NOTES OF JULY 13, 2015 RYE BOARD OF SELECTMEN SITE WALK
PERKINS RD.
Final Revision B – Provided by the Rye Civic League
Present: Town Administrator Michael Magnant, Selectmen Musselman, Jenness and Mills, Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy, Police Chief Kevin Walsh.
Persons present from the public included: Peter Crawford, Mark Crotty, Sally Crotty, Carol Poor, Charles Poor, Larry Rocha.
Editor’s
note: For ease in finding particular
sections using the archived video and audio on Vimeo, the elapsed time is
indicated. Use the slider and the
elapsed time indicated at the bottom of the video window to fast forward to the
desired section. The video is available
at https://vimeo.com/133452796/.
Summary
1. Site walk was conducted, with several residents present, on Perkins Rd.
2. Residents are requesting striping adjacent to driveways similar to what is planned on Ocean Blvd. The Selectmen took the matter under advisement.
3. Residents present complained about safety issues, as well as trash and public urination.
5. Ocean Blvd. striping will occur “this week” according to Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy.
Selectman Jenness called the meeting to
order at approximately 5:45 p.m. and announced the persons present. She explained that they had been asked to
come look at the driveways of the Crottys at 12 Perkins, and of the Poors at 18
Perkins. The request was that the same
treatment as had been afforded entrances onto Route 1A should be given to these
driveways. She explained that that had
required a long site walk and then State approval which had now been
granted. However, Perkins is a Town
road.
(1:37 elapsed)
Mark Crotty expressed concern about safety
as Perkins is a cut-through to the beach.
There is a lot of pedestrian traffic with no place to walk. He passed out photographs from the prior day
at 2:00. He asserted that it had been a
fairly quiet day. Selectman Mills
disagreed. While the ticketing is pretty
good, it doesn’t stop anyone from parking, Mr. Crotty said. There are problems for both pedestrians and
those trying to leave their driveways.
Sally Crotty noted how difficult it was to
leave the driveway if a tall vehicle is parked there.
Larry Rocha stated that he lives down the
street and has warned people about parking illegally. They respond that they will just pay the
ticket, he said. Editor’s note: Mr. Rocha is
Chairman of the Beach Committee.
Police Chief Walsh stated that the fine for
parking violations on Perkins Rd. is $30 and goes up to $45 if not paid within
five days. He explained how non-payment
of tickets can lead to suspension of drivers licenses.
Someone asked about Canadians. Chief Walsh asserted that a lot of them are
paying. They pay because they go
elsewhere and don’t want to be charged with driving after suspension.
Mark Crotty stated that the $30 is not a
deterrent, even if they pay. He pointed
to the lot behind the Dunes and said that if they cannot pay the $15 to park
there, then the $30 is not excessive as there are not a lot of other places to
park.
Charles Poor noted that his wife had nearly
collided with an officer while backing out slowly. The biggest issue is the kids, who are eager
to get to the beach and walk in the middle of the street. It’s dangerous, he said.
There was discussion about other areas where
there is a similar issue. Cable Rd. and
Parsons Rd. were mentioned.
(9:07 elapsed)
Selectman Mills pointed and stated “for
everyone’s information,” years ago, the area where Mr. Crotty’s house is was a
parking lot.
Mr. Poor pointed
towards the Dunes and noted that “he,” apparently referring to the owner, had
recently passed away and that there might be changes coming.
Chief Walsh stated that
the usage was intense during the three months of the summer with the motel,
restaurant, bar and other businesses in the area. There are similar challenges at Wallis Rd.
Someone asked why the
illegally parked cars are not towed.
Chief Walsh stated that the ordinance would need to state specifically
that the cars could be towed. He
expressed concern about damage to cars, the liability and lack of tow companies
in the area that could handle the volume.
If the cars on Perkins are towed then they would all need to be towed.
The individual stated
that, if five cars were towed and it was in the news, the problem would cease.
Chief Walsh stated that
when cars are towed an inventory needs to be done. An owner may assert that there was $100 in
the glove box and it would otherwise be unknown whether it was the police or
the tow company had taken the money.
That is very time consuming.
(11:47 elapsed)
Selectman
Mills, pointing his finger at the residents, stated that, back in the 1990s the
Town had gone to Concord and fought hard to let “you people” from ____ Drive go
to the beach, because “those people” do not want you on the beach. Bottom line.
We had that fight for a long, long time and we finally got it our way so
you that you guys can go to the beach.
Now you want to stop people from going to the beach. It’s not fair, he said.
A number of the
residents spoke up in disagreement.
Sally Crotty noted that the lot behind the Dunes will handle 350 cars
because there is turnover. Selectman
Mills pointed to her property and noted that it had once been a parking
lot. Sally Crotty pointed out how
crowded the beach was on weekends.
Chief Walsh noted that
the intense business use is drawing people in.
At Wallis Rd. there are businesses, but they are of a different
type. He said that there are about 60
spaces in the back lot.
(13:18 elapsed)
Selectman Musselman
stated the Town owns a boot, but it had never been used. Editor’s
note: In 2015, Warrant Article 18, which
implemented procedures for booting, passed 1136-339. Selectman Musslman stated that the boot
would be a deterrent, but there is an “ordinance issue.” He asked Chief Walsh to describe that.
Chief Walsh stated that
the purpose of the boot is to address repeat offenders who are not paying
parking tickets. The magic number is
three. The bigger bite is the paperwork
through the tenth circuit court and notifying the motor vehicle department to
suspend the licenses of those not paying parking tickets as people need to have
a drivers license.
