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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBarnstable - 715 West Main Street RTC Response_FINAL envpartners.com MEMORANDUM Date: November 1, 2023 To Mr. James S. Kupfer, AICP, MPA, Senior Planner Planning & Development Town of Barnstable 367 Main Street Hyannis, MA 02601 From Jane R. Davis, P.E. Steve Shekari CC James D. Fitzgerald, P.E., LEED AP Subject 715 West Main Street Traffic Peer Review Review of Response to Comments (RTC) – Proposed Wendy’s Restaurant Environmental Partners (EP) has reviewed the responses prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) to the comments/questions raised in the Traffic Peer Review (dated September 29, 2023) regarding the proposed Wendy’s restaurant with drive-through window (“the Project”) located at 715 West Main Street, Hyannis within the Town of Barnstable (“the Town”). EP has provided a response (“EP Response 11/01/2023”) to each of the original EP comments (“EP Comment 09/29/2023”) and subsequent VHB responses (“VHB Response 10/12/2023”) as outlined below. Study Methodology Comment 1 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The TIAS states 2029 as the design year for the study, and all the analyses have been completed accordingly. EP notes that the future year conditions should be for 2030 based on MassDOT guidelines to include a minimum projection of seven years from the date of filing in 2023. We note that while this item alone is not anticipated to have a significant impact on the overall outcome of the study, cumulative alterations identified within this document may have an impact. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The traffic work was completed in late 2022 which is why the future build condition was 2029 (7-year projection period) as required by MassDOT. The filing was delayed into the early part of 2023 even though the counts and traffic work was completed in 2022. However, to be responsive to the request we have adjusted the traffic counts and analysis to reflect 2023 and 2030. The requested adjustment is insignificant Page 2 of 13 envpartners.com and does not appreciably impact the prior analysis and does not have a meaningful influence on the operations or project impacts. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 1 closed. Project Description and Site Location Comment 2 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The proposed eastern site driveway on Pine Street has been referred to as an entrance only throughout the TIAS. EP confirmed with the Applicant’s team that the driveway is intended to provide two-way access, as indicated on the latest site plans. VHB provided additional traffic analysis for the two-way driveway configuration within the RTC. VHB Response 10/12/2023: At the time the TIA was initially prepared, the site plan included one way circulation and angled parking along the site frontage, so the eastern driveway was one way into the site. Responding to DPW comments and concerns, the site plan and associated parking and drive-through lane was reconfigured to contain perpendicular parking in the front of the building. This allowed the eastern driveway to become both an entrance and exit. While the TIA was not completely updated after this change, supplemental analyses that analyze this driveway as an entrance and exit has been provided and is included in this submission. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 2 closed. Existing Conditions Comment 3 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The TIAS states a crosswalk exists across West Main Street approximately 40 feet east of the site driveway. No crosswalk was found during our site visit at the described location. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The 40 feet reference is a typo. Currently there are two crosswalks in this area, one that is approximately 500 feet to the west of the site and one that is approximately 650 feet to the east of the site. As mentioned, the proponent is proposing to install a new crosswalk at the western corner of Pine Steet at West Main with RRFB Signals to allow safe connection between the site and Barnstable High School. ADA compliant ramps would be provided as well. EP Response 11/01/2023: Clarification provided; Comment 3 closed. Page 3 of 13 envpartners.com Comment 4 EP Comment 09/29/2023: Based on our comments outlined in the RTC, it appears that adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been adequately applied to the traffic counts. However, in response to our comment regarding the summer/seasonal adjustment, the RTC states since the September 2020 traffic counts were collected prior to Labor Day, they represent “the peak within the peak summer traffic conditions (worst case)” and using this data “should be considered a very conservative approach”. While we concur that traffic counts collected prior to Labor Day may be higher than the rest of September, based on typical engineering procedures, it is not recommended to collect traffic count data during weeks that holidays or other events occur that may contribute to atypical traffic operations. Additionally, it does not appear that these counts show the highest of the peak summer period as the backups provided in the appendix of the RTC show traffic volumes have dropped by two percent from August 2020 to September 3, 2020, the date when traffic counts were collected. We note that while this adjustment alone is not anticipated to have a significant impact on the overall outcome of the study, cumulative alterations identified