Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 4 September 25, 2023 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:17 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Sergeant Michael Kendrick City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves MEMBERS ABSENT: Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 28, 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, Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the minutes. Sergeant Kendrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET BETWEEN ONTARIO AND CAYUGA STREETS AND SENECA AND ONEIDA STREETS FOR THE COHOES CAR SHOW This request was submitted by Kathleen LaBombard of the Mayor’s Office. The closure request was to permit the annual Cohoes Car Show on Sunday October 15, 2023 between the hours of 8 AM to 3 PM. Oneida Street would be closed to traffic from Remsen Street to the Ogden Mills parking lot. Seneca Street would be closed at the Keybank exit driveway. Additionally, no parking would be allowed in the parking spaces on Mohawk and Seneca Streets around Silliman Park. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of Remsen, Seneca and Oneida Streets for this and other City endorsed public events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the street closure of Remsen, Oneida and Seneca Streets and to prohibit parking in the parking spaces on Mohawk and Seneca Streets around Silliman Park on Sunday October 15, 2023 between the hours of 8 AM to 3 PM. Sergeant Kendrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE ON REMSEN STREET BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND CAYUGA STREETS FOR THE HALLOWEEN PARADE AND TRUNK OR TREAT  Page 2 of 4 September 25, 2023 This request was submitted by Kathleen LaBombard of the Mayor’s Office. The closure request was to permit the Cohoes Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat on Friday October 27, 2023 between the hours of 6 PM to 9 PM. All cross streets would be closed to traffic. Additionally, no parking is requested along Remsen Street between Columbia and Cayuga Streets from 4 PM until the event is over. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of streets for City endorsed public events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to again approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the street closure of Remsen Street on Friday October 27, 2023 between the hours of 6 PM to 9 PM and also to prohibit parking on Remsen Street between 4 PM until the event is over. Sergeant Kendrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 120 LANCASTER STREET This request was submitted by Dawn Gamache. Chairman Johnston stated that the application appeared to be incomplete. Ms. Gamache did not provide any reasoning for the request and her physician did not provide any medical reasoning for her limitations other than they were permanent. The physician felt that the Ms. Gamache’s limitations were moderate. The Center for Independence’s review provided only information as provided by Ms. Gamache. The Chairman felt that it was not prudent and bad precedence to approve any application without the required information and complete application. His recommendation was to table the request pending receipt of the required information. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to table the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 120 Lancaster Street pending receipt of the required information and completed application. Sergeant Kendrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to table the request passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DRIVEWAY AND CURB CUT AT #192 LANCASTER STREET The request was submitted by Thomas Kudlack of #192 Lancaster Street for the installation of a driveway and a curb cut on his property. The sketch that is attached to the agenda details that the driveway will be approximately 13 feet in width on the Lancaster Street side and 14 feet wide on the alley side. The driveway is to be constructed for the full depth of the property. There is an existing sidewalk in the front of the house that would remain in place.  Page 3 of 4 September 25, 2023 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 but he did have some questions regarding the driveway’s construction. Chairman Johnston opened the floor to public comment at 3:17 PM. Mr. Kudlack explained that he is a DAV and finds it more difficult daily to move his vehicle to meet current street cleaning and winter snow plowing parking restrictions. The frequency of him moving the vehicle daily has diminished over time. He is requesting the driveway so he does not have to move the vehicle as required. Chairman Johnston questioned if the curb cut was required on Lancaster Street as the street has recently been paved or if it would be acceptable if only access from the alley was approved. Mr. Kudlack stated that he has a vehicle that could drive over the curb to access the driveway in the front of the house if necessary. The Chairman stated that access from the alley was acceptable and that most other residents of the area were using the alley for access to their parking spaces in the rear of their homes. The Chairman explained that since the sidewalk abuts the curb, removing the curb in the front would also require the concrete sidewalk to be removed and reconstructed to current ADA standards and to provide satisfactory access to vehicles. The Chairman provided Mr. Kudlack with a sketch of what would be required for the sidewalk transition. Mr. Kudlack stated that he would discuss the required concrete transition with his contractor but questioned if it could be backfilled with gravel for the winter. The Chairman stated that it would not be prudent to have a gravel sidewalk surface through the winter until next construction season. A gravel driveway surface would be acceptable through the winter but ultimately must be a hard surface of either concrete or asphalt. Joseph Seman-Graves advised that there would probably be no variances required from the Zoning Board. He was concerned that water would positively drain. Mr. Kudlack stated that the driveway is being constructed to drain to the eastern alley. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the installation of a driveway and curb cut of 13 feet in width on the Lancaster Street side and 14 feet in width on the alley side at 192 Lancaster Street, 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. The concrete sidewalk is to remain in place or be reconstructed as needed to current ADA standards. Sergeant Kendrick seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously.  Page 4 of 4 September 25, 2023 Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on October 23, 2023 at 3 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 unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 3:29 PM.