Sandy Hook Center—

Police Commission Reviews

Condo Complex Traffic Issues

By Andrew Gorosko

Police Commission members are reviewing the traffic safety aspects of a 23-unit condominium complex proposed for 95-99 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center.

They are gauging its effect on traffic flow in the area, and seeking to learn where a secondary access point would be provided for emergency use at the rugged 4.04-acre site.

Police Commission members, serving as the local traffic authority, on March 7 reviewed Dauti Construction, LLC’s, proposal for Edona Commons, a mixed-income project, at which seven dwellings would be reserved for moderate-income families. The Police Commission makes traffic safety recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z).

A Conservation Commission public hearing on the wetlands protection aspects of Edona Commons was scheduled for March 8 (see related story).

Danbury developer Guri Dauti proposes constructing 23 townhouse-style dwellings in five buildings, which would contain a total 57 bedrooms. The construction project would require 18 months to complete.

The site is on the north side of Church Hill Road, west of the intersection of Church Hill Road and Dayton Street. The site abuts the 189-unit age-restricted Walnut Tree Village condominium complex.

Attorney Ryan McKain, representing the developer, told Police Commission members that the P&Z is requiring the developer to perform traffic study as part of the construction application. The developer had sought to have the P&Z waive the traffic study requirement.

Traffic engineer Michael Galante will prepare the traffic study, counting traffic flow in the area to form a statistical basis for his analysis, Mr McKain said.

The developer plans to submit a traffic report to the Police Commission for review at its April 4 session, he said. The P&Z’s public hearing on the Edona Commons proposal is slated for April 6.

Secondary Access

Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat inquired where the developer would place a secondary access point on the site for use in the event of an emergency, such as a fire.

Mr Galante suggested that a boulevard-style driveway be created on the site, which would have two travel lanes separated by a median. Current plans call for a conventional 700-foot-long driveway entering the site at 95 Church Hill Road. The property has approximately 130 feet of street frontage on Church Hill Road.

In the event of an emergency, the site should have a secondary entry/exit point, said commission member Gerald Finnegan.

Church Hill Road carries heavy school bus traffic and heavy rush-period traffic, Ms Mattegat said. Because Edona Commons would contain residents of all ages, it would contain schoolchildren, posing school bus transportation safety issues, she said.

Ms Mattegat said there would be much traffic on the driveway that serves 23 condo units, carrying traffic as if it were a road.

In a letter to the Police Commission, resident Morgen McLaughlin of 14 Alberts Hill Road urged that the commission reject the condo proposal, stating that the current plans only indicate one accessway at the site. Ms McLaughlin added that the complex would generate too much traffic for the area. The hazardous intersection of Church Hill Road and Walnut Tree Hill Road is nearby, she noted.

At the March 7 meeting, Ms McLaughlin said traffic conditions in the area would make it difficult for motorists to make a left turn from eastbound Church Hill Road into the complex.

Megan Williams of 82 Church Hill Road said that Church Hill Road is “a terribly dangerous road” in that area where it is difficult to drive. People speed in the area, she said.

“It is a dangerous road,” said Ms Mattegat, who lives at nearby Walnut Tree Village.

Commission member Richard Simon said he is concerned about the traffic issues and emergency access issues posed by Edona Commons.

Commission members plan to again discuss traffic issues posed by Edona Commons at their April 4 session when they expect to have the developer’s traffic study in hand.