Article 3 to require an Independent traffic study by a qualified professional paid by developer, not taxpayers’ dollars.
Citizen’s Petition, Article 3 – signed by over 320 Legal Rockport Residents and another 200 on Change.org
You did it! With 582 votes cast, Article 3 passed 332 to 250.
A “YES” vote on Article 3 would add new language to the Land Use Ordinance Section 803.1(3) as follows:
“No off-site or shared parking, or waiver of parking requirements, shall be approved unless it is supported by an independent traffic study prepared by a qualified professional, hired by the reviewing authority and paid for by the applicant, which establishes that the parking facility is adequate for the proposed use and any shared use(s), will not cause undue burdens on traffic or parking in the vicinity, and will not cause safety concerns.”
Why wouldn’t you want a traffic, parking and safety study done?
- Rockport Police stated concern with the blind corner of Maine and Central with the consideration of a proposed hotel. Residents are already concerned with traffic, parking, pedestrian and cyclist safety on Central Street without the hotel. Two accidents have already occurred at blind uphill corner where hotel’s valet drivers to offsite parking and delivery trucks will be turning.
- Parking and vehicle circulation impacts from development should be reviewed and studied by qualified and unbiased traffic engineers.
- It is already difficult to park if you come into town for an evening event without a hotel.
- Then director of planning and community development for the town, Jamie Francomano stated “…the Planning Board will have very wide discretion and waiving the number and customizing that…” of the parking requirements for hotels at the Select Board meeting on April 18, 2017. See here at 38:40 https://livestream.com/rockportmaine/events/7198735/videos/154495579
- The adequacy of parking and safety concerns related to traffic caused by proposed development are long term and cumulative.
- Parking and vehicle circulation impacts from development should be reviewed and studied by qualified and unbiased traffic engineers.
Will this impact traffic, parking, and pedestrian safety in the harbor?
