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Developers and staff debate sidewalks, mid‑block crossing for Forest Ferry senior housing plan
Summary
Discussion focused on pedestrian connectivity: homeowners declined to cede frontage for sidewalks on Fort Ferry Road, so the applicant proposes building a frontage sidewalk, a rear connection to a cul‑de‑sac and a mid‑block crossing with flashing lights; planning staff said public‑benefit language will define what the town will accept.
Board members and staff spent substantial time discussing how the project would connect to adjacent sidewalks and streets. Henry asked whether sidewalks would extend both toward Wade Road and toward River Road; the applicant explained that homeowners on the east side of Forest Ferry Road declined to give right‑of‑way for a sidewalk, so the plan includes sidewalk along the project's frontage and a rear connection to a nearby cul‑de‑sac to provide pedestrian access.
Jamie Easton said the project is exploring a mid‑block crossing with flashing LED lights as a safer alternative where a full sidewalk connection to the intersection is not possible. "Mid block crossings are a little bit dangerous... the good part about this project is right at the crest of that hill is where I wanna put the mid block crossing, which is at the edge of my property, which is really good for sight line distance," Easton told the board. Planning staff (Andres) said the town is still determining what will count as public benefit and whether Department of Public Works will accept a crossing as part of a public‑benefit package.
The applicant and staff also described coordination with nearby commercial property owners (including the former CVPH site and tenant sites near Stewart's/7‑11) to locate feasible connections. Because several private property owners were unwilling to provide frontage for sidewalk, staff said negotiations with those owners will factor into what the town labels an acceptable public benefit in the PDD legislation.
