Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 3 October 19, 2020 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY OCTOBER 19, 2020 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 4:05 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves Lieutenant John Shanahan MEMBERS ABSENT: Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as presented. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the minutes. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF ALL WAY SIGNS AT THE CENTRAL AVENUE AND GEORGE STREET INTERSECTION This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that this intersection is a three-way stop T intersection. MUTCD details that All Way signs are required at intersections that are controlled by Stop signs in every direction. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install the All Way signs in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the request to install All Way signs at the central Avenue and George Street intersection in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE REINSTALLATION OF A HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 25 LINCOLN AVENUE This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that the Handicap Parking sign at this location was approved for removal at the September meeting because Leonard Oldham, the applicant, did not return the required annual re- application. After the sign was removed, the applicant returned the reapplication which was acceptable. The Chairman’s recommendation was to reinstall the sign in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda.  Page 2 of 3 October 19, 2020 Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request to reinstall the Handicap Parking sign at 25 Lincoln Avenue in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A 15 MINUTE PARKING LIMITATION SIGN AT 113 BRIDGE AVENUE This request was submitted by Sadik Abuzurd of 113 Bridge Avenue. Mr. Abuzurd said that the sign is needed for customers of his convenience store to stop and shop. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has received similar requests from local businesses and have historically approved them. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request for 15 Minute Parking Here To Corner on Bridge Avenue in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the installation of a 15 Minute Parking Here to Corner sign at 113 Bridge Avenue in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON BLEEKER STREET This request was submitted by Nadine Poulin of 129 Central Avenue. Ms. Poulin states on her application that she is unable to access her garage and parking on her property because people keep parking in the road. The Chairman stated that at the April 2013 meeting, the Commission approved No Parking signs for Bleeker Street. After a field meeting with residents on and bordering Bleeker Street, Mayor Primeau and the Chairman, the residents stated that they were not notified of the request, had no input into it, did not want the No Parking prohibitions and that they would police any perceived parking concerns themselves. The signs were subsequently removed. Additionally, the Chairman stated that the distance from the garage door to the easterly edge of the asphalt pavement of Bleeker Street is 27’±. Currently, automobiles are 6 to 6 ½ feet in width. A Jeep SUV is currently 15 ½± feet in length. This leaves more width than a standard parking space and more available length than the vehicle being garaged to satisfactorily navigate and back a vehicle into the garage. As the Commission does not want to re-enact the previous neighborhood opposition over the installation of a No Parking prohibition, he stated that if a letter or a petition had been submitted with the application detailing the support of every effected neighbor of Bleeker Street, he might be more receptive to support a request for another parking prohibition on Bleeker Street. However, none was received with the application.  Page 3 of 3 October 19, 2020 There was discussion amongst the Members about if there was sufficient room for a vehicle to navigate into the garage with a car potentially parked on the east side of Bleeker Street. Field inspections of the street by the Members felt that there was not a parking problem and that a vehicle could satisfactorily navigate into the garage. There was also discussion regarding the City’s right-of-way on this street and its proximity to the garage. Based on the aforementioned facts, the Chairman’s recommendation was to deny the request for a No Parking prohibition on Bleeker Street. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to deny the request for No Parking signs on Bleeker Street. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to deny the request passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A STREET CLOSURE OF REMSEN STREET BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND CAYUGA STREET This request was submitted by Debbie Jacques of the City of Cohoes. The closure request was to permit the Small Business Saturday to have in-street dining. The closure will on Saturday November 28 between the hours of 10 AM to 9:00 PM. Howard, White and Ontario Streets will remain open to traffic. Newcomb Street will be partially closed allowing only access to the Matchbox parking lot. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of Remsen Street for other City endorsed public events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closure. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the street closure on Remsen Street between Columbia and Cayuga Streets on November 28, 2020 between the hours of 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be held on November 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:14 PM.