Planning board flags safety, turning-lane concerns for Cannon Hill Drive flex building

The Goshen Planning Board on an unspecified meeting date debated a proposed flex building near Cannon Hill Drive and Route 17M, with several members saying the town should not approve the project until safety concerns at the Route 17M intersection are addressed.

Board members said the projectwould add tractor-trailer traffic to an intersection where turning movements already force trucks into opposing lanes. One planning board member said the state acknowledged the intersection has a problem but indicated it would only address the issue "when they get to it." That member added: "I can't see the town approving this project as planned without first having the 17 M, dealt with." (Planning board member, 1632.305)

Why it matters: Board members framed the issue as a public-safety question rather than a streetscape or aesthetics dispute. Several members said that if the town allows the building and the state delays intersection improvements, the town could face liability or public outcry if crashes result.

Key facts and debate - The project site is adjacent to Route 17M (also referenced as "17 M") and Cannon Hill Drive, near an old airfield and a bus-storage…