Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 4 May 22, 2023 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY MAY 22, 2023 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:02 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Lieutenant John Shanahan Commissioner Stephen Hennessey City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary Steve Napier, CLDC Andrew Bilach CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 24, 2023 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 REMOVAL OF A HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 97 HUDSON AVENUE This request was submitted by Ed Francesconi. Chairman Johnston stated that this sign was originally approved for Phyliss Smith and it has been confirmed by Mr. Francesconi that the sign is no longer required. His recommendation was to remove the sign in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request to remove the Residential Handicap Parking sign from 97 Hudson Avenue in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER A CURB CUT FOR 129 COLUMBIA STREET This request was submitted by Michael Randall. He is seeking a curb cut to be able to back a small trailer into the covered area of the building at 129 Columbia Street for deliveries. Chairman Johnston stated that curb cuts are normally approved for driveways. The covered area of the building is not a driveway but an entrance to the building. Additionally, any trailer backed into this area would block the safe and orderly flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic along Columbia Street. His recommendation was to deny the request.  Page 2 of 4 May 22, 2023 There was discussion amongst the members about the type of the entrance to the building and if it potentially warranted a curb cut. Chief Fahd made a motion to deny the request for a curb cut at 129 Columbia Street. Commissioner Steve Hennessey 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 STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND ONTARIO STREET FOR SPINDLE CITY SUMMERS This request was submitted by Steve Napier for the Cohoes Local Development Corporation. The closure request was to permit the Remsen Street restaurants to have in-street or in parking lot dining. The proposed closures, for in street dining, will Friday, June 16th, July 21st, August 18th and September 15th. The hours of the closures would be 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM weather permitting. Additionally, Mr. Napier is requesting that the three (3) parking lots on Remsen Street be closed to traffic every Friday from June 2nd to September 8th between the hours of 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM and that Newcomb Street be closed between Remsen and Main Streets. All the requested closures are being requested to allow the Remsen Street restaurants to eat both in the street and in the parking lots on the aforementioned dates for Spindle City Summers. Chairman Johnston stated that currently, the only parking lot owned by the City is the Matchbox parking lot; the other two are privately owned by the CLDC and the Commission has no authority over their closure. Historically, we have closed Remsen Street in the past for other City endorsed Eat-in-the Street type events. His recommendation was to approve the various requested closures of Remsen Street, Newcomb Street and the Matchbox parking lot, contingent on CDTA being notified of the closures of Remsen Street. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the Remsen Street, Matchbox parking lot and the Newcomb Street closures. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON GRANT STREET This request was submitted by Nicholas Walsner of Inside Storage Solutions. Chairman Johnston stated that the requested signs were originally approved in April 2016 at the request of Mr. Walsner. At that time, the request was so that one to two  Page 3 of 4 May 22, 2023 delivery vehicles per week could successfully back up to the building’s loading dock on Grant Street. At the February 2023 meeting, the signs were approved for removal based on area residents requesting additional neighborhood parking and the perception that the signs were no longer needed as there were no sightings of the dock being utilized. Mr. Walnser has informed us that the signs are still required and that he has one to two vehicles utilizing the dock per day. Chairman Johnston stated that he still has not seen a truck utilizing the dock on Grant Street and that there is a second dock available on McElwain Avenue. Additionally, the Chairman stated that he had received an e-mail today from a McElwain Avenue resident stating that parking in the area is saturated. Chairman Johnston opened the floor to public comment at 3:09 PM. Andrew Bilach spoke on behalf of the applicant and stated that there are five to seven trucks that use the loading dock per week usually for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. He stated that the requested no parking prohibition is more so for vehicles north of the loading dock being able to maneuver around any delivery truck more so than it is for the truck to be able to navigate into the dock. Chairman Johnston asked what the dock was that was located on McElwain Avenue. Mr. Bilach stated that the building is multi-levels and that dock is for a lower floor level delivery. Deliveries being made to that level would not be practical as they would have to utilize an elevator to access higher floor levels. Commissioner Hennessey asked if the delivery schedule could be refined to allow only deliveries on one day a week. Mr. Bilach stated that would not be practical. There was significant discussion amongst the members and the applicant’s representative about the timing of deliveries and the need for the signs. It was ultimately felt that if additional parking was required the signs would, at this time, not be re- installed. It was agreed that the issue would be re-evaluated in the future if the need did arise. Chief Fahd made a motion to deny the request for the installation of No Parking signs on Grant Street. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to deny the request passed unanimously. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on June 26, 2023 at 3 PM.  Page 4 of 4 May 22, 2023 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 3:18 PM.