By Allison Perrine
MIDDLETOWN – The township committee is considering traffic-calming measures for Taylor Lane, a new site of American Properties’ housing project off Route 35, across from Target.
Neighbors have complained about cars traveling at excessive speeds on the 25 mph road, a concern also voiced before the Middletown Planning Board when the application was heard. Some have also cited it as a cut-through to Kings Highway, used by commuters heading to the train station.
The township committee is now considering features to slow down speedy drivers on the nearly half-mile-long, mostly straight road. They include a one-lane round-about circle that could be located a little more than halfway up Taylor Lane, near Devonshire Court, as well as speed humps and additional signage.
“I have clocked cars going 100 miles an hour down that road,” said resident Brian Johnson at the Sept. 9 township committee meeting. “Just in the time that they’ve taken the trees down I’ve noticed an increase in traffic in people cutting across, going around, coming back through to see what’s going on.”
The planning board first approved American Properties’ plan for the site in 2015, but the applicant returned in April with amendments to the Heritage at Middletown site plan, which were approved. The project will now subdivide the 31-acre parcel at Taylor Lane and Route 35 into two residential parcels.
There will be 176 multifamily units, comprised of 140 market-rate units and 36 affordable units. The 140 units will be housed in 25 buildings clustered on both sides of Taylor Lane. The affordable units will be in two additional buildings, located closer to Route 35.
Sanyogita Chavan, director of planning, said at the Sept. 9 meeting that she, director of public works Ted Maloney and township administrator Anthony Mercantante, suggested the roundabout be implemented, but did not recommend speed humps or additional signage.
Speed humps in public roadways can be problematic during snow removal, Chavan said. Mercantante also pointed out that vehicles can make noise driving over speed humps, which may bother nearby residents.
Deputy mayor Tony Fiore said while he is “not the biggest fan” of speed humps, he is not a huge fan of redevelopment either. “If this is something that’s going to ease the burden on the neighborhood, who put a lot of time and energy in investing, if it’s just a little harder to snowplow, so be it,” he said, motioning to accept all three suggestions. “It’s their neighborhood and I don’t see anything that significantly points to me that we should only go towards option one.”
Fiore also said he did not see “any type of harm” to implementing additional signage. “I understand that the roundabout is the first best option, and I agree with that, but I don’t see an issue with additional signage.”
Mayor Tony Perry suggested the township committee listen to residents’ suggestions and concerns before making a final decision on what traffic-calming measures to recommend. Perry also said he wanted to hear input from police officials to help determine what will serve the area best.
Residents like Johnson and others agreed with Fiore’s point that all three would be the best option, especially a roundabout. “I think the residents are generally happy with that, I approve of that effort. So the traffic circle is necessary,” Johnson said.
Paul Rinaldi of Burdge Drive said he has been following the proceedings since 2009 and has studied the traffic issues closely. He said he wants to see speed bumps, a “rotary,” which he said is different from a traffic circle, and the signage. “We need to have some sort of a psychological deterrent to the people coming down Cherry Tree Farm Road not to think that Taylor Lane is a cut-through street. That’s why I think the speed hump is very important,” he said.
In 2018 the planning board also approved a project by Roger Mumford Homes for Oak Hollow at Middletown. It will feature 12 building lots with single family homes as well as one lot with a drainage basin and conservation area.
The township committee will make an official recommendation to its engineer at its Monday, Sept. 23 meeting.