within this document may have an impact. VHB Response 10/12/2023: VHB has made this adjustment and provided updated analyses to reflect the change. The results of this adjustment and others requested are presented in Table 1 in this document. As shown in the Table, these adjustments are insignificant and do not appreciably impact the prior analysis and results. [See Table 1] EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 4 closed. Comment 5 EP Comment 09/29/2023: No independent traffic count data has been collected at the existing site driveways. Considering the existing site is vacant, EP takes no exception to VHB’s approach. Traffic traveling along West Main Street and Pine Street at the site driveways appear to have been adequately accounted for using the traffic counts collected at the intersection of West Main Street and Pine Street/Barnstable High School Driveway. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The former bank had already closed prior to VHB beginning the traffic works. As such driveway counts were not conducted. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 5 closed. Page 4 of 13 envpartners.com Future Conditions Comment 6 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The TIAS references four nearby planned developments near the Project site. However backup traffic data was provided for five other developments, including the one located at 751 West Main Street, which is missing from the list provided in the TIAS text. Also, it appears that site traffic anticipated to be generated by the Dollar General development located at 326 West Main Street has not been included in the calculations. EP understands this facility is currently in business but requests verification that this was the case when the first set of counts were collected in September 2020. VHB Response 10/12/2023: Background projects have been updated. 751 W. Main Street was initially included but has since been removed. Also, 326 W. Main Street (Dollar General) was originally included but removed since the building is occupied. However, to account for when the Dollar General development was not operational during the September 2020 period, the background trips associated with this development were included for the Peak Summer morning and evening analysis periods. EP Response 11/01/2023: Information provided. During the meeting with the Town and the Applicant’s team on October 27, 2023, it was further clarified that the development located at 751 West Main Street has been withdrawn from the planning board after the Project was started. No further action; Comment 6 closed. Comment 7 EP Comment 09/29/2023: Figure 6 of the RTC contains a discrepancy in traffic volumes along West Main Street in the westbound direction at the Pine Street and Barnstable High School Driveway intersection. The westbound through movement should contain 405 vehicles, not the indicated 375 vehicles, and westbound right turn movement should contain negligible traffic , not the indicated 405 vehicles. VHB Response 10/12/2023: We agree that the westbound movements should contain 405 vehicles not the 375, and westbound right turn movement should contain negligible traffic, not the indicated 405. These numbers have since been changed due to the additional seasonal adjustments that have been requested. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 7 closed. Page 5 of 13 envpartners.com Trip Generation Comment 8 EP Comment 09/29/2023: VHB collected empirical data at a nearby Wendy’s location, which shows a lower trip generation compared to the trip generation from using the industry standard Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) methodology. Additionally, VHB provided a comparison in trip generation between the proposed development (using empirical data) and the former use, a drive-in bank (using ITE methodology) which showed the proposed use generates 10 fewer trips during the weekday morning peak hour, but more traffic during other peak hours, an increase of 56, 7, and 37 trips during each of the weekday midday, weekday evening, and Saturday midday peak hours, respectively. While EP takes no exception to the use of empirical data as the basis for trip generation, EP performed an independent review of trip generation between the former use and proposed use using a consistent ITE methodology as a point of comparison and found that the proposed site is anticipated to increase traffic over all the analysis peak periods, an increase of 47, 15, 28, and 37 trips during each of the weekday morning, weekday midday, weekday evening, and Saturday midday peak hours, respectively. However, since VHB did not apply a reduction to the trip generation to account for the former use, we concur that using empirical data for trip generation is considered a reliable methodology and we do not request further analysis based on ITE methodology. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The comparison VHB provided is for reference only and in no way has influence on the assessment of project impacts provided. The difference in peak hour activity presented in the VHB TIA are supported by calculations and projections provided in the attachments to that document. No back-up regarding the independent review outlined above is provided so we don’t know how those numbers were generated. