Residents and commissioners press Mountainville Academy on Main Street traffic, safety and mitigation

Residents and commissioners used the September 2 Planning Commission hearing to press Mountainville Academy for concrete traffic mitigation measures, describing frequent backups, near misses and daytime congestion on Main Street.

Several public speakers and commissioners recounted episodes of near-collisions and chronic queuing that block intersections and make turning movements hazardous. Resident Laurie Loder told the commission she was worried about traffic and water impacts from growth; Chair Alan McDonald and others directly challenged the school representatives to prioritize circulation solutions rather than rely solely on building changes.

Commissioners and residents floated several mitigation ideas the school and city could pursue quickly: enforce a no-left-turn rule at the primary egress during pickup and drop-off, create staging or rally points (for example a nearby commercial parking area) and use scheduling or an app-based pickup queueing system such as the "Pick My Kid" program referenced by a resident. Applicants said they were open to such operational fixes and to collaborating with the city; Mountainville's Dan Jimenez said the board intends to work with city officials and the police on practical steps.

Commissioners also recommended the city consider a short list of low-cost pilot measures (signage, limited enforcement, adjusted start times) while the independent traffic review is completed. The commission attached some of these expectations to its table motion on exceptions for the STEM building.