Traffic panel approves Stewart’s Shops site plan for 330 & 342 North Mohawk Street

The Cohoes Traffic Commission on Jan. 20 approved traffic-related site plans for a proposed Stewart’s Shops at 330 and 342 North Mohawk Street, contingent on Stewart’s and its engineer addressing remaining plan comments and submitting final drawings for Commission review.

Chairman Paul Johnston said the commission reviewed a traffic study prepared by Creighton Manning and found it acceptable, and he read through written comments that had been partly addressed in recent plan revisions. Chuck Marshall, representing Stewart’s Shops, told the commission the company plans to demolish the existing LePage’s convenience store, build a new structure at the south end of the lot and place gasoline islands at the north end. He said the lot will be regraded by excavation to reduce the elevation at the North Mohawk driveway to about a 3% access slope from the current roughly 18% grade.

Marshall introduced Mark Nadolny, the Creighton Manning project manager, who said their traffic analysis informed the proposed driveway locations and predicted traffic patterns. Nadolny told the commission that delivery trucks will be routed exclusively to the North Mohawk Street driveway and that Stewart’s drivers handle about 65% of the store’s deliveries; outside carriers will be instructed to use the North Mohawk driveway.

Commission members focused on driveway access, pedestrian crossings and sightlines. Johnston asked whether both crosswalks would be re-striped; Marshall agreed and said re-striping the crosswalks and stop bars is acceptable. The commission advised that concrete sidewalks should not continue across commercial driveways and instead required standard handicap ramps at both ends of the driveways; the ramps and details must appear on the final plans.

Director Stephen Napier raised concerns about left turns from the Manor Avenue driveway, noting the short distance to the next intersection and citing the intersection’s accident history. Napier suggested prohibiting left turns at that driveway as a potential mitigation. Mark Nadolny said moving the Manor Avenue driveway westward provides more stacking distance and that their study estimated about 15 left-turns per hour from that driveway (about one every four minutes), and projected peak turning volumes of about 60 vehicles per hour across the site during peak hours. The commission recorded that some members had reviewed comparable business locations and did not expect left turns to be problematic under the proposed design but agreed to revisit operations if future traffic patterns warranted.

Johnston also asked Stewart’s to review the proposed freestanding sign location to ensure sight distance for Manor Avenue motorists is not impaired; Marshall said the sign could be moved back if necessary. After discussion the commission voted unanimously to approve the scope of the site plans dated Sept. 9, 2025 for Stewart’s construction, with approval contingent on satisfactorily addressing the comments discussed and submitting final plans at a future meeting.

Next steps: Stewart’s or its engineer must revise plans to show required handicap ramp details, confirm crosswalk and stop-bar striping and confirm sign placement for sight-distance. The commission said it would revisit operational changes if traffic conditions later showed unforeseen problems.