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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/23/1998 RECEIVED MAR 2 3 1998 . . Southold Town CIeri< Southold Transportation Committee Southold Town Hall February 23, 1998 8:00 AM Present: Neboysha Brashich, Margaret Brown, Victor Brown, Frank Field, Barbara Michelson, David Moore, Valerie Scopaz, Melissa Spiro; Visitors: Tim Caufield of Peconic Land Trust; Jeff Wieczorek of GE Lighting; Councilwoman Alice Hussie Front Street. Greenoort: Glynis attended a Greenport Village Board meeting to discuss some of the concerns brought about by changing the traffic on Front Street, as proposed by the state DOT, particularly the ramifications of removing parking on the south side and speeding up traffic. She used picture boards to discuss visual space, and road and sidewalk width. She pointed out that street corners are important to consider because they become less safe for crossing with wider streets. Mayor Kapell invited her to join them during their discussion with the DOT. Valerie also has a standing invitation to these meetings. Scenic Bvwavs: There have been six or seven meetings thus far including Vision Forum I. The Steering and Advisory Committees feel they need more guidance and input. Neb wrote a letter February 19 to Ferrandino & Associates asking that their team take specific steps to develop a more interactive dialogue with both committees in preparation for Vision Forum II, and of course ultimately, the final Corridor Management Plan. He asked that a set of maps be available for a joint meeting of the committees today, as well as the presence of Mr. Raul Cotilla to explain them. Neb also reported on the photography contest (see below) being planned in conjunction with Vision Forum II. Alice Hussie suggested that a photography contest be held identifying the best and worst views on Routes 25 and 48 throughout the length of Southold Town. A $250 prize will be given for each category, the money coming from Supervisor Cochran's recent salary increase. Contestants may submit as many photos as they wish and all photos will be exhibited, and voted on, at Vision Forum II. All who attend this meeting will participate in the judging. Tim Caufield - Peconic Land Trust: Tim Caufield suggested that we need to approach off-road trails globally. We need to focus on the whole planning perspective. The Peconic Land Trust (PLT) is in the first stages of working with the town to key into areas that need to be saved - about 25 areas of open space have been identified which will be narrowed down to a smaller number. The two off-road links we are considering are interesting to PLT. Caufield discussed the idea of "licensing" - a concept in which the land owner would license the town to use part of his property for an easement specific to performance standards of good management and would give the land owner some assurance of security. In a situation where several different owners were involved in an easement, each owner would have the ability to stop the entire process by not granting a license. Fort Corchaul!: A Fort Corchaug committee is working on a management plan (there are two committees - a Fort Committee and a Recreation Committee). Peconic Land Trust holds conservation easements on all of the property. The easement defines how the property is to be used: small unpaved parking area; on site presence/visitors center, plus Fort Corchaug itself and a nature center. The property extends from the Route 25 on the north to New Suffolk A venue on the south. Perhaps there could be an off-road trail linking both ends. Neb asked how the PLT would feel about bringing in the National Park Service for consultation and guidance. Tim Caufield liked the idea because the land trust doesn't have trail designers. It will be necessary to get permission from Mr. McCall, the owner of the southern part of the property, to cross his property. This plan will be developed in small stages, but PLT wants to get something in place right away, even a sign, small parking lot, or short trail loop. Neb stated that the Transportation Committee may have some money available that will not be needed for Soundview Avenue improvements that could be applied to work at Fort Corchaug, at least if it can be made a part of the Mattituck/New Suffolk loop. Barbara and Margaret will write up a proposal for a trail with a link to Fort Corchaug. Tim Caufield will provide a map of the area. . . East End Transportation Council: A draft of the "Year End Report for 1997 and Transpor\lltioD, Action Strategy for 1998" was handed out. The Transportation Committee is to study it and give any changes to Valerie before March. Walkable and Bikeable Communities: Margaret reported on this two-day workshop attended by Neb and herself on January 29-30. The workshop was entitled "Transportation Solutions for the 21st Century" and was led by Dan Burden, an engineer with 20 years of experience in transportation planning and research for bicycling and walking. This was a very informative and insightful workshop with great potential value for the North Fork. Neb talked to Mr. Burden about coming to Southold to do a seminar here with our specific needs in mind. Bicvcle Safetv Grant: Supervisor Cochran and the Transportation Committee have been notified that Allstate has given the Town a $1900 Bicycle Safety Grant. We will develop a bicycle safety program to be unveiled at the time the Mattituck/New Suffolk Loop is officially inaugurated. Barbara and Margaret will follow up on the grant (thank yous, details), and will also check on the availability of the trailhead sign and whether PLT feels the Fort Corchaug complex can be included on it. Street Li!!htin!!: Jeff Wieczorek of GE Lighting came to make a presentation of the types of lighting available, what the town needs and how GE can best serve the town. After explaining that there are several types of lighting available in terms of modern technology and appropriateness for the area, Mr. Wieczorek proposed that he would do light level calculations of what we now have. He will try to get a special highly sophisticated light meter for this phase. He also proposes a walk-through with DOT representatives to assess existing lighting. He suggested that we compile a list of bad, dangerous, unattractive, excessive, or under-lit places. We also need to discover who has jurisdiction over the existing lights - DOT, LlLCO, and who decides where they are placed on Routes 25 and 48. Our Town Code currently has no technical specifics that can be enforced when people want to replace lights. Several businesses have leases with LlLCO to supply lights and maintain them. We could use Southold as a prototype of how to design lighting for a rural area that could be of value to the other four towns in the East End Transportation Council Valerie will send Mr. Wieczorek a packet of information on our lighting situation, along with information provided by Alice Hussie, who attended the meeting as a representative of the Highway Department. The next meeting will be Monday, March 23, 8 AM at Southold Town Hall. Respectfully submitted, Margaret H. Brown