By Carol Britton Meyer
Although not on the agenda, a lengthy discussion of the proposed traffic reconfiguration plan surrounding the Hull Redevelopment Authority property took center stage at last week’s meeting of the HRA.
This subject of what is known as the “two-way road plan” was brought up under “old business” by board member Adrienne Paquin, who said a two-and-a-half-year-old letter from the state expressing concerns about the plan recently was brought to her attention.
“It was news to me,” she said, adding that she did not know if other board members were aware of the November 30, 2023 letter to Community Development and Planning Director Chris DiIorio from Ginna Johnson, special projects manager for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, responding to his soliciting the DCR’s comments on the 25% revised submittal plans for the “two-way transportation improvement project.”
In summary, the letter says that after reviewing the two-way plan’s proposal for DCR’s roads – including Hull Shore Drive and Hull Shore Drive Extension – “we realized the 25% design layout is not compatible with DCR’s new climate adaptation and resilience goals for the reimagined boardwalk, or Nantasket Greenway” – which is included in the DCR’s master plan and described in the letter as a promenade, planting strip with seating and shade structures and a shared-use path.
Reconfiguration plan explained
The street reconfiguration plan would remove two of the four lanes of traffic crossing the HRA land and convert the remaining two lanes to one in each direction from Monument Square through the Surfside business district to the Anastos Corner area. Hull Shore Drive and Hull Shore Drive Extension also would become two-way and would connect with a redesigned intersection with incoming traffic from George Washington Boulevard near the Mezzo Mare restaurant.
“The path will knit together beloved Reservation landmarks like Bernie King Pavilion and Paragon Carousel, new spaces like the Nantasket Green and south park, and commercial attractions like the Red Parrot [sic], as it becomes a recreational destination itself,” the letter states. “We would like to work with the town to reimage the Reservation circulation to accommodate master plan elements and benefit both our visitors and the town’s residents. For instance, we are intrigued about the possibility of a Greenway loop, the stunning estuary views to the south along the town’s proposed shared-use trail complementing the ocean views along Nantasket Greenway.”
“I feel like we were told since I got on the board that we are waiting for 25% design comments from the DCR,” only to learn that comments were made in 2023, Paquin said.
Following an update on the two-way road proposal last November by longtime project engineer Kevin Dandrade of The Engineering Corporation, or TEC, Inc., the board voted 3-2 in favor of endorsing the proposed two-way road plan, with Dan Kernan and Paquin voting against the motion.
At the recent HRA meeting, Paquin pointed out that only parts of the plan were presented to the board at that time.
“When the board voted on whether to endorse the plan, we didn’t see the full plan,” which she said raised a red flag for further clarity.
She suggested seeking clarification during an upcoming working session between DCR, the town and representatives of the HRA – in this case, Paquin and HRA Chair Bartley Kelly.
“I find it troubling that the HRA was never informed about this letter since we kept asking to be informed and asking for answers,” Paquin said. “We keep asking for clarity and have been told that there’s nothing to tell, and then [we find] there was [this] letter from DCR.”
Kelly, the town’s building commissioner, has been involved with the proposal for several years and supports it, but said he wasn’t aware of the DCR letter.
Revoting endorsement suggested
Cindy Borges, who recently announced she is resigning from the planning board, suggested the board consider revoting on the concept “since you’re not sure what plan you were voting on.”
In response, Kelly said while he thinks the two-way road proposal “still has merit,” the board can choose to take a revote at any time.
Charles Richardson, the newest member of the board, said when he voted to endorse the two-way road proposal last November, it was based in large part on comments from the police and fire chief indicating “it would be much more beneficial to have a two-way road.” Enhancing overall pedestrian and traffic safety is a key element of the proposal.
HRA member Dan Kernan reiterated that he doesn’t endorse the two-way road plan, in part due to objections from some community members.
“I agree safety is important,” he said, but not when the plan affects Hull Shore Drive Extension. He also said he wonders why the safety issues plaguing the area haven’t been addressed in the meantime.
“I’m not saying not to endorse the proposal, but we don’t have enough information at this time,” he said, including how the plan would impact the board’s options moving forward.
Kelly suggested the board continue to work with the DCR and town to find the best path forward.
“Reaching a consensus is key,” he said.
Paquin requested that fellow board members “ask for clarity moving forward,” since she is not running for re-election when her term expires in the May 18 annual town election. “We’ve been doled out information, and we are abutters,” she said.
Prior to the vote to endorse in November, resident C. Anne Murray spoke out during the Zoom meeting, and when Kelly reiterated that the board was not taking public comments, she said that she was going to speak anyway. Murray is now running for the seat on the redevelopment authority being vacated by Paquin.
‘The HRA doesn’t need to endorse this project’
“Do you have a clue about what the latest plan looks like? The HRA doesn’t need to endorse the project, so why are you voting now?” she asked. “You should let the public have a say after this discussion that we have all been waiting for.”
After Murray spoke, Paquin said she was worried “that we are painting ourselves into a bit of a corner voting on such a vague [motion].”
‘Many people still don’t understand the two-way proposal’
With all the discussions over many years about the two-way road plan proposal – including many during HRA meetings – Kernan noted that “many people still don’t understand the reasoning behind the two-way road proposal. The community has not been involved with this.”
Paquin plans to share the DCR letter – which she said someone drew her attention to – with the other board members now that she has brought it to their attention.
“I asked questions [and looked into it],” she said.
Susan Vermilya of the SOS Hull open-space advocacy group echoed Kernan’s concerns about current safety issues not being addressed in the area of the proposed two-way road.
“Why isn’t the town dealing with these safety issues?” she asked. “If there are significant safety concerns, let’s not wait until this project [may happen] years into the future.”
Kelly said that while the town is addressing some of these issues, “we can’t install raised sidewalks [and other safety improvements] on a state roadway.”
In closing, he noted that “the bottom line is that the DCR paid for the traffic study that was the beginning of [all] this.”
Click here for more information and links to documents about the traffic reconfiguration plan
Click here to read the DCR’s 2023 letter
In other business
March 30 marked the opening of concession vendor bids for the Hull Redevelopment Authority property for the coming season. There were eight applications for six available spaces along Hull Shore Drive to operate between June 1 and Sept. 30.
However, one application was deemed “unresponsive” – meaning incomplete according to the bid specifications – and another was responsive but disqualified because the applicant was not present at the meeting.
Bids were opened in the order received, and HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin and HRA members went over each application to check whether they were complete.
Six applications were responsive (listed in order of highest bid) – Northeast Surfing, (surf camp and shop); Boston Lobster; Respiro Wellness/Sauna (mobile sauna); MJ’s, Ellie’s Treats, and Snack Buoy. The last four vendors will sell various food items and beverages.
The highest bidder – Northeast Surfing, with a bid of $3,110 – got first choice of vendor space; the second-highest bidder got the next choice of space, and so on.
The HRA is only approving the use of its land; vendors are responsible for obtaining other necessary permits from the town.
The HRA has dedicated portions of its property as year-round event spaces in order to provide Hull citizens and organizations with locations to host open-space events. The authority also limited the amount of parking for the summer to provide space for events.
The HRA encourages uses – by Hull groups as well as ones from outside of Hull, with preference given to Hull-based entities if there is a scheduling conflict – such as concerts, food fairs, weddings, celebrations, community engagement events, art installations, markets, passive recreation, musical/dance/circus performances, and/or sports competitions.
All applications for use, once approved by the HRA, may also require approval from the Hull Select Board or Town of Hull departments as required.
A replay of the HRA’s March 30 meeting is posted on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.
