Valvoline minor-site plan draws traffic questions; board agrees access should avoid Route 9

The Planning Board discussed a revised minor site plan for a Valvoline express-lube at 361 Turnpike Road and focused on driveway access and traffic safety on Route 9 and Flag Road. Town planning staff reported an April 2025 response from MassDOT that opposed a new curb cut onto Route 9 and recommended driveway access from Flag Road; the applicant presented a revised layout that would route vehicles from Flag Road onto the site and exit toward Route 9.Planning staff said Fuss & O'Neil’s outstanding peer-review housekeeping items have been resolved and that the remaining substantive item was driveway location. Karina said MassDOT’s guidance was definitive and that the plan team had field‑measured stopping sight distance, then adjusted the landscape plan to protect the sight triangle so plantings will not obstruct vision. Board members pressed the applicant about safety on Flag Road, which has a documented higher crash rate in a multi‑year study and a history of traffic concerns; several planning members and the applicant agreed that moving access off Route 9 is preferable to a direct Route 9 curb cut if MassDOT objects.Board members requested a short list of practical mitigations to reduce turning conflicts: a small-radius raised curb or short flush curb to discourage “no‑right‑turn” maneuvers, a clearly posted “No Right Turn” sign at the exit, and a painted stop line at the site exit. The board also asked for the proposed low stone wall to be shown on the plan and for any change to the building façade height to be brought back for review.Members agreed to move the Valvoline discussion earlier on the agenda at the next meeting (moved to 6:30 p.m. on May 12) and extended the decision deadline to June 6 to allow time for the applicant to provide updated plans with the sight‑triangle, signage and curb details.