Planning board continues Trask Lane public hearing; peer reviewer backs traffic-calming and says both access options can function

The Beverly Planning Board continued the public hearing Sept. 16 on Site Plan Review No. 168-24 and Inclusionary Housing application 30-24 for the Corcoran Trask Lane development, after hearing detailed traffic analyses, peer review and public comment.

Rebecca Brown of GPI presented traffic work for the proposal, focusing on the Trask Lane/Manor Road/Duck Pond Road area and two access options: Option A, a new primary driveway connecting the project to Manor Road (the developer's preferred design that requires an easement from a neighboring property known as Apple Village); and Option B, an alternate configuration that uses existing condominium driveways and parking fields if the easement cannot be obtained. Brown said striping, stop lines and center lines, plus a crosswalk and rectangular rapid-flashing beacon, are proposed for the Duck Pond intersection; she also proposed removable raised speed humps in the Apple Village parking area and within Duck Pond to slow traffic.

"What we're proposing in the future condition is to actually stripe center lines on all three of these roadways and also install stop lines to indicate to drivers where it is safe for them to stop and look both ways," Brown said. She told the board that an analysis of vehicle operations showed the intersection would operate at level-of-service A with short queues under both access configurations.

The board's transportation peer reviewer, Jeffrey Dirk of Vanasse & Associates, told members the proposed shared pedestrian/bicycle accommodation on Trask Lane is acceptable for a low-volume, low-speed roadway, and recommended timing and maintenance conditions for pavement markings and traffic-calming devices. "This is an acceptable pedestrian bicycle accommodation on a low volume, slow travel speed roadway," Dirk said.

Why it matters: The development would add substantial new residential units, and the board must balance neighborhood connectivity, pedestrian safety and construction impacts. Officials said Option A is preferred because it reduces pass-through traffic in existing condominium parking fields, but the board also asked for a robust analysis and mitigation plan in case Option B must be used.

Key board actions and requests

- The hearing was continued to Oct. 7 to allow the applicant and staff to finalize outstanding items, including an engineering department memo and a written fire-department response on construction/blasting and hydrant/standpipe connections. - The applicant has committed to a post-construction traffic monitoring program and to make mitigation changes if thresholds are exceeded; the GPI memo and the June 23 peer-review letter recommend the timing and sequencing of some mitigation obligations. - If Option B is required, the peer reviewer and the applicant agreed that traffic-calming measures (temporary or removable speed humps, stop lines and stop legends in drive aisles), plus crosswalks and signage, are necessary in condominium drive aisles and within Apple Village to maintain safety.

Public concerns and construction questions

Residents raised issues about traffic concentration at Duck Pond Road, night-time lighting, snow-plow conflicts, construction staging and blasting. The applicant said blasting will be performed by licensed explosives contractors under a pre-blast-survey program and that the Fire Department will require a licensed detail and notifications; Captain Jacob Krailing (fire prevention) advised that pre-blast surveys be offered to nearby properties and that the fire department will coordinate required on-site fire protection measures.

Other notable technical points

- Sidewalks: GPI and the peer reviewer said a 5-foot striped shoulder accommodating both pedestrians and bicyclists is a more practical solution on constrained private Trask Lane than separate sidewalks and two-way bike lanes inside the existing pavement width; MassDOT's Complete Streets staff reviewed the concept and found it reasonable in constrained, low-density settings. - Pedestrian crossings: the applicant proposes rectangular rapid-flashing beacons for crosswalks at Duck Pond/Trask and at a site access crossing; lighting and a photometric was discussed and staff indicated fully shielded, dark-sky-compliant fixtures for the new driveway and parking areas. - Parking and traffic: the applicant continues to coordinate with the Parking & Traffic Commission and proposed temporary traffic control plans for construction; parking allocation and snow-management plans will be part of the construction-management submission.

Quotes (from the record)

- Rebecca Brown, traffic engineer, GPI: "What we're proposing in the future condition is to actually stripe center lines on all three of these roadways and also install stop lines to indicate to drivers where it is safe for them to stop and look both ways." - Jeffrey Dirk, transportation peer reviewer, Vanessa & Associates: "This is an acceptable pedestrian bicycle accommodation on a low volume, slow travel speed roadway."

Next steps

The board continued the hearing to Oct. 7 and asked for any new written public questions to be submitted at least 10 days before the next meeting so the applicant can respond in writing. The applicant said it will return with the outstanding engineering comments, the fire-department memo on suppression and connections, construction-management details, and any plan changes required by the board or by permitting agencies.

Action recorded

The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to Oct. 7.