Another Benderson project to impact traffic on William Street

[Lee Chowaniec]

Another Benderson project to impact traffic on William Street

On March 4, 2009, the Lancaster Planning Board (PB), by a 4-2 vote recommended to the Town Board approval of a Benderson Development site plan to construct a 10,545 foot retail building to be located on the eastern portion of the Aldi Grocery Store at 4931 Transit Road. The tenant wishes to remain anonymous.

At the previous site plan review, the PB had voiced concerns about the proposed retail store using the Rite Aid driveway for entry and exit unto William Street; as the Aldi currently does. Benderson contact person James A. Boglioli stated at that meeting that he had contacted the property owner to the east concerning using a tie-in driveway with the future signalized Wal-Mart development.

The PB made it known that they could refuse to allow use of the William Street access for this project in accordance with the new Traffic Management Ordinance it had approved several months ago unless driveway tie-in to signalization could be had. The PB requested Benderson return with a written agreement in hand that stated that the current owner of the parcel to the east approved future use of a driveway that aligned with the signalized Wal-Mart driveway.

At last week’s meeting, the PB asked whether such written request was in hand. Benderson attorney Peter Sorgi declared that they never had such an agreement in writing to access the property with then owner 81&3 of Florida when the Aldi project was before the PB or now when the property is owned by Kulbach’s. “We have met with them (Kulbach’s) and had discussions that if and when the property were developed, that it would make sense to do this (allow access to a signalized driveway).”

Sorgi continued that they already have access to William Street by way of a property easement clause. He reiterated that Benderson has several times put into writing that they would agree to tie-in to a future signalized access driveway, aligned with Wal-Mart when the time came. “You made that a condition for site plan approval for the Aldi and we are willing to live by that for this project.”

Close enough said the PB. “They have answered our concern on future access. They have submitted a letter regarding the willingness of Benderson to connect to the property to the northeast at such time a signal is installed on William Street and that property is developed. There is nothing more to be added.”

A motion to approve was made. Chair Stanley J. Keysa abstained as he represented the property owner to the east. PB members Rebecca Anderson and Steve Socha voted nay.

Until such time Wal-Mart develops its property and signalization goes in, and until such time a project is approved and developed on the Kulbach’s property and a driveway aligns with the Wal-Mart driveway, residents living on William Street or within subdivisions off William Street, or travelers using William Street will be expected to use this two lane county road with more risk and traffic delays.

Gateway to Lancaster with infrastructure in place to handle the development – NOT!

[AlphaMAle]

This intersection is an absolute headache and our mental giants on the planning board want to add to the mess. I hope that anyone experiencing an automobile accident at that intersection names the Town Board, Planning Board and ALL of the Planning Board Members individually as litigants in the lawsuit that arises from their accident. These people have got to be brain dead. I wonder how many of them actually ever use this intersection or for that matter, know where it is, and the traffic hazards this new construction currently causes. People now making left turns from Transit into Aldi's lot tie up the inside passing lane causing near accidents on a daily basis because there is no turn lane there. Actually a turn lane won't do any good because people for the majority, don't know how to use it properly and a lot make their turns not from the turn lane at all but the inside lane or half in half sticking out. Saturday, I had the occasion to use William going West and trying to make a Left turn at the Transit signal. A single car trying to make a left turn into the Sunoco Station had traffic backed up across Transit holding our side frm making a Left for two signal turns. What a friggin' mess.

I think it is about time to Tar and Feather the PB and TB. Unfortunately, these Mental Midgets are all exempt from being sued. Otherwise most of them would be in jail or broke. How do you think they get away with what the do?

[Ms.Depew.to.you]

Seriously? They're a bunch of cement heads, the whole lot of 'em.