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Planning reviewers warn that 17M Flex Building plan could worsen truck turning hazards without state lane work
Summary
Reviewers raised safety concerns about truck turning radii for a proposed 17M Flex Building and questioned allowing the project to proceed before state-built turning lanes are in place; board discussed possible developer contributions or property dedication toward improvements.
Goshen planning reviewers told the meeting that a revised site plan for a proposed 17M Flex Building raises safety concerns because large trucks would need to swing into opposing traffic on Cannon Hill to make turns without dedicated turning lanes or an adjusted entrance radius.
Why it matters: The proposed building would attract tractor-trailers to a constrained intersection on state Route 17M. Reviewers said that in the absence of state construction of a dedicated westbound turning lane, trucks entering and exiting the site could create queueing and safety risks during peak hours.
Discussion and concerns Board members said state ownership of Route 17M complicates immediate safety fixes because the state DOT must authorize permanent changes to the roadway. At a prior planning meeting, the state reportedly said the corridor warranted a dedicated westbound turning lane but gave no timetable for construction. Reviewers said that leaving the project to proceed without the lane would shift the safety burden to residents and local roads.
Members discussed mitigation options: having the applicant contribute to the lane as part of a cost-share (citing a nearby RDM contribution example), dedicating land now so future state work could be constructed without later condemnation, or redesigning the site entrance and turning radius so large trucks do not need to encroach into the oncoming lane on Cannon Hill.
Technical points The reviewers requested a turning-radius analysis that explicitly models tractor-trailer movements from 17M into the site without crossing the opposing lane, and they asked the applicant's traffic consultant to confirm whether the proposed internal turning geometry is adequate for the largest expected trucks. They said the turning-radius study submitted to the board did not show truck maneuvers that occur when vehicles queue on Cannon Hill during peak periods and morning bus runs.
Next steps Board members said they expect the applicant to provide clearer turning-radius documentation and suggested the town seek confirmation from the DOT about the lane timetable. Some members said they would prefer conditioning plan approval on a contribution or land dedication so the town would not bear full cost if the state delays the lane construction.
Ending: The board did not approve or deny the plan at the meeting; members asked for revised turning-radius analysis, DOT input on timing for the dedicated lane, and potential contribution or property-dedication options before further action.