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 8 closed. Comment 9 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The empirical traffic count data at the nearby Wendy’s location was collected in October 2022. EP notes that given the time of data collection and seasonal traffic fluctuations on Cape Cod, the traffic volumes likely do not represent the peak summer operations at the site. EP recommends adjusting the October 2022 data to a peak summer month as appropriate, using standard seasonal adjustment methodology or empirical data such as the sales information at the same Wendy’s location, if available. VHB Response 10/12/2023: Adjustment to trip generation is not typical, even on Cape Cod. However, to be responsive to the comment, we have made adjustments to the empirical trip generation data collected based on transaction data that suggests there could be an approximate 14% change in activity. The transaction data provided Page 6 of 13 envpartners.com by our client is provided as an attachment to this document. However, it should be understood that transactions or sales are not necessarily a direct correlation to traffic activity as the size of orders and pedestrians, bicyclists who might patronize the site during good summer weather could be part of the change in transaction/sales activity. To provide an overly conservative assessment, the empirical data was adjusted by 14%. As described in a response to comment below, the adjustment to peak summer season has only minor impact, resulting in the “potential” for 1 additional vehicle in the maximum drive-through queue, from 8 to 9. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 9 closed. Comment 10 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The Project-generated trips departing the site from the western site driveway on Pine Street turning right onto westbound Pine Street, as presented in Figures 10 and 11 of the RTC, do not match the trip distribution assumptions and appear to be disproportionately high. It appears most of the trips that are shown as turning right should instead be shown as turning left from the same driveway onto Pine Street and then turning left onto West Main Street. This is anticipated to increase the delay and queues at the subject site driveway as well as on the Pine Street approach to West Main Street and Barnstable High School Driveway. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The regional distribution of traffic is expected to have a certain portion of trips head west utilizing W. Main Street, however, based on our judgement, a portion of that exiting traffic will instead make a right-turn onto Pine Street from the driveway and subsequently make a right-turn onto Strawberry Hill Road in order to gain access to the signalized W. Main Street/Strawberry Road signalized intersection. This type of activity, making left turns at controlled intersections is common on the cape where left turns can be difficult during peak hour periods. This is clarified in the updated Trip Distribution graphic. EP Response 11/01/2023: Clarification provided; Comment 10 closed. Traffic Operations Analysis Comment 11 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The provided traffic analyses show poor traffic operations on the Pine Street and Barnstable High School Driveway approaches to West Main Street during all analysis periods including the future No- Build and Build Conditions. It should be noted that due to software limitations for unsignalized intersections, when movements are operating over capacity, the analysis results become less reliable with increasing volume-to-capacity (v/c) ratio, and may indicate excessively high delays that may not accurately represent experienced operations. This is the case on the Barnstable High School Driveway approach during all the analysis periods in school season (referred in the TIAS/RTC Page 7 of 13 envpartners.com as “Average” month analysis) as well as during Saturday and weekday midday in summer peak for the No-Build and Build Conditions. There are also two instances where the software has not provided analysis results, likely due to excessively high v/c ratios. These two instances happened on both No-Build and Build Conditions analyses for the Barnstable High School Driveway approach and Pine Street northbound left-turn movement during the weekday morning and weekday afternoon (school dismissal) period, respectively, both in school season. Since operations are at the lowest Level of Service (LOS), LOS F, the results cannot show LOS degradation as a result of Project generated traffic. However, the analysis shows noteworthy increases in delay and queue length as a result of the additional Project generated trips, particularly on the Pine Street approach. VHB Response 10/12/2023: VHB agrees that there are limitations in the software that we are required to use. We also agree that under existing and proposed conditions the intersection of West Main Street and Pine Street has operational challenges. The Town of Barnstable recognizes this and has informed the project team that they will be pursuing the installation of a traffic signal to offset the operational issues. However, to understand what the “true” impact of the proposed project before the Zoning Board of Appeals (i.e., adding a drive-through lane to the Wendy’s restaurant) would be at this location, you have to look at a comparison of operations at this location with the proposed drive-through in place, an alternative project that can be introduced as of right without ZBA approval (Wendy’s without drive through), and reuse of the site as a bank with double drive through (former use of site) as the building can be reoccupied and opened at any time without any permitting. The results of such analysis are presented in the table