CITY OF NORWALK TRAFFIC AUTHORITY SPECIAL MEETING MAY 18, 2016 ATTENDANCE: STAFF: OTHERS: Mayor Harry Rilling, Chair; Commissioner Fran Collier- Clemmons Chief Thomas Kulhawik, Deputy Chief Ashley Gonzalez; Bruce Chimento, DPW Director; Michael Yeosock, DPW Senior Civil Engineer Council Member Michelle Maggio, Council Member Eloisa Melendez, Mr. Dick Florio, Mr. Carl Deering, Mr. Doug Adams, GGP CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Rilling called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. A quorum was present. BUSINESS Approve the minutes of the meeting of Monday, April 18, 2016. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016. ** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 AS SUBMITTED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Approve the installation of a city owned traffic signal at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Reed Street as part of the traffic plan submitted for the SoNo Collection mall project by Norwalk Land Development, LLC. Approve the installation of a city owned traffic signal at the intersection of Cedar Street and Reed Street as part of the traffic plan submitted for the SoNo Collection mall project by Norwalk Land Development, LLC. Approve the installation of a city owned traffic signal on West Avenue at the driveway to the SoNo Collection mall as part of the traffic plan submitted for the SoNo Collection mall project by Norwalk Land Development, LLC. Approve the installation of a 3-way stop sign on N. Water Street at the north and south service driveways of the SoNo Collection mall as part of the traffic plan submitted for the SoNo Collection mall project by Norwalk Land Development, LLC. Approve the one-way operation of Crescent Street from the SoNo Collection mall to Science Road in a north-bound direction as part of the traffic May 18, 2016 Page 1
plan submitted for the SoNo Collection mall project by Norwalk Land Development, LLC. Mr. Doug Adams came forward and gave a presentation regarding the location of the stop lights and the proposed flow of traffic around the mall. Mayor Rilling had some questions about the one way traffic flow from the mall area via Crescent Street. He wished to know how someone would get to Pine Island Cemetery with the one way ruling in place. Both Mr. Yeosock and Mr. Adams assured him that the Science Road is located further south of the cemetery and indicated that there was a pull off available for a vehicle. Mayor Rilling asked if the Historical Commission had reviewed this. Mr. Adams said that they had spoken with Mr. Westmoreland and that Mr. Westmoreland had stated that he would like the city to continue to explore widening that section of the road. Commissioner Collier-Clemmons asked why the additional signal light was being added on West Avenue between Reed Street and the I-95 entrance and exit ramps. One of the traffic engineers explained that it was to mitigate the traffic that would back up while a vehicle was attempting to make a left hand turn into the mall entrance from the southbound lane. It is estimated that 60% of the traffic would be coming down West Avenue from the thruway. He indicated where this would be on the site plan. Mayor Rilling asked if the phrase city owned traffic signal also meant city funded. Mr. Adams said that the developers would be paying the cost of the signals. Chief Kulhawik asked if the State had any say about the installation of the light. Mr. Adams told him that they would need State approval. He was told that there was a three step process in terms of approval. The first stage is a sign off on the overall traffic assumptions. Stage two is a review of the plans and Stage three is the actual approval. At this point in time, the developers have completed both Stages one and two. Mayor Rilling asked for clarification on the three way stop sign. Mr. Adams indicated where it would be located on the site plans. Discussion followed about the details of the location. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A CITY OWNED TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAIRFIELD AVENUE AND REED STREET AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE SONO COLLECTION MALL PROJECT BY NORWALK LAND DEVELOPMENT, LLC. May 18, 2016 Page 2
APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A CITY OWNED TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF CEDAR STREET AND REED STREET AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE SONO COLLECTION MALL PROJECT BY NORWALK LAND DEVELOPMENT, LLC. APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A CITY OWNED TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON WEST AVENUE AT THE DRIVEWAY TO THE SONO COLLECTION MALL AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE SONO COLLECTION MALL PROJECT BY NORWALK LAND DEVELOPMENT, LLC. APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A 3-WAY STOP SIGN ON N. WATER STREET AT THE NORTH AND SOUTH SERVICE DRIVEWAYS OF THE SONO COLLECTION MALL AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE SONO COLLECTION MALL PROJECT BY NORWALK LAND DEVELOPMENT, LLC. APPROVE THE ONE-WAY OPERATION OF CRESCENT STREET FROM THE SONO COLLECTION MALL TO SCIENCE ROAD IN A NORTH-BOUND DIRECTION AS PART OF THE TRAFFIC PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE SONO COLLECTION MALL PROJECT BY NORWALK LAND DEVELOPMENT, LLC. Authorize the installation of No Parking Signs on the east and west side of Beechwood Avenue between the hours of 9 AM to 4 PM Monday Friday. Mr. Yeosock explained that there had been a number of complaints regarding parking in the area because of the Community College. He was recommending that the no parking be instituted during the main hours for the college. Council Member Melendez said that she felt it made sense. She added that during the peak hours, there was an issue with parking. Mr. Yeosock pointed out that by limiting the hours, the neighbors could have a party at night or on the week-ends. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF BEECHWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AM TO 4 PM MONDAY FRIDAY. Authorize the installation of No Parking Signs on the western most cul de sac of Arnold Lane (House Numbers 3-15) between the hours of 9 AM to 4 PM Monday Friday. May 18, 2016 Page 3
Mr. Yeosock stated that there was a similar situation involved here because of commuters who were parking all day on the street. He said that the department was recommending the same hours. Mayor Rilling asked if having a two hour limit would be better. Mr. Yeosock said that having two hour parking would require the Parking Authority to check the street almost every hour to ticket cars. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON THE WESTERN MOST CUL DE SAC OF ARNOLD LANE (HOUSE NUMBERS 3-15) BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AM TO 4 PM MONDAY FRIDAY. Authorize the installation of No Parking Signs between the hours of 9 AM to 10 AM on the western side of Strawberry Hill Avenue between Fitch Street and Raymond Terrace. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED THE ITEM FOR DISCUSSION. Mayor Rilling said that the Commissioner had heard from Mr. Deering and Council Member Maggio regarding this proposal. Council Member Maggio asked for clarification on the hours. Mr. Yeosock gave the reasons for the choice of hours. Council Member Melendez said that she had recommended a two hour parking limit on Fitch because she felt that people would respect it. Mayor Rilling said that the Commission could try the two hour limit. ** MAYOR RILLING MOVED TO AMEND THE ITEM AS FOLLOWS: AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF SIGNS STATING TWO HOUR PARKING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF STRAWBERRY HILL AVENUE BETWEEN FITCH STREET AND RAYMOND TERRACE. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION Handicapped parking request on Van Zant Street. Mr. Yeosock said that the department had reviewed the request for the handicapped space on Van Zant Street last month. Mayor Rilling said that under the ADA regulations, it was a reasonable accommodation. Mr. Chimento agreed and said that he would be May 18, 2016 Page 4
reviewing some material on this topic that he had just received. Discussion followed about the details of reasonable accommodation. Vehicle Speed Report on Hunt Street. Mr. Yeosock said that Mr. Eshraghi was not present to present the information. Mr. Yeosock said that a traffic count was done and there was only one vehicle above the 24 miles an hour on Hunt Street. 85% of the traffic at Hunt Street was going 24 miles an hour. OLD BUSINESS West Avenue at Connecticut Avenue traffic signal revision. Mr. Yeosock said that the department had reviewed the consultant s proposed revisions and the department would be implementing it in the next month or so. Commissioner Collier-Clemmons had pointed out that the minutes had stated that there would be an update on the Fairfield Avenue and Washington Street intersection. Mayor Rilling said that he had been through there and it was moving more smoothly. Commissioner Collier-Clemmons said she would like to give the department kudos for the four way stop at Old Trolley Way. It is working well. Mayor Rilling requested that Mr. Chimento see him the following day to discuss two items regarding stop signs and the possible reconfiguration of a driveway on Sunset Hill. ADJOURNMENT. ** COMMISSIONER COLLIER-CLEMMONS MOVED TO ADJOURN. The meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, S. L. Soltes Telesco Secretarial Services May 18, 2016 Page 5