HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-15 TEC Civil Peer Review II SEP-28-2005 01:24PM FROM-TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING b CONSTRUCTIO 076-794-1703 T-300 P-002/003 F-640
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Lincoln Daley,Town Planner September 28,2005
Community Development and Planning Department T0131
North Andover Town Building
400 Osgood Street
North Andover,MA 01845
Re: Traffic Engineering Peer Review Follow-up
Walgreens Pharmacy/Retail Development
Map 27—Lots 16 through 26
Dear Mr.Daley,
Transportation Engineering and Construction,Inc.(TEC)has completed a follow-up review of the
traffic engineering documents supponing the Walgreens development proposal on Turnpike Street
(Route 114). We received a memorandum from Vanasse&Associates,Inc. (VAI)dated September 16,
2005,which includes a series of responses to original comments outlined within TEC's August 3 L 2005
letter. The following is a list of follow-up comments Pertaining to the traffic study and the proposed site
layout:
Traffic Study
1. VAI restated their assessment that their trip generation calculations for the proposed retail
development are reasonable. TEC reviewed empirical data provided within the Traffic Impact
and Access Study for the adjacent Eaglewood development,which sub:atantiated the use of a
local(lower)trip generation rate for small retail centers. The applicant has agreed that they will
resubmit a new traffic impact study if they seek a variance and site plan approval for a drive-
through restaurant.
2. The applicant supplied follow-up data and calculations that support the distribution of traffic to
and from the site. TEC concurs with the proposed distribution based on this supplemental
information.
3. VAI committed to performing a new traffic count to reconfirm the traffic volumes on Route 114
in the vicinity of the project. TEC will review the data once collected to ensure that there are no
major deviations from what was submitted within the original study and ascertain whether
additional analyses are warranted. This information should be provided within the traffic study
prepared for MIPA submission.
4. The applicant should provide the Town with a schedule for their submission of the
Environmental Notification form through the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA)office. The applicant should provide a copy of all correspondences associated with
Massffighway's review of the traffic impact study,driveway access permit,or proposed
shoulder widening to the Town for their review of consistency with what has been discussed
with the Planning Board to date.
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propqscd Site Plans
1. VAI submitted a conceptual improvement plan.,which shows the widening of Route 114
eastbound to accommodate a wider 10-foot shoulder within whicb the right-turn movements
into the site are expected to decelerate. TEC would prefer two eastbowid through lanes(east of
Waverly Road)to provide lane balance with the two through lanes prodded approximately 75
feet east of the proposed right-in/right-out driveway. However,it appears the recent VAI
proposal maximizes the amount of widening that is possible without compromising the required
50'parking offset from the proposed right-of-way to the edge of the proposed parking area. If
the applicant seeks relief from the parldng offset requirements front the Zoning Board of
Appeals for any other areas on the site,this issue should be revisited.
Alternatively,TEC is investigating the opportunity for the proponent to donate right-of-way to
Massl4ighway subsequent to the site plan approval process to facilitate a future full widening of
the Route 114 corridor. We will work with the applicant's team and the Planning Department
in subsequent weeks to evaluate the feasibility and legality of issuing site plan approval for
parking offsets based on an existing right-of-way line. Regardless of any change in the right-of-
way,TEC recommends that the site gading and utility adjustments consider the ultimate
widening potential.
Z. In order to alleviate existing and future queuing problems on Waverly Road near the proposed
driveways,TEC recommends that VAT proposed minor lane widening on the Waverly Road
northbound approach to Turnpike Street to provide a longer left-turn lane. This will bring the
edge of curbing closer and parallel to the proposed sidewalk as currently proposed and will
require a lane taper adjacent to the southerly driveway.
3. The site plan has not yet been modified to incorporate a pedestrian connection from Routc 114,
as requested previously in TEC's review letter and subsequently by Planning Board members
on October 6. This should be addressed in a future site plan revision. This may require a minor
redesign for the front parking area.
4. The site,plan can appropriately accommodate a single-unit(SU)truck,which will likely be
providing most of the deliveries to this site. The truck turning movement plan prepared by VAI
shows significant conflicts between a WB-50 truck and the proposed parking spaces in front of
the stores. In order for a truck to exit from the site,it must fully utilize the opposing travel lane
on the site to turn north onto Waverly Road, The applicant has testified that Walgreens
typically has only one WB-50 size truck per week. However,the needs of the future tenants of
the other retail space are not known at this time, Therefore,TEC recommends that all deliveries
involving WB-50 trucks occur outside the hours of SAM--7PM to reduce the risk of
patron/truck conflicts in the front parking area.
If you have any questions regarding our follow-up review,please do not hesitate to contact me at(978)
794-1792 x145. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
AND C014S i1CTION,INC. cc: Robert D.Vanasse,VAI
William Goebel.Bohler Engineering
/4L,� Karl Dubay,MHP Design Consultants
Vincent Manzi,Manzi&McCann
Kevin R,Dandrade,l.1 _,PTOE
Senior Traffic)engineer 1W-i
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