Applicant reviews plans for traffic improvements
No decision yet on Grawtown Estates plan for 493 homes
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Traffic information associated with the proposed construction of the Grawtown Estates residential subdivision took center stage at the Sept. 10 meeting of the Planning Board.

Orleans Home Builders, Bensalem, Pa., is proposing to subdivide 300 acres in the RG-2 (Regional Growth) zone into 497 lots on Grawtown Road, a municipal road, near Bowman Road, a county road, and county Route 527/528. A total of 493 homes would be constructed; there would be four open space lots; and the homes would be serviced by municipal water and sewer.

Traffic engineer John Rea testified on behalf of the applicant and presented a sketch which showed two intersections in close proximity.

"I believe [at the last meeting] Chairman (Ken) Bressi had some questions about the two intersections that were in fairly close proximity to one another," Rea said. "Right now I'm looking at the intersection of Grawtown Road where it intersects with Route 528 (Veterans Highway) and moving further west there is the intersection of Bowman Road and Veterans Highway, which is about 600 feet away from Grawtown Road.

"Ocean County has required us, is in the developer's agreement that has been executed and signed with the county, to improve both of these intersections," Rea said. "They need to be looked at it in conjunction with one another. On the Grawtown approach there will be a signalized intersection. We are showing three approach lanes with a separate left turn lane and a separate right turn lane."

Rea said on westbound Route 528 there is a separate left turn lane onto Grawtown Road and a through lane for westbound traffic.

"On the south road we are showing a through lane and a separate right turn lane," he said.

Essentially, at the intersection of Grawtown Road and Route 528, each of the three lights at the intersection will have a two-lane approach, according to the plan which is being submitted to the county.

"We are working out the final details now of where to locate the traffic signal poles and all the traffic signal equipment, but I do believe that the general geometric configuration of the intersection will be approved," Rea said.

Moving further to the west, Rea described the intersection of Bowman Road, Reagan Drive and Route 528.

Rea said there will be a stacking area on Route 528 for westbound and eastbound traffic that will allow turns into Reagan Drive or making left turns down Bowman Road.

Other straight and turn lanes were described by the traffic engineer.

"Everything that is on the board here has been prepared in accordance with the manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices," Rea said. "That's the book the federal government prepared for engineers to refer to when doing plans."

Rea said he expects the applicant's traffic improvement plan to eventually be approved by the county and the state.

Under questioning by attorney Ray Shea, representing the applicant, Rea said he met in 2006 with county representatives pertaining to the design of the improvements. He said he met with the county freeholders in 2007 and incorporated an agreement between the developer and the county with respect to all of the proposed traffic improvements.

Board member Blanche Krubner asked if there were any plans to widen East Veterans Highway.

Rea said he does not know of any plans to widen the road's two lanes, although he noted that the right of way is there for potential widening.

"A two-lane cross-section will continue to be sufficient," he said. "The choke points are at the intersections where things don't work and all the intersections along the corridor are going to be improved, either by us or the county."

He said it is possible that at some time in the future additional lanes would be needed.

Rea said he was involved with a traffic study on Bowman Road for another application some time ago and he consistently found that even though there were busy Saturdays at Patriots Park when soccer tournaments were being held, the traffic volume that occurred on a routine basis Monday through Friday, specifically from 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., were the high peak hours for the week.

"Even higher than on Saturday when the soccer tournaments were taking place," the traffic engineer said.

Turning to Bressi, Rea said whatever the county engineer may have looked at, he (Rea) believes that what the Grawtown Estates applicant is proposing to do will enhance the safety of Bowman Road, Route 528 and Grawtown Road.

He said the traffic lights will be synchronized and the number of left turns from Bowman Road onto Route 528 is very light and will continue to be very light.

"This has been very carefully choreographed with the county," he said.

Rea noted that the two intersections he discussed will operate at a "B" or "C" level ("A" being the best rating and "F" being the worst rating) and said there will be room for an increase in traffic.

In other matters, Shea was told that the application's tree save plan was missing. Shea said the plan was sent in on May 1.

"We sent in 12 sets of preliminary subdivision plans," the attorney said. "There is no intention to remove trees. This is a preliminary application, not final. We will submit a second set to (the township's forester)."

Following up on the reported discovery of a northern pine snake within the development area, Shea said a letter was submitted to Jennifer Ruegg, an environmentalist at the Pinelands Commission.

"Two copies of the snake survey report were submitted and we did receive a response in a letter dated Sept. 5," he said. "Ms. Ruegg said (the commission) will conduct their review if and when Jackson acts on the application."

Testimony on the Grawtown Estates application is expected to continue on Oct. 15.