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Home My WebLink About2013-02-05 Planning Board Supplemental Materials (30) TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS, ONSuc|aNT MDM ��noe� � Engineers PRINCIPALS Robert J.Michaud,RE Ronald D.I)earoaiera'P.B.'PTOE Daniel}.Mills,P.B.'PT0E January 3O, 20I3 ' ary Mr.Joseph T}. [`eznolo, P.E. Hancock Associates 315 Elm Street Marlborough, Massachusetts OI752 Subject: Transportation Peer Review Comments—Letter#5 Proposed t ro� Development IOl0Osgood Street—North Andover, MA Dear Mr. I,eznola: As requested, MZ}M transportation Consultants, Inc. (Ml]M) has reviewed the Response to Transportation Review Comments letter dated January 25, 2013 and prepared by MHF &}esigo Consultants, Inc. (MI{F) which was provided as a response to MI}M'a January 16, 20I3 and January 24, 2013 peer review letters for the above project. We are also in receipt ofrevised Site Development Plans doted October 19, 2012 (revised January 23, 2013). The following comments summarize our review ofthese items. COLLISION HISTORY/SITE ACCESS DRIVEWAY As recommended in our prior comment letter, the Applicant proposes to re-grade the area to the east of the proposed entrance driveway which will result in improved sight distance for vehicles exiting from lO6OOsgood Street. MDMhas nofurther comments relative tothis issue. SITE ACCESS/PEDESTRIAN ACCESS As indicated in our prior comment letter, we anticipate a significant amount o{ foot traffic to occur between the proposed Dunkin Donuts and 1060 Osgood Street and therefore recommend that either o pedestrian walkway be constructed between the parcels or a sidewalk be constructed along Osgood Street toaccommodate pedestrian demand. In response to this recommendation, the Applicant proposes to construct a walkway to the easterly property line in an effort to provide a pedestrian connection to/from 1060 Osgood Street. The Applicant states that there is an understanding with the North Andover Planning Board that it will be the responsibility of the adjacent owner to build the remaining sidewalk to the parking lot. While this appears to be a reasonable proposal, Ml]Mnotes that the adjacent property ovvooz may not be able to build the remaining sidewalk to ADA requirements due to the 3 to 4 foot grade difference between the cod of the proposed walkway and the existing parking lot at 1060 Osgood Street. MZ}Mzecoznmeode that the walkway bere-designed such 28Lord Road, Suite 28O ' Marlborough,Massachusetts Ol752 Phone(5O8)3O3-O37O ' Fax(5O8)3O3-O37I ' vvvvvnnodontrans.conz Mr.Joseph D. Peznola, P.E. January 3O 2013 Page: 2 that it can be connected to the adjacent lot in conformance with /\I]/\ requirements. If said location can"tsati� �� m� d� � ��a�� connection recommended (� -_'/ , .g., a sidewalk located along Osgood Street and the site . DRIVE-THROUGH LANE QUEUING MI]M'a initial comments relative to drive-through qpzenbzg eheno from the fact that a significant range of vehicle queues have been observed at various Dunkin Donuts facilities throughout the area One of more common relative to drive-through facilities Uz�iz potential. - o_ � r�nra o impact on-site parking and adjacent street traffic operations should queues spill out onto the roadway. Originally, the Applicant chose not to survey the adjacent Dunkin Donut's drive-through and instead, provided national and probability based queuing estimates. Given the fact that that the proposed stand-alone facility (1010 Osgood Street) is replacing an existing operable drive- through facility (982 Osgood Street) in such close proximity to the site, a question as to the potential impact on[)sgoodStzeetrenmaiuedvaIid. When data from the adjacent Dunkin Donuts was eventually presented, it showed an 11 vehicle qococ during the one weekday morning peak hour observation without seasonal adjustment factors being applied. While this observation suggests that the probability based queue estimate was slightly low (10-vehicle queue) and the nationally based queue estimate was slightly high (13-vehicle queue), it is an observation from one weekday and does not take into account seasonal fluctuations exhibited by Dunkin Donuts facilities. MI}M notes that drive- though queue storage is typically designed for the 9511, percentile queue length under peak season conditions and that, bz our experience, January is typically abelovv average season for Dunkin Donuts facilities in the region. Therefore, it is the opinion that MI}M that a queue length of13vehicles iemore appropriate for said location. ON-SITE PARKING Based on the data and analysis presented by the Applicant, the parking supply and drive- through storage area will typically accommodate un-site operations exhibited by the I]uzJcbn Donuts proposed for this area. However, there is a delicate balance that occurs between the drive-through operation and on-site parking activity during peak hours. Attimes when there is greater parking demand than there are spaces provided, which could occur on a daily basis, the drive-through queue can expect to increase. I}oe tothe layout ofthe site, any increase in drive- through queuing will almost immediately result in a further reduction in effective parking supply doe to the blocking of parking spaces. MDM notes that approximately 4 spaces are likely to be blocked at tbooee during the weekday onozobng peak hour, thus reducing the effective parking supply at the site from 19 spaces to 15 spaces. Given the apparent site MDM Mr.Joseph D. Peznola, P.E. January 30, 2013 Page: 3 constraints, no additional parking space can be banked at the site, therefore, overflow parking may take place on the adjacent property. It should be noted that peak parking characteristics associated with the Dunkin Donuts at 982 Osgood Street are not likely to completely represent parking demands at the proposed site due to the significant increase in indoor and outdoor seating proposed. In addition, the Applicant's data demonstrated a need for only 12 spaces based on a review of the existing 982 Osgood Street facility, however, MDM notes that said facility only has an effective parking supply of 12 spaces. Therefore, the observation simply indicated that the lot was 100% full during the study period. As a final point of reference, the average peak parking demand associated with a stand-alone coffee/donut shop with drive through window is estimated at 24 spaces based on ITE parking demand data'. This estimate is highly consistent with the Town's zoning requirement of 27 spaces and should be provided at a minimum. SUMMARY In summary, we believe that the variability of drive-through queuing in combination with the layout and limited supply of parking spaces does not provide the site with the reserves needed to accommodate fluctuations in site traffic activity. During peak times, it may be necessary for patrons to circulate back out onto Osgood Street to re-enter the site, back-up within the site to get in queue for the drive-through lane and others may find it attractive to park at 1060 Osgood Street. For these reasons, we recommend that the Applicant provide 24 parking spaces at the site which is highly consistent with the Town's zoning requirement. Lastly, we believe that the walkway to 1060 Osgood Street should be re-designed so that the adjacent property owner has a reasonable chance to extend the walkway to his/her property given the significant grade separation. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss these comments further. Sincerely, Daniel J. Mills, ,.E., PTOE Principal G:\Projects\695-North Andover(Dunkins Review)\Correspondence\695LT05 Final.doc ' ITE,Parking Generation,411, Edition,Land Use Code 937.