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Pownal Planning Board reviews draft Road Safety Assessment checklist; defers lot‑density checklist until full board
Summary
The board reviewed a draft Road Safety Assessment checklist drawn from MDOT and federal safety guidance, discussed driveway vs. roadway thresholds for multi‑unit entrances, and postponed lot‑density checklist decisions until a full board meeting with an absent member.
At the Aug. 20 meeting the Town of Pownal Planning Board reviewed a draft Road Safety Assessment checklist aimed at clarifying when developers should fund or undertake safety audits for driveway and road entrances.
Bill Schmidt explained the draft pulls from Maine DOT resources, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and noted that MDOT can perform assessments but often lacks resources. "MDOT can conduct a safety assessment; however they say that they don’t have the resources, and it is the developer’s responsibility," Schmidt said.
Board members discussed how driveway classification affects future development: Orion Breen noted a driveway serving up to five units can be permitted as a driveway but expansion beyond that could trigger a roadway standard. The board also flagged that choosing driveway standards now could limit future expansion options for a parcel and urged clear application drawings to prevent unintended precedent.
The board deferred a proposed Lot Density Checklist until member Brian Stornelli could be present and asked staff to distribute materials and consider workshops and training (including a town‑wide Civics 101 outreach with Pownal Elementary School). The board also discussed document‑sharing options (Google Docs, SharePoint) to streamline review and posting of meeting materials.
The board did not adopt the draft checklist at the meeting; members recommended further review and possible future workshops to finalize the tool and ensure consistent road‑safety and lot‑density determinations.
