Marblehead board OKs Glover traffic plan

MARBLEHEAD – The $25.4 million new Glover School has cleared another local hurdle: after discussing traffic and drainage issues at the site Tuesday, the Planning Board approved the site plan for the new kindergarten-Grade 3 Glover School unanimously.Traffic plans were reviewed by consultant Gary Hebert, who discussed a pedestrian light and other proposed changes for the intersection of Maple, Tedesco and Humphrey streets, located near the entrance to the present school and the proposed new one.Those other changes include a bicycle lane on Maple Street, School Zone signage with a 20-mile speed limit, a new car entrance to the school site and so-called “live parking” for parents dropping off and picking up their children, especially kindergartners.School parent Bill Corbett questioned plans for the rear of the new building however, especially traffic on Cypress and Cherry streets, which are narrow two-way streets and lack sidewalks.He asked Hebert what could be done to protect “kids walking in the street with two-way traffic.”Hebert said that signs would be posted banning parking at the back of the building to prevent drop-off and pick-up there, a move that would reduce traffic. He also proposed making both streets one-way during school opening and closing hours.Corbett questioned whether that would be sufficient. Police Chief Robert Picariello said police would be there to ticket traffic violators.Architect Greg Smolley said the designers had walked the site many times, speaking with neighbors and parents, and planned to make more visits to address any other issues.?Be sure to come by after the first snowstorm,” Corbett said.Smolley told the Planning Board the drainage will move water away from Cypress and Cherry streets and the school site and convey it to Maple Street, which has the drainage capacity to handle it.