The Mobil station’s northern access is nearly — but not — opposite Grove Street, creating concerns for police commissioners. —Google Maps
With plans submitted for a new convenience store at the site of the Mobil gas station on Danbury Road, the Police commission is seeing potential traffic problems at the intersection of Route 35 and Grove Street.
Enough to stop the development entirely?
Probably not, but the current position of the property’s two accessways may be enough to limit how drivers turn into and out of the new shop.
“The driveway is in a weird place and with the new businesses over in that area — the burger shop and the ice cream place — we’re going to see an increase in not only motor vehicle, but pedestrian traffic as well,” said commissioner Joe Savino at the commission’s meeting on Jan. 9.
“I don’t think people should be allowed to shoot right across the intersection onto Grove Street from where the Mobil station is now — it’s pretty dangerous. I’ve seen some wild examples of people blasting through there and I’m not really sure whether or not they’re adhering to traffic laws or breaking them because of where the light is and where the Mobil driveway is.”
Commissioner Marianne Coffin agreed and added that she didn’t believe traffic at the site would actually increase, but that the commission should evaluate the complicated intersection before the plans are approved.
Police Chief John Roche said he would submit his evaluation to the Planning and Zoning Commission within the month, which would include whether the accessways should each be one way — one an exit, one an entry.
“According to the applicant’s traffic consultants, the traffic won’t increase if both the accessways remain the way they are — they think it’s worst to change it actually,” he said. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Chairman Thomas Reynolds said he wanted to the commission to look into adding signs at each part of the intersection that would potentially limit left hand turns out of the property onto Route 35.
“I don’t want to torpedo this thing but we really should give it a thorough look before something bad happens over there,” he said.
Mr. Savino continued on his earlier point about the new business in the area, specifically the recently opened Bareburger and Peach Wave, and what that meant for the future of the intersection.
“This is an area, with a convenience store too now, that is really going to attract kids and they could be running across the street, who knows?” he said. “We need to mitigate something here.”
Citing the traffic report submitted by the applicant, Chief Roche said there wasn’t enough evidence that this was a problematic intersection.
“It’s not a high accident intersection — nothing historical that’s happened there,” he said. “They’re going to argue this point and it’s one we should consider.
“There’s a way to make it work out there, we just have to figure it out,” he added.
Mr. Savino wasn’t so sure.
“More kids, more cars sounds like there’s going to be a lot more texting and driving in a high-volume traffic area,” he said.