below (Table 2) and clearly show that the changes expected between the three scenarios are minor. This comparison has been made based on straight ITE Land Use Code projections for each use and not on empirical data. This approach should be considered conservative. [See Table 2] The comparison displayed in Table 2 is an important one as it documents the negligible effects of the drive-through window, which is the only aspect of the development that is before the ZBA. For background, in 2018 the Town of Barnstable approved a substantial re-write of the Highway Business (HB) zoning, the district that this project falls within. Under that rewrite there is a long list of by-right uses that can occupy the site including restaurants and food establishments, veterinary clinics, wholesale, retail, etc.. As such the site can be re-occupied at any time with the uses that are listed without zoning relief. This includes Wendy’s Restaurant. The only reason this matter is before the ZBA is because Wendy’s would like to retain the existing drive-through window that the former bank has. In fact, the former bank has dual drive-through windows whereas the proposed Wendy’s is proposing a single drive-through lane. The standard of review for the proposed drive-through, as noted in the zoning ordinance, is that the proposal must “not substantially adversely affect the public health, safety, and welfare or convenience of the community”. As demonstrated in Table 2 above, the difference between a Wendy’s with a drive- through, versus one without, and even the comparison to the operations of a bank is insubstantial from an operations perspective at the key adjacent intersection. As you can see in the table the LOS for all movements is identical between the option with a drive-through versus that without. Comparing Wendy’s with drive-through to a reuse of a bank with drive-through lanes also results in similar levels of service Page 8 of 13 envpartners.com with only a few exceptions. The performance indicators (v/c ratio, delay, and queue) are also very similar to Wendy’s with a drive-through and that without. In addition, in terms of safety, the proposed development results in safer conditions on site and adjacent to the site by virtue of the access consolidation and modifications and the addition of pedestrian infrastructure that would otherwise not exist. Under existing conditions, there are 2 full wide access driveways, one on West Main Street and one on Pine Street (eastern driveway). There is also an exit only driveway on Pine Street (west driveway). The West Main Full access driveway is located immediately to the west of the existing West Main Street and Pine Street intersection with little spacing which has the ability to create confusion to turning motorist as to which turn is intended eastbound and westbound. This condition creates multiple conflict points in a very short section of roadway along West Main Street. With the proposed project, this condition is substantially improved by the elimination of the full access driveway from the site and converting it to a right out only. Also, under existing conditions there are no crosswalks in close proximity to the site. With the proposed project, two new crosswalks will be installed, one across West Main Street and a second across Pine Street. ADA compliant wheelchair ramps will also be installed, and a Rapid Reflectorized Flashing Beacon (RRFB) will be installed at the West Main crosswalk location that will provide a safe crossing between the site and Barnstable High School. When you consider the nominal changes that are presented in Table 2, isolating and illustrating the negligible effect of the drive-through window, the analysis confirms that the proposed drive-through window will “not substantially adversely affect the public health, safety, welfare or convenience of the community” EP Response 11/01/2023: EP reviewed the additional traffic analysis comparison provided for the three alternatives of fast food with drive-through window, fast food without drive-through window, and drive-in bank. The information provided appears to be accurate and we concur that there is no substantial difference in operations between the fast food with drive-through window and without drive-through window. We also recognize that the Town is considering installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of West Main Street and Pine Street/Barnstable High School Driveway, which would likely improve the traffic operations at the intersection, pending it meets the eight (8) hour traffic signal warrant as required by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Comment 11 closed. Sight Distance Comment 12 EP Comment 09/29/2023: Sight distance findings of the TIAS generally appear to be consistent with our observations, with the exception to the available sight distance looking left from the west site driveway on Pine Street, which is limited to approximately 170 feet due to the horizontal curve. The available sight distance falls below minimum required Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) required by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines. Clarification is requested. