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Neighbors and board press developer on traffic, fire access and parking for proposed 1189 Route 55 mixed‑use building
Summary
Developers proposed a three‑story mixed‑use building at 1189 Route 55; the board and speakers raised concerns about turning lanes, fire and emergency access, elevator/stretcher capacity, parking counts, and DOT coordination; applicant to provide written responses and DOT/health approvals before moving forward.
The planning board heard a presentation and public comment on June 18 about a proposed three‑story, mixed‑use building at 1189 Route 55 that would replace the existing Kelly’s restaurant. Engineer Brian Sakosa described four retail suites on the ground floor, residential units on the second and third floors (eight studios on one level and a mix of two‑ and four‑bedroom apartments on another), sidewalk extensions along the DOT frontage, and on‑site subsurface stormwater infiltration and a sprinklered building.
Public commenters raised safety and operational concerns: whether the town has fire apparatus capable of high‑rise response, elevator and stretcher dimensions for emergency access, construction hours and traffic control for schoolchildren walking along the corridor, and how concrete wash‑out will be handled on site. The board and staff noted that DOT has reviewed the entrance and requested detailed frontage improvements and a highway work permit, and that the applicant has received County Health Department approvals for water and sewer but that some DOT items remain open.
Why it matters: The site sits on a busy Route 55 corridor near schools and other community destinations; details on access, parking and construction management affect pedestrian safety and emergency response.
Key outcomes and follow‑ups: The applicant will provide written responses to the fire‑safety and construction‑management questions and will coordinate with DOT on entrance radii, crosswalks and the highway work permit. Staff confirmed the developer has provided the 48 parking spaces required for the site; the board asked the applicant to confirm elevator and emergency access dimensions in writing. DOT and health approvals remain conditions to be satisfied before final plan endorsement.
Provenance: Presentation and public comments for the Amandola 1189 Route 55 proposal appear in transcript SEG 364–723; applicant description and board/public questions are documented throughout those segments.
