will bring a plan showing the parking limit locations to the next meeting.

Motion (Manning/ Profenno) to table this issue to the next meeting, giving written notice to area property owners and businesses of the proposal to change the northernmost three parking spaces on Depot Street to a 15 minute limit, and to review the existing parking limits in the Village area.

Approved unanimously.


ITEM IV: DISCUSS RESULTS OF FINAL REPORT FROM THE SOUTH FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE DATED DECEMBER 31, 2007, AND FUTURE ACTIONS

Committee members emphasized their appreciation of the efforts by the South Freeport Traffic & Parking Committee. Mr. DeGrandpre noted that the short-term solutions implemented last summer helped to reduce some of the problems that had occurred in previous years. Mr. Manning was concerned that long-term solutions still needed to be refined and implemented.

Mr. DeGrandpre suggested that some possible future solutions included a zoning amendment that would allow non-accessory parking, and possibly a prohibition of parking on the paved part of Main Street. Mr. Manning thought that the Committee should obtain input from the Town Council before proceeding with this issue in depth. Mr. Profenno noted that a Council Workshop was scheduled for February 26, and this would be a good time to discuss the issue. There was general agreement with this approach.



ITEM V: DISCUSS PETITION FOR DISCONTINUANCE OF A SECTION OF THE RELOCATED WOLF’S NECK ROAD (AT FLYING POINT ROAD)

Mr. Presgraves distributed a plan prepared by the Maine DOT showing the location of the section of right-of-way that the abutting land owner is requesting to be discontinued. He also said that he had spoken wit the DOT to determine that this section of road was replaced with the new road alignment in 1965, and he was surprised that it had not been discontinued at that time. However, the requested discontinuance was being done for the benefit of the abutting land owner, so any legal costs would typically be paid by the petitioner.

There was discussion of the petition by the Committee to clarify the location and the process that requires action by the Town Council.

Motion (Manning/ Gorman) to recommend the discontinuance of the section of relocated Wolf’s Neck Road, with any legal costs to be paid by the petitioner.

Approved unanimously.


ITEM VI: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Presgraves distributed copies of the Draft Freeport Comprehensive Transportation Study, Phase II, Recommended Intersection Improvements, January 31, 2007 to the Committee. He requested that the Committee members review the study for discussion at a later meeting to decide if any of the recommended improvements should be included in the Capital Plan for future implementation.


ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Manning/ Schofield) to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, February 12, 2008,
7:30 a.m.

Approved unanimously.