03/12 (corrected) - Minutes - Traffic & Parking - 02/12/2008

FREEPORT TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
February 12, 2008


PRESENT: Rich DeGrandpre (Vice Chair) Chris Parker Gerald Schofield, Chief of Police Rodney Regier
Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer Andrew Manning
EXCUSED: Gary Profenno (Chair) Jim Gorman


The meeting was called to order by Mr. DeGrandpre at 7:35 a.m.


ITEM I: ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 22, 2008
MEETING

Motion (Regier/ Schofield) to accept the minutes of the January 22, 2008 meeting as printed.

Approved 5-0.


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

Mr. Presgraves said that he had met with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB,) Arrowstreet, and LL Bean just the day before, and he expected to get some detailed information about crosswalk use within a month. They would also look at possible additional improvements to the crosswalk improvements currently proposed for on Main Street at the new Freeport Station retail development. Mr. Regier noted that more comprehensive information about all the Village crosswalks would be valuable.

Mr. DeGrandpre added that LL Bean and their consultants may be coming to the Committee in the near future to present information on traffic in the Village area, with a proposal to change the directions of traffic flow on the side roads and parking areas.

This issue will be continued to the next meeting.


ITEM III: CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL TO CHANGE PARKING SPACES ON THE NORTH END OF DEPOT STREET FROM A 3-HOUR LIMIT TO A SHORTER-TERM LIMIT

Mr. Presgraves summarized the situation since the last meeting. Mr. McPhelim has indicated that the idea of making three 15-minute spaces at the north end of the street would not be helpful, and he hoped that something else would be possible. Mr. Presgraves distributed a plan showing the locations of the current parking time limits in the Village area. He also noted that written notice had been sent to all of the businesses along the affected section of Depot Street and near the intersection of Bow Street.

Mr. Schofield was asked about the typical enforcement procedures in this area. He said that although this area is included in the overall program, the numbers of visits are not as frequent as other sections of Town where the parking limits are shorter. He also remembered that in the past this area had a 1 or 2 hour parking limit, and that it was increased when the business needs in the area changed. He thought a shorter parking limit would now be appropriate, and would lead to more consistent enforcement. Mr. DeGrandpre and other committee members agreed that shorter term parking limits would be good in this area.

Mr. Presgraves noted that while the parking limit used on Main Street was typically 15 minutes, the limits on Mechanic Street, Middle Street, and Bow Street varied from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
There was discussion about having two different time limits in this one section of the street, or a single time limit that was less than 3 hours.

Motion Regier/ Parker) to recommend that the Town Council change the parking time restriction on the east side of Depot Street between Bow Street and the Hose Tower from 3 hours to 1 hour.

Approved unanimously.


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

Mr. DeGrandpre noted that at the previous meeting it was decided to discuss this topic with the Town Council at the scheduled workshop on February 26. He recognized Faith Baker, who said she had heard that some members of the Traffic & Parking Committee had felt that the costs related to the efforts by the South Freeport Parking Committee had been a waste of money. As a member of that Committee, she thought there had been a number of positive results, including improved communication and reduced vandalism of parked vehicles. She said that she supports the recommendation to allow non-accessory parking in residential lots, as well as the other recommendations. She also believes that as long as the wharf is promoted for tourism and public use, the Town has the responsibility to address parking needs in the area. She knows the recommendations from the South Freeport Committee did not include big changes, but they provide a good direction for moving forward. Mr. DeGrandpre noted that contractor parking is still an unresolved issue.

Mr. Manning said he does not feel the South Freeport Parking Committee was a waste of money, but he is frustrated that the recommendations are not essentially any different to what this Committee had been considering, and now the issues still needed to be addressed. Ms. Baker noted that the Committee developed a lot of data that should be useful going forward. There was additional discussion about using the work of the South Freeport Committee without having to re-visit every issue again.

Mr. DeGrandpre credited the South Freeport Committee with developing short-term solutions that improved the parking situation last summer. Mr. Schofield noted that there were a number of improvements made last summer, and that some of the parking problems simply moved to other areas. This will need to be addressed next.

Mr. DeGrandpre concluded that the next step with this issue is to discuss it with the Town Council at the workshop on February 26.


ITEM V: CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET (SOUTH FREEPORT) FROM NOVEMBER 1 TO APRIL 15

Mr. Presgraves said that this proposal was developed by Town Councilor Rick White for consideration by the Committee. Mr. DeGrandpre asked if written notice of this proposal had been given to any residents in the area, and Mr. Presgraves said it had not. Mr. DeGrandpre said it would be important to give better notice before this is discussed by the Committee.

Mr. Parker said he was told that it is being proposed because the combination of parked vehicles and snow banks reduces the width of the road to an unsafe degree. Mr. Schofield said that he had not heard any complaints of this, and had not seen it himself. He is concerned that this may be a short-term action that does not consider the bigger situation over the long-term. Mr. DeGrandpre said this may be a perceived problem that does not really compromise public safety.

Mr. Regier said this should be discussed with the Town Council as part of the whole South Freeport parking issue before we even decide if we should re-consider it at a future meeting.

Motion (Regier/ Manning) to table this item indefinitely pending discussion with the Town Council on February 26, 2008.

Approved unanimously.


ITEM VI: OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Regier noted that his copy of the Draft Freeport Comprehensive Transportation Study, Phase II, Recommended Intersection Improvements, January 31, 2007, did not include three of the figures. Mr. Presgraves said that this was probably true for all of the copies distributed to the Committee, and he would send the three figures to the Committee. Mr. Regier also noted that the left-turning movement at the end of Mallett Drive at Route 136/125 was measured during the summer, and he wondered if it would be higher during the school year. Mr. Presgraves will investigate if more traffic measurements are available for this intersection.

Mr. Manning noted that the Planning Board was meeting with the Town Council this evening to discuss Town-wide transportation issues among other things. The results of this discussion may identify needs or issues that this Committee should know.


ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT

Motion (Schofield/ Parker) to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, March 18, 2008,
7:30 a.m.

Approved unanimously.