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Planning commission opposes left‑turn access change at Golden Bear development over safety and spacing concerns
Summary
The planning commission issued a negative recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on a proposed PUD amendment for Golden Bear Place that would have allowed a left‑in for the Wawa site and similar access for the adjacent McDonald’s parcel after public works said the driveway spacing and deceleration taper did not meet adopted access standards.
The Mount Juliet Planning Commission on Aug. 16 voted to recommend denial of a PUD amendment request for Golden Bear Place, an amendment that would have removed a staff‑imposed condition limiting certain driveways to right‑in/right‑out access.
Public Works staff told the commission the proposed left‑in driveway into the northern parcel (the Wawa site) does not meet the city’s adopted access standards (HSAM) because it lacks required spacing from the signalized intersection and cannot provide the necessary deceleration/taper length for safe operation. Staff also said queues from the nearby signal reduce available functional area for the proposed left‑in movement.
Todd, representing engineering/transportation staff, and Shane, from Public Works, recommended that the commission not approve removing the right‑in/right‑out restriction. They said the design sketch submitted by the applicant was the best case within the constrained site but still would not meet full access code requirements; permitting a full‑access drive would require greater spacing than the site allows.
Mark McDonald, an applicant representative, said his engineers felt there was adequate stacking and taper for a left‑in, and that without left‑in access the convenience store tenant would not locate on the parcel. McDonald said the development team had worked with city staff and had adjusted the roundabout size to accommodate trucks and sought the commission’s consideration of the constrained layout.
Commissioners focused on whether granting a left‑in would create unacceptable safety or operational impacts. Commissioner Bowman moved for a negative recommendation based on staff comments; Commissioner Giles seconded. The commission voted to send a negative recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
The staff report also included suggested language that would have allowed a constrained left‑in only if the southern lot remained right‑in/right‑out, and required medians and channelization elsewhere; the commission moved instead to recommend denial. The final decision will be made by the Board of Commissioners after they receive the planning commission’s recommendation and staff technical materials.
