Advisory committee urges county review of Lopez Landing access; suggests two-way Lopez Road or one-way alternative to limit Weeks Road congestion

The advisory planning committee spent the second half of its meeting on traffic and access for the proposed Lopez Landing housing and the newly permitted Lopez Food Center. Committee members told staff to press for safer access patterns and to consider a major intersection to route development traffic away from Weeks Road.

Chair Barbara described walking the site and timing the trip from the Family Resource Center to Lopez Road: "It took me 1 minute and 15 seconds," she said, arguing that the Lopez Road exit is short and could serve as the primary egress. Committee member Randy urged that the site be connected to the market intersection and said "That road should be all the way to Lopez Road" so the food center and housing development do not concentrate traffic onto Weeks Road.

Members discussed wetlands constraints repeatedly. Staff said the project has a right-of-way/permitting file from 2024 for Pear Tree Lane but does not have finalized site-plan approval or building permits for Lopez Landing; the food center has an issued building permit. The sewer district has not yet collected connection fees for all lots, which may delay final approvals.

The committee recommended two possible routes: (1) pursue a two-way access to Lopez Road (preferred) if wetlands mitigation or mitigation banking makes it feasible; or (2) require a one-way operation (ingress from Weeks Road, egress to Lopez Road) with emergency access on Pear Tree Lane. Committee members also suggested signage, shared-parking coordination with nearby properties, and pedestrian improvements (shared-lane markings, crosswalk adjustments or speed mitigation) to address safety for students and bicyclists.

The committee authorized Chair Barbara to draft a formal letter to the county summarizing these recommendations and to circulate it to members for review before submission.