An Un-negotiable Stance?
Published on July 26th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - Despite Vaughan’s vow that the developer would approach neighbors to work-out common concerns, both Carey and Teneriello contend that the size of the project is just too large to mitigate.
Specifically, the applicants have proposed widening a variety of streets in the area to create additional through-lanes and exclusive left-hand and right-hand turning lanes. By doing so, the petitioner has argued, queues of cars that presently build-up in the area, because vehicles waiting to turn block through traffic, would be eliminated.
The proposed $1.2 million mitigation plan would address the following intersections:
• Fallon Road at the I-93 southbound off-ramp
• Fallon Road at the I-93 northbound on-ramp
• Main Street at Marble and Summer Street
• Main Street at North Border Road and South Street
• Park Street at Forest Street and Marble Street.
According to the Reimer and Braunstein attorney, because of the planned Home Depot’s close proximity to Route I-93 north, the majority of traffic would both access and exit the site from a new slip-ramp being proposed for the site.
“Our feeling is that the site is zoned for commercial use and that there are a lot more other uses at that property that would generate more traffic,” Vaughan remarked. “I’m not saying that as if I expect people to be happy about that. But we’re trying to present something that won’t overwhelm the roadway network.”
“I really don’t think this is going to generate the level of traffic that people believe will come into and out-of this site,” the Stoneham resident added.
Arguing that an independent traffic study is warranted for a project of this size, Carey disputes the contention that a Home Depot wouldn’t draw an overwhelming amount of vehicles into surrounding neighborhoods.
“Mr. Vaughan has told us that the majority of traffic would be coming from the highway from the north. But I dispute that,” Carey argued. “I say less than half of that is. I say the majority of it is coming down side-streets, primarily Marble Street.”
“This is a commercial area. And we understand that. But putting a 133,000 square foot Home Depot in there, with trucking coming in and out at 6:30 in the morning until 11 p.m. at night, just isn’t good for Stoneham.”
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