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Starbucks relocation at Woburn Landing paused after traffic data and property-owner concerns; council asks fire department to review
Summary
A proposal to relocate Starbucks to Woburn Landing drew questions about driveway geometry and potential left-turn maneuvers. The petitioner’s traffic consultant reported observed transaction counts 21%–56% lower than ITE estimates; the council voted to request the fire chief’s review and continued the public hearing to Feb. 20.
WOBURN — The City Council continued its review of a proposed Starbucks relocation to Woburn Landing after receiving additional transaction data and hearing objections from the adjacent property owner.
Scott Thornton, traffic consultant for the petitioner, presented transaction data for three peak two-hour periods (two weekdays and one Saturday) showing the existing Starbucks store’s transactions averaged 49–64 per hour in the sampled windows. Thornton said those observed transactions were 21%–56% lower than counts estimated from typical ITE trip-generation figures used in planning analyses; based on this, his team recommended retaining the DOT-approved right-in/right-out driveway and adding pavement markings, no-left-turn signage and targeted pavement changes to discourage illegal left turns.
Cummings representatives submitted alternate driveway-modification sketches that would create more physical separation intended to prevent left turns into the driveway. Chris Wilson, presenting for Cummings, said the owner’s concern is that a relocated, higher-capacity drive-through could increase left turns into the site and asked the council to consider physical barriers or different geometry. The petitioner’s consultant responded that some proposed island enlargements would impede truck and emergency-vehicle access and that the existing MassDOT-approved configuration was preferable.
Councilors directed the petitioner to consult with the fire chief about any proposed island changes (to ensure emergency-vehicle access) and voted to continue the public hearing to Feb. 20 to allow committee review and follow-up with city engineering and the fire department.
