December 11, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Minutes - WEHI

meetings, they have addressed. She is kind of ok with the size of the building. They never discussed reducing the number of units to make it a smaller size and make it more accommodating. In terms of parking permits, she would like all the residents to have parking permits but she doesn’t know if there’s enough parking across the street and she doesn’t think people will use the municipal lot down the street. Mayor McCartney has always been concerned about the parking and traffic. Mr. Klein said he is less concerned about the parking and traffic. He doesn’t have a problem with the number as long as the crosswalk is there to get people across the church parking lot for the 8 spaces that are required there. He would like to see the mayor and council pass permit parking for Park Street North, West, and South and even Ashwood, across the street, to manage the parking a little bit better. He had some concerns originally about the southern side of the property, specifically the setbacks. Mr. Klein looked at the plans and the existing townhouse next door is 7.8 feet off the property line. The first-floor garage is over 5 feet off so it is over 13 feet away from it on the first floor. The second floor is a 10-foot setback so it is more than 18 feet offset on that side. He doesn’t have a problem with the amount of traffic that will be generated to go around the block on Park Drive North because right now residents have to do the same to park. As long as the landscaping is put as a buffer along the south side of the building and is maintained, that will work as well. He agrees if it was a commercial property, it could be like a 7/11 which could generate a lot more traffic. He doesn’t think they can get a driveway on Main Street because of the bus stop and pedestrians walking on Main Street. Council President Rutherford said he still has a problem with the scale of the building and the proximity to actual Main Street; how far back its set from Main Street itself. He has an issue with crossing, even though they were fortunate to put some signage on the other side of Dunkin Donuts 6 months ago due to the Edison school right across the street. Even with the signage, however, there are still complaints from parents with kids trying to cross so it is still a dangerous area to cross. He is pleased that there was some progress made with the county even though it’s not

owever, there are still complaints from parents with kids trying to cross so it is still a dangerous area to cross. He is pleased that there was some progress made with the county even though it’s not finalized with regard to lighting and putting a crosswalk there but there is still a danger for crossing that road if they have people parking on the Bethany lot. He is also concerned with traffic as he has spent some time on Park Drive North, West and South and regularly there are people parking illegally today out of necessity. His concern is for public safety if they are going to exacerbate the parking issues there, will the ambulances and fire trucks be able to access the full loop properly as there are some challenges in when you go around the corner on the top and then to get off north to west. He doesn’t think the Mississippi Ave lot is feasible, he doesn’t think people will choose to park there since it’s a decent walk and people will be more hesitant during the night or inclement weather. The character of the building in regards with the other properties in the area seems a little out of place. There are smaller similar multifamily homes on that loop, there ae some building on Main Street, but this one seems a little out of character in comparison to them. The commercial space, while they do want more commercial space on Main Street, he doesn’t think 900 square feet is a substantial addition of commercial space on Main Street. He doesn’t know if it’s going to pull down economic activity from the Harrison corner with just the one store front there. It depends what you put there, but he doesn’t think its substantial enough to impact commercial traffic. There is an upside to that in terms of parking and vehicle traffic that it won’t increase significantly but the downside is there’s a lot of