Jim Cassin, 17 Perkins
Rd., stated that he had lived in Rye since the 1980s and talked to Selectman
Mills many times about getting rid of the parking lot that had been there. People change their clothes and go to the
bathroom in the spare lot. People have
to walk in the road. He asked why
Perkins Rd. could not be made no parking, which would eliminate all of the
issues.
Chief Walsh stated that
if Perkins were made no parking, there would be a request for Old Beach Rd. and
other streets as well. The parking
problem would then be moved to another neighborhood that had never had a
problem before.
Mr. Cassin stated that
the tough parking ordinances in Hampton and North Hampton are pushing visitors
up to Rye. They need to keep pushing
them up to Maine. Sooner or later
someone is going to be killed.
Larry Rocha noted that
people are parking on an area of Perkins Rd. where it does not say no
parking. Editor’s note: The section of
Perkins where the site walk was occurring says “No Parking on Pavement.” A bus stopped there and unloaded about 50
kids who walked, Mr. Rocha said.
Selectman Jenness
suggested that the purpose of the meeting be addressed, namely the 20 foot and
10 foot clearances on either side of driveways.
Selectman Jenness pointed out that, on Route 1A, the driveway
restriction had been put in place 20 feet from the driveway (excluding the fan)
towards the direction from which the traffic was coming, and 10 feet in the
opposite direction.
There was discussion
about whether the painting on Route 1A had occurred. Selectman Musselman stated that State
approval had finally been obtained and the painting would be starting soon. Public Works Director Dennis McCarthy added
that it would be “this week.”
Selectman Musselman
stated that he had been by several times since the request was made and that
the current situation was about what he had seen. The video showed 10 feet or so from the edge
of the driveway to the nearest parked car.
Selectman Musselman noted that other driveways are worse. Part of the problem is that the wheels are
right on the white line.
There was discussion
about the loss of parking spaces from striping.
Selectman Mills asserted that three spaces would be lost. Editor’s
note: A typical car is about 15 feet
long. For a ten foot driveway width and
additional striping of twenty and ten foot sections, there would be forty feet
lost. To arrive at three spaces,
Selectman Mills must be including the space in front of the driveway itself,
where parking is illegal under State law whether or not there is striping.
Selectman Musselman stated those who would
have parked in spaces that are marked will go inland. There will not be fewer people coming to the
beach, he asserted.
Charles Poor again
warned of the danger. The kids are
uncontrolled. It is only a matter of
time before someone is killed, he asserted.
Selectman Mills stated
that they will still have the situation on the Boulevard, which is ten times
worse.
Dennis McCarthy noted
that there was little traffic on Perkins.
Striping on Ocean Blvd. was done because of the traffic, he said. “It’s up to you guys,” he added.
There was discussion
about whether there were enough signs on the opposite side of the road to
prevent parking. Dennis McCarthy pointed
to one of the signs and stated that it was not the Town’s. “We couldn’t afford all those signs,” he
said. There was discussion about where
the street was marked “No Parking” and where it was marked “No Parking on
Pavement.”
Selectman Musselman
stated that, if they were going to start doing the side roads they would need
to do all of the side roads. Selectman
Jenness asked whether the matter would need to be taken under advisement. Selectman Musselman stated that they would
need to look at the other side roads.
Sally Crotty agreed,
saying that she would like it solved for everyone.
Selectman Musselman
stated that the way to solve the problem was to establish a remote lot. The trouble with that is that the shuttle
buses need to be set up, and operate even when it is raining. Portsmouth did that last year and it cost
them $7.50 per rider to go a mile. The
revenue did not even come close to covering that. He then referred to meters being under
consideration.
Carol Poor suggested
that the parking require a Rye resident sticker. Those people would at least have some respect
for their property. The people coming
now do not. She spoke about someone
standing on their wall urinating onto their lawn.
Mark Crotty stated that
the folks from “up north” have no qualms about changing in public.
Selectman Musselman
stated that there were more Quebecers here than at Wallis Sands. He stated that the percentage of New Hampshire
residents both “here” and at Wallis Sands is above 50 percent, although it is
higher at the latter location.
Larry Rocha stated that
the Beach Committee was looking at making roads like this resident
parking. Over 2000 permits are sold for
only 120 spots.
Selectman Musselman
stated that the study the prior year indicated that the resident spaces were
not fully utilized. That is being
checked this summer, he said.
Carol Poor noted that
there would be more revenue for the town and would help them by ensuring that
those parking have respect for their property.
Mark Crotty noted that
trash would be reduced, as well as the numbers of diapers in mailboxes. Someone noted that trash is being deposited
behind walls as well.
Charles Poor noted that
there are no barrels any more.
(28:55 elapsed)
Selectman Mills stated
that the barrels had been put back out to help people, but the State wouldn’t
do it. They used to have barrels across
from the General Store, but people would discard their household trash
there. “That ruined that barrel,” he
said.
There was then
discussion about next steps.
Mark Crotty asked to
make the street Resident Parking.
Selectman Jenness
stated that there had been such a request for Old Beach Rd.
Selectman Mills added
that there had been a warrant article on that.
Editor’s note: 2012 Petitioned Warrant Article 19. Which
failed 627-712, would have created resident parking areas on Locke Rd. from Old
Beach Rd. to Harbor Rd.
Selectman Jenness noted that there needs to
be a place for those from out of town to park.
Selectman Mills stated
that his next door neighbor wants to make Ocean Blvd. resident parking. Charles Poor said that it was a good
idea.
The motion to take the
matter under advisement carried unanimously.
Mark Crotty stated that
anything that could be done in terms of enforcement would be appreciated.
The site walk then
disbanded and the meeting reconvened as the regular Board of Selectmen
meeting. Editor’s note: See separate
notes on the meeting.