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The proposed project is providing responsible driveway consolidation. Under existing conditions, there are 2 full access driveway, one on West Main Street and one on Pine Street (eastern driveway). There is also an Page 9 of 13 envpartners.com exit only driveway on Pine Street (west driveway). The West Main Full access driveway is located immediately to the west of the existing West Main Street and Pine Street intersection with little spacing which has the ability to create confusion to turning motorist as to which turn is intended eastbound and westbound. This condition creates multiple conflict points in a very short section of roadway along West Main Street. With the proposed project, this condition is substantially improved by the elimination of the full access driveway from the site and converting it to a right out only. The intersection sight distance looking left from the West Pine Street driveway is open, generally to the intersection of Pine Street and West Main Street. However, a recent field visit confirmed that there are significant weeds that have grown to a couple feet in height that has influence on the sight lines. Those weeds were not present when VHB made our observations and certainly will not be there with the project in place. The Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) to the West Driveway is generally from the tangent of West Main Street and Pine (road edge of west main) at a minimum and longer for the West Main Street westbound movement. We have taken a few new pictures that show the current condition. The review of this material needs to account for the fact that the overgrowth of weeds will not be present when the project is open and operational. See exhibits in the attachments. We believe that the SSD is in the range that we identified in the table. However, as noted in the Sight Distance Table and text in the TIA, the assumed speed for the Pine Street WB movement was assumed to the be the same as the 85th percentile speed measured on Main Street. That approach is highly conservative as West Main Street is a straight roadway with no main line controls anywhere close by to influence speed. The movement from West Main Street to Pine Street WB requires a ninety degree turn for West Main Vehicles (EB/WB) so the vehicle speeds of WB movement in this area will be less. In addition, the movement from Barnstable High School (BHS) Driveway to Pine is straight across the intersection but the vehicle is starting from a stopped condition on the driveway. During our recent field visit, we made those maneuvers (both left and right from West Main) and from BHS driveway, and the floating car speed was estimated between 15-20 MPH as you enter Pine Street where the critical SSD is located. That said a supplement analysis has been provided using this more accurate speed. The results are presented in the attachments and indicate that the SSD is met in both directions at the West Site Driveway and from BHS. EP Response 11/01/2023: Clarification provided. EP understands the Project will remove or maintain below the height of 2.5 feet any vegetation and/or other potential obstructions that will impede sight distances described above. Comment 12 closed. Parking Comment 13 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The total number of proposed parking spaces reported in the TIAS is inconsistent with the site plans. The TIAS states the proposed site supports 18 parking spaces, whereas site plans show a total of 11 parking spaces on the proposed site, including the two (2) spaces reserved for employees. Page 10 of 13 envpartners.com VHB Response 10/12/2023: As noted above, the site plan was revised to be responsive to DPW comments and concerns. This included the number of parking spaces that were provided on site. The site plan modifications were made after the TIA had been completed and while analyses to present the changes to the driveways were updated the full TIA was not. We agree with the peer review consultant that 11 parking spaces are provided in the latest site plan for the project. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 13 closed. Drive-Through Operations and Queue Storage Comment 14 EP Comment 09/29/2023: VHB collected empirical data at nearby Wendy’s locations in October 2022 to record queue lengths for drive-through operations. EP notes that given the time of data collection and the seasonal fluctuations of Cape Cod, the recorded queues do not represent the peak summer operations at the site. EP recommends adjusting the October 2022 data to a peak summer month as appropriate, using standard seasonal adjustment methodology or empirical data such as the sales information at the same Wendy’s locations, if available. VHB Response 10/12/2023: As stated previously, adjustments to empirical trip generation data is highly unusual. We believe this would apply to drive-through activity as well. However, for the purpose of being responsive to the comments, transaction data has been reviewed adjustment has been made as presented below. The transaction data was presented previously in this document and shows approximately 14% difference between October and August. Using the conservative maximum queues observed at the Hyannis and Route 28 locations, a maximum of 8 vehicles in queue would be expected. Applying a 14% adjustment suggests a maximum queue of 9 vehicles would be expected. However, transactions or even sales data are not necessarily a direct correlation to traffic activity as the size of orders and pedestrians/bicyclist who might patronize the site during good summer weather could be part of the change in sales activity which would suggest less change in queues. It should also be noted that the operator of the proposed facility has extensive experience operating similar stores on cape. While we did observations at two locations that they operate, Mashpee (Route 28) and Hyannