Planning board extends review of Drake Station project after months-long debate over traffic signal and peak‑season safety

The town Planning Board on April 20 voted unanimously to continue review of the Drake Station site plan for 90 days after an extended debate over traffic safety and whether a traffic signal is required at the Route 1–Drake’s Island Road intersection.

Representatives for the applicant, including traffic engineer John Adams and applicant representative Benjamin Magnus, told the board their warrant analysis — prepared under Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and reviewed by a third‑party peer reviewer — concluded a signal is not warranted because DOT bases signal warrants on average traffic counts rather than peak summer volumes. Adams said sight distances are adequate and crash records do not show a pattern that would mandate a light.

“Based on the data we collected and the DOT warrant criteria, a signal is not supported,” Adams said, according to remarks in the record.

Several board members and residents countered that peak summer traffic — when beach access and seasonal parking swell demand on adjacent roads — creates unsafe conditions that an average‑based analysis does not reflect. One board member said prior public comments and the applicant’s earlier statements led the public and the board to expect a traffic signal, which influenced a previously granted waiver to use lower trip rates for age‑restricted housing.

“You can die just as easy in the summer as year round,” a board member said during the discussion, describing seasonal congestion on Drake’s Island. Another questioned whether the waiver previously granted to use lower trip‑generation figures was appropriate if a signal would not be provided.

Board discussion reviewed alternatives to a full signal, including relocating or adding access points, traffic‐calming measures, “no left out” exit restrictions, raised islands or flush medians, and adding a second entrance to reduce single‑point reliance. Staff member Mike urged caution about raised islands near intersections because of winter maintenance and freeze‑thaw risks; the board discussed flush islands as a possible compromise.

The applicant said removing one dwelling unit reduced estimated daily trips (based on the institute’s trip rates) and placed project totals below the town’s 200‑vehicle average daily trip threshold that had previously driven mitigation requests. The board did not adopt a new traffic condition at the meeting; instead members asked the applicant to return with revised plans and additional traffic alternatives.

The board made no final determination on whether prior waivers were conditional on a signal; members asked staff to review past minutes and video to confirm the record. For now the board set a 90‑day extension to allow the applicant and board to work through alternative designs, further traffic analysis and public outreach.

The continuation means Drake Station will return to the Planning Board with refined traffic mitigation proposals and any permit revisions needed for a relocated or additional access prior to a final decision.