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NEW SHOPPING CENTER ON BENNETTS MILLS ROAD GAINS APPROVAL
By Keith Hagarty
Plans to build a 54,000- square-foot shopping center with three buildings on seven acres along the northwest corner of Bennetts Mills and Cooks Bridge roads were approved by the township planning board this week.
The three buildings are planned for completion in the next two years and
would consist of two retail
stores and one restaurant - there was no indication
what those stores would be - with expected hours of operation of the plaza from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
At issue at Monday's board hearing was traffic flow and how it would be managed to and from the site, as well as its impact on the intersection.
The county had already approved plans to widen Bennetts Mills Road by 37 feet along the frontage of the plaza, according to John Ray, the applicant's traffic engineer.
"The county required a deceleration lane along Bennetts
Mills Road," said Ray. "On the right hand side of the intersection, the county had some concerns-and rightfully so, I believe-that trucks that were heading westbound on Bennetts Mills Road turning onto Cooks Bridge Road would have difficulty because of the angle of the intersection."
With a proposed Rite Aid pharmacy planned to be located across the plaza, the county was concerned about the area being too narrow a turning radius for tractor trailers.
The intersection of Cooks Bridge Road and Bennetts Mills Road will look as follows: westbound Bennetts Mills Road will now have a left turn only lane. Adjacent to that will be a through lane and a channelized right turn only lane, with a similar configuration on the other side of the intersection.
Access to the plaza will have a right-turn in and right-turn out driveway near the intersection, with a wider full-access entrance and exit further from the intersection.
"The police department wants to make sure that the right in/right out driveway closest to the intersection is effective," said Ray. "So they want to make sure there is a physical island which alerts motorists to the fact that they're not supposed to make left turns in and out of that driveway, and quite frankly, I agree with that."
With the construction of a concrete island, additional striping and signage, Ray is confident the area will meet the recommendations set forth by the police department.
Board Chairman Kenneth Bressi was satisfied with the plans, believing it will meet the traffic safety requirements.
"I think a lot of work went into it ... it was done right," he said of the plans." They did what they had to do, and that's why they get my 'yes' vote."
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