HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997_02_25 Traffic Committee Minutes MINUTES - revised
TOWN OF MAMARONECK TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
February 25, 1997
Present: Nancy Angiulo
Camille Odierna
David Lobl, Chairman
Richard I. Mari
Brian Morris
Pincus Leitner
Also Present: Lt. John Anderson, Town Police Liaison
Jeffrey Stonehill
Absent: Frank Vozza
Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator
Phyllis Wittner, Town Council Liaison
Approval of Minutes: •
Approval of minutes, of December 17, 1996 and January 21, 1997, were deferred until the next
meeting.
Driveway Entrance/Exit of 1 East Main Street (New Rochelle):
Adam Reisz, of New Rochelle Lincoln Mercury (1 East Main Street), appeared.
Mr. Reisz: Produced photographs depicting the driveway, in question, from various angles.
Lt. Anderson: Stated that half of the property is in the Town and half in New Rochelle; the
driveway is in the Town.
Lt. Anderson: Stated that the Saturn dealership next door parks vehicles on Boston Post Road.
Ms. Angiulo: Asked about another exit from the property.
Mr. Reisz: Stated that the other narrow exit is often congested and used by the service
department only.
Mr. Mari: Asked if the other entrance was still less safe.
Mr. Reisz: Stated that in his opinion the other entrance was less safe due to its layout behind the
building.
Ms. Odierna: Asked who would be displaced by removing parking spaces on either side of the
primary driveway.
Mr. Reisz: Stated that most likely it would be dealership personnel such as himself.
Mr. Lobl: Stated that placing"NO PARKING" signs alone may not be enough to deter illegal
parking.
Mr. Mari: Asked if 10 feet on either side would be enough room.
Mr. Morris stated that the same problem exists at Saturn and any changes should include visual
elements.
Page 2, Traffic Committee Minutes 2/25/97
Mr. Lobl motioned:
Motion to recommend to the Town Board the installation of a "NO PARKING" zone on
either side of the driveway at 1 East Main Street, 10-15 feet on either side with the exact
size to be determined by the Highway Superintendent upon the inspection of the site;
appropriate permission from or notification to the New York State Department of
Transportation is necessary; and zebra stripe-type decals to be placed on either side of
the driveway due to the propensity of people to ignore such signs in a busy retail district.
Second by Mr. Morris.
Passed unanimously.
Speed Limit Sign at Edgewood Avenue:
Suzanne and Thomas Prigoda, of 78 Edgewood Avenue, appeared.
Mr. Prigoda: Stated that this issue came up in a discussion with Supervisor Price on an unrelated
subject.
Mr. Lobl: Explained that speed, traffic, congestion, and "STOP SIGNS" are all subjects
discussed throughout the community.
Mr. Lobl: Explained that "STOP SIGNS" are not used to slow traffic.
eibk Ms. Angiulo: Stated that Edgewood Avenue is dangerous to use during daylight hours because
of the poor visibility at both intersections.
Mr. Lobl: Asked if the difference between 25 mph and 30 mph would make any difference in this
situation.
Lt. Anderson: Stated that Murray Avenue is already at 25 mph and it has made little difference.
Mr. Morris: Asked about selective police enforcement of the current speed limit.
Lt. Anderson: Stated that selective enforcement may help.
Mr. Morris: Stated that selective enforcement would be more beneficial than decreasing the
speed limit by 5 mph.
Mr. Lobl: Questioned why Murray Avenue should be 5 mph slower than Edgewood Avenue.
Mr. Prigoda: Supports selective enforcement if it would be effective.
Lt. Anderson stated that the Town Police will attempt selective enforcement for 30 days or until
next meeting and then report back to the Committee on the Police Department's evaluation.
Mr. Lobl: Stated that no sidewalks exist on Edgewood Avenue.
Mr. Lobl: Asked whether sidewalks might slow traffic.
Mr. and Mrs. Prigoda support the installation of sidewalks even if the residents of the street
might have to pay for the installation.
Mr. Lobl: Asked Mr. Stonehill to bring an official Town map to the next meeting to determine
whether Edgewood Avenue is wide enough to construct sidewalks.
Mr. Morris: Described a device known as a"Radar Trailer" that the City of New Rochelle posts
at various locations to inform speeders of their speed and encourage them to slow down.
Mr. Lobl: Asked Mr. Stonehill to investigate the purchase or borrowing of a similar device for
use within the Town.
Page 3, Traffic Committee Minutes 2/25/97
This issue is deferred to the next meeting.
Handicapped Parking Spaces at 14 North Chatsworth Avenue:
Mr. Lobl: Explained that special-needs parking spaces were installed during the reconstruction
and subsequently removed after its completion. He added that residents of this neighborhood
have continually requested additional parking, and if other special-needs spaces were added, it
would displace those residents without the appropriate permits.
Mr. Morris: Asked if similar spaces existed at Larchmont Acres.
Mr. Mari: Stated that they do not, adding that no municipality is required to construct such
spaces.
Mr. Lobl: Stated that he has investigated the legal basis for adding special-needs spaces and the
law deals with private property owners rather than upon the public streets. Furthermore, people
with special needs are permitted to park in unmarked parking spaces as well.
Mr. Leitner: Stated that these residents cannot necessarily have extra parking when the
neighborhood on a whole is suffering from a lack of available parking.
Mr. Lobl: Has requested that Mr. Altieri, Town Administrator, write a letter to Mrs. Thorne
explaining that the Town does not wish to take any action at this time. Adding that a severe
shortage exists throughout her neighborhood and that it was the opinion of the Traffic
Committee that any re-assigning of parking spaces would exacerbate the current problem. He
also added that she may use unmarked spaces for parking as well.
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, March 25, 1997, 8:00 p.m. in the Court Room.