Philipstown planning board directs staff to prepare approvals for Route 9 development after traffic consultants agree on standards

The Philipstown Planning Board on June 25 directed staff to prepare draft approval resolutions for a large Route 9 commercial proposal after hours of testimony from traffic engineers and debate over safety measures for southbound left turns onto East Mountain Road North.

Applicant traffic engineer Mark Noloni said the team reviewed crash data and did not find a pattern tied to the project site, and offered several mitigations including a “do not use shoulder” sign and possible shoulder striping to deter illegal passing. “We did review the crashes and there wasn't a notable crash history of that happening,” Mark Noloni said, adding the applicant would provide right‑of‑way if DOT later requires a northbound right‑turn lane.

Town consultant Anthony Russo of SLR Consulting largely concurred and urged the board to push the state agency for signage and visual cues. “One of the things that we need to discuss with DOT is putting … a ‘do not drive on the shoulder’ sign,” Russo said, adding striping or a red border on speed signage could provide additional visual reinforcement. He also suggested targeted enforcement or intermittent mobile‑speed trailers as practical complements.

Board members repeatedly raised the safety tradeoffs of locating a new access point near a horizontal curve on Route 9 versus using a previously approved common driveway farther south. The consultants told the board that the application’s current driveway location met DOT sight‑distance standards following revisions: “The moving of the driveway improved it where they now have proper sight distance,” one consultant said.

Opponents and residents who spoke at earlier hearings had raised concerns about motorists passing stopped vehicles on the shoulder to make left turns. The board did not accept anecdotal worry alone as a reason to deny the project, noting both consultants and DOT have reviewed technical standards. The board nonetheless asked staff and the applicant to coordinate a formal request to DOT asking specifically for shoulder striping, a static sign, and confirmation whether DOT will permit additional measures.

After the exchange, the board voted to ask town staff to prepare draft approval resolutions so members could review technical conditions, mitigation commitments and any outstanding referral responses before a final determination. The board noted statutory decision timelines and asked staff and consultants to provide any clarifying materials in advance of the next meeting.

Next steps: staff will prepare draft resolutions and the consultants will pursue coordination with NYSDOT on signage and striping; the board will review the drafts and outstanding referrals before taking a final vote.