Guilderland planners’ concerns over traffic impacts of a proposed Cumberland Farms at a busy intersection were not relieved after hearing a state official’s comments.
The Guilderland Planning Board again tabled making a recommendation to the Town Board on rezoning 2444 Western Ave. from local business to general business Wednesday, June 25.
Planning board members wanted to hear comments from the state Department of Transportation regarding potential traffic impacts of the more intensive usage before making a decision. Critical comments from the state led Tri-Way Services, Inc., to revise the site plan, but board members wanted more time to review the proposal before making a determination.
DOT Regional Traffic Engineer Mark Kennedy’s letter to the town stated the most northern driveway to Route 146 should be eliminated, which the developer did in the revised sketch plan presented June 25.
Kennedy said there could be “operational issues” with the sole proposed driveway to Western Avenue, particularly left turns exiting and entering the property.
“Given the existing horizontal and vertical curvature of Route 20 at this location, sight distance can be limited by the westbound vehicles queues in the exclusive left-turn lane, which may limit the sight distance needed for left-turn entering movements,” Kennedy’s letter said. “We feel this design element warrants further evaluation to determine if this turn movement must be restricted.”
Kennedy also said left-turn entrances from Western Avenue could “easily and more safely” be accommodated through taking a left at the intersection’s traffic light, and then entering at the Route 146 driveway.
Stefanie DiLallo Bitter, an attorney representing Tri-Way, said the developer is prepared to work with the DOT on the Western Avenue driveway. The revised plan maintained the driveway.
Planning Board Chairman Stephen Feeney said left turns from Western Avenue into the proposed store seem vital to its operation.
“One thing that surprised me a little bit is that left turn in [from Western Avenue] seems important to the site, more than I would have figured,” Feeney said. “It seems to me that is the crux of the access issue.”
About 50 percent of traffic into the store during the afternoon peak would come from westbound drivers turning left, according to the traffic study. During the morning peak it falls around 30 percent.
Cumberland Farms is proposed to share parking with the adjacent property it also owns, with developers looking to attract a bank. Some board members were previously concerned the long vacant building would remain standing after the new gas station was constructed.
Feeney restated the board’s desire to the site developed as a whole, rather than sectioned off into two projects.
“I think that’s kind of critical in that … the last time they looked at rezone here for a gas station they were using the whole site,” Feeney said, “so we are curious to see how this works.”
Board member Bruce Sherwin agreed the town has to review the rezone comprehensively.
“Going back and looking at this on your part in a comprehensive way makes the most sense to me, and taking the time to do it right,” Sherwin said.
Bitter said Tri-Way was “not at all” trying to push it through and started meeting with town officials last December.
Feeney did agree with the developer on the proposed usage “is not necessarily inconsistent with the neighborhood.” He believes it generally maintains the area’s zoning, with a Stewart’s being adjacent to the property.
The Guilderland Town Board was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the rezone request at its meeting Tuesday, July 1, which was after The Spotlight went to press.