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July 03. 2012 11:25PM
What’s next - Walmart officials and consultants will come back before the board on July 26.
CONWAY — Traffic flow topped the list of concerns that Conway Planning Board members have after getting their first look at the site development plans for proposed expansion of the local Walmart on corner of the North South Road and Eastman Road.
The plans call for the addition of 52,994 square feet on to the north side of the existing building, which covers 100,039 square feet.
The new construction would allow the store to expand the food offerings to include a full grocery store.
The acreage for the expanded retail operation will include the site presently occupied by Chick Home Center, and increase parking spaces from 498 to 717.
At the board’s June 28 meeting, Conway officials voiced their concerns about the proposed driveways.
The plan, as presented, calls for a right-turn entrance and right-turn exit from the multi-lanes of Eastman Road/Route 302 at the south west corner of the building, and a new roundabout where the store’s entrance on the North South Road is now.
The present store exits on to the North South Road shortly before the intersection with Eastman Road/Route 302.
There are no traffic lights at that curbcut, and those turning left onto the North South Road have to cut across several lanes of traffic. Further challenging the traffic flow in that area is the increased south-to-north traffic coming off of Eagle Way, the road that services Kennett High School.
On Tuesday, Conway public works director/town engineer Paul DegliAngeli said the town does not want traffic exiting onto the busy Eastman Road at that point, nor does the state, though the town does not see a problem with the entrance.
He also reiterated what Tom Irving, town planner, brought up at the meeting – that moving the proposed roundabout north would work out better.
DegliAngeli said having the Walmart driveway come out on to Hemlock Lane, and then realigning the lane so that it would enter/exit the round-about at the proper angle makes more sense.
DegliAngeli said this would better align the driveway for truck traffic, too, as it would line up with the site’s interior routes. The Mount Washington Valley region is served by two full-service grocery stores on the commercial strip in North Conway, Shaws and Hannafords, both with pharmacies within them.
There are two smaller stores, Conway Shurfine and Grant’s in Glen, along the Route 16/302 corridor.
syoungknox@newstote.com
The plans call for the addition of 52,994 square feet on to the north side of the existing building, which covers 100,039 square feet.
The new construction would allow the store to expand the food offerings to include a full grocery store.
The acreage for the expanded retail operation will include the site presently occupied by Chick Home Center, and increase parking spaces from 498 to 717.
At the board’s June 28 meeting, Conway officials voiced their concerns about the proposed driveways.
The plan, as presented, calls for a right-turn entrance and right-turn exit from the multi-lanes of Eastman Road/Route 302 at the south west corner of the building, and a new roundabout where the store’s entrance on the North South Road is now.
The present store exits on to the North South Road shortly before the intersection with Eastman Road/Route 302.
There are no traffic lights at that curbcut, and those turning left onto the North South Road have to cut across several lanes of traffic. Further challenging the traffic flow in that area is the increased south-to-north traffic coming off of Eagle Way, the road that services Kennett High School.
On Tuesday, Conway public works director/town engineer Paul DegliAngeli said the town does not want traffic exiting onto the busy Eastman Road at that point, nor does the state, though the town does not see a problem with the entrance.
He also reiterated what Tom Irving, town planner, brought up at the meeting – that moving the proposed roundabout north would work out better.
DegliAngeli said having the Walmart driveway come out on to Hemlock Lane, and then realigning the lane so that it would enter/exit the round-about at the proper angle makes more sense.
DegliAngeli said this would better align the driveway for truck traffic, too, as it would line up with the site’s interior routes. The Mount Washington Valley region is served by two full-service grocery stores on the commercial strip in North Conway, Shaws and Hannafords, both with pharmacies within them.
There are two smaller stores, Conway Shurfine and Grant’s in Glen, along the Route 16/302 corridor.
syoungknox@newstote.com
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