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Resident urges pause on new industry near 40th and 3040 Third after fatal crashes
Summary
A Shawnee resident asked the City Council to pause further industrial development near 40 Seventh and 3040 Third, citing increased traffic and at least two recent fatal crashes at the intersection.
Beth Clavinidine, a Greenview Ridge resident, asked the Shawnee City Council on June 23 to pause new industrial development near the intersection of 40 Seventh and 3040 Third until traffic infrastructure is upgraded.
Clavinidine told the council the intersection “has seen a significant increase in traffic in the last couple years,” and said that “as of March, there were at least 2 serious fatal accidents that occurred at that particular intersection,” including one she said had two Shawnee residents who perished. She asked the council to reconsider expanding industry in that area “until such time as the infrastructure meets up with the traffic demand.”
The comment came during the meeting’s public-comment period; Clavinidine said some of the increased traffic is tied to recent industrial growth on 3040 Third and nearby corridors. She said she and other residents have observed rush-hour backups at both lights at 40 Seventh and 40 Third and urged the council to observe conditions in the coming weeks before approving additional industrial development.
Clavinidine acknowledged that the highway itself is the state’s responsibility but said local land-use decisions by the city affect traffic patterns and should be weighed against infrastructure capacity. She referenced a previous unanimous council vote to permit a $30 million industrial complex at 3040 Third and Claire and urged caution until roadways can safely handle additional traffic.
The council did not take formal action on Clavinidine’s request during the June 23 meeting; her remarks were recorded as business from the floor and will be part of the public record. Staff and council members discussed other traffic and safety items later in the meeting (see public works articles), but no new motion or directive from the council about pausing development was made on the record.
Clavinidine closed by asking council members to “take some time over the next 2 weeks” to observe traffic patterns at the intersection and reassess whether further industrial permits should proceed.
