Applicant
addresses
traffic issues
at strip mall
By jeanette m. eng
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Planning for a proposed strip mall to be built at the corner of Route 79 and Ryan Road is in its final stages. At their Nov. 6 meeting, Planning Board members discussed and tweaked details of the application.
The proposed strip mall to be built by the Winstanley Co. will consist of a bank, a CVS pharmacy and six retail stores.
At a previous meeting, concerns were voiced over the traffic flow, specifically that drivers would use a road through the new retail center as a shortcut between Route 79 and Ryan Road, and avoid a traffic light at that corner.
Representatives of the applicant returned last week with a proposed solution, as explained by project engineer Steven P. Atkins. The traffic pattern was redone with a combination of one-way and two-way thoroughfares in a counter-clockwise direction. The engineer said that would eliminate the possibility of drivers using the retail center as a shortcut between Route 79 and Ryan Road.
In addition to the traffic flow concerns, the board’s traffic engineer Michael Chasin told the applicant it would also have to comply in the areas of road signs, road markings and a continuous passageway for pedestrians. Changes aside, however, Chasin commended the Winstanley representatives on doing "a very good job in traffic work and in meeting the chairman’s requests."
The applicant’s mention of a 6-foot deep pond on the grounds was news to the board members. Upon hearing this, Chasin instructed the Winstanley representatives that a guardrail would have to be built in order to safeguard the traffic that would be running alongside the body of water.
In accordance with regulations that state a fence is needed to provide a barrier, Winstanley representatives said they planned to maintain an existing 6-foot tall chain link fence surrounding the area. They agreed with a suggestion by Mayor Matthew Scannapieco, who sits on the board, to remove barbed wire from the top of the fence.
The applicant’s representatives said the presence of neighboring homes was taken into consideration when designing the lighting for the parking lot and said lower powered lights will be used. In terms of aesthetics, the strip mall will be designed in a colonial look.
"This is one of the cleanest applications we have seen," said board Chairman Mario Guidice.
The applicant is expected to return for approval when all of the required changes have been designed.