Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 4 September 19, 2022 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:01 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Commissioner Stephen Hennessey Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Lieutenant John Shanahan MEMBERS ABSENT: City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 15, 2022 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as published. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Chief Fahd 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 TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PAGE AVENUE The request was submitted by John Frainier representing St. Michael’s Church. He is requesting to be allowed to close Page Avenue from Ontario Street to the northerly dead end on October 1, 2022 between the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The closure would be to allow the St. Michael’s feast day celebration that honors all first responders. Chairman Johnston stated that the Traffic Commission has approved, in the past, the closure of Page Avenue for other St. Michael’s sponsored public events. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on the applicant having satisfactory insurance and receiving a permit from the City. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the closure of Page Avenue on October 1, 2022 between the hours of 9 AM to 4 PM. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET BETWEEN ONTARIO AND CAYUGA STREETS This request was submitted by Ed Krajewski of the City of Cohoes’ Recreation Department. The closure request was to permit the annual Cohoes Car Show on October 2, 2022 between the hours of 8 AM to 2 PM. Oneida Street would be closed to  Page 2 of 4 September 19, 2022 traffic from Remsen Street to the Ogden Mills parking lot. Seneca Street would be closed at the Keybank exit driveway. This request was originally scheduled to be held on July 24 but was canceled because of inclement weather. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of Remsen, Seneca and Oneida Streets for City endorsed events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the request for the street closure of Remsen, Oneida and Seneca Streets on October 2, 2022 between the hours of 8 AM to 2 PM. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DRIVEWAY AT #39 SHANNON AVENUE The request was submitted by Adam Cottrell of #39 Shannon Avenue for the installation of a driveway and a curb cut on the east side of his property. The photo that is attached to the agenda details that the driveway will be 20 feet wide and 18 feet in depth behind the existing concrete sidewalk. Chairman Johnston stated that he had looked at the location and the request will have no adverse effect on on-street parking and will only improve it. His recommendation was to approve the request for a driveway of 18 feet in depth behind the existing concrete sidewalk and a curb cut of 20 feet in width, in accordance with the photo attached to the agenda, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent upon receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. Any approval would be contingent upon the concrete sidewalk remaining in place. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the request for the installation of a driveway of 18 feet in depth behind the existing concrete sidewalk and a curb cut of 20 feet in width at #39 Shannon Avenue, in accordance with the sketch attached to the agenda, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent upon receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. The concrete sidewalk is to remain. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON JAMES STREET BETWEEN WILMER AVENUE AND ABRAM LANSING SCHOOL This request was made by Councilperson William McCarthy and supported by Mayor Keeler. The Chairman stated that Councilperson McCarthy is concerned about southbound  Page 3 of 4 September 19, 2022 vehicles not being able to proceed in a safe and orderly manner because of vehicles parked in front of the houses on the west side. This problem is exacerbated during the school year during arrival and dismissal times for Abram Lansing School and queues traffic onto Columbia Street. The Councilperson has spoke to the residents of the homes in this area and they have no objections to a no parking prohibition in front of their homes and are willing to park on the east side of James Street as necessary. Lieutenant Shanahan questioned if the no parking prohibition would be only during the school year and school times. Chairman Johnston stated that it would be in effect at all times. There was discussion amongst the members that if a future need arose, the prohibition could be modified to be only during school days and times. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install No Parking Any Time signs on the west side of James Street between Wilmer Avenue and the Abram Lansing School driveway in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the installation of No Parking Any Time signs on James Street in accordance with Attachment “A” 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 RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 98 BRESLIN AVENUE This request was submitted by Sandy Giacomini. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence were both in order with the City’s MIRA policy. His recommendation was to approve the request. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 98 Breslin Avenue. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AN ANNUAL RE-APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT #64 BRESLIN AVENUE This request was submitted by Paula Foster of 64 Breslin Avenue. Chairman Johnston stated that the City’s MIRA policy requires the annual re-application of the applicants. He also stated that at a previous meeting, the Commission approved the removal of Ms. Foster’s handicap parking sign for her failure to return her re-application. After the sign was removed, her application was finally returned to the secretary. The Chairman stated that the application is in order and his recommendation was to approve the re- application and re-install the handicap parking sign at #64 Breslin Avenue. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the annual approval of the handicap re-application for the handicap parking sign at # 64 Breslin Avenue and re-  Page 4 of 4 September 19, 2022 installation of the sign. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER VARIOUS PARKING SPACE AND SIDEWALK CLOSURES ALONG REMSEN STREET FOR HOLIDAY MARKET VENDORS This request was submitted by Steve Napier representing the Cohoes Local Development Corporation. It was withdrawn from the agenda by Mr. Napier. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on October 7, 2022 at 3 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 3:09 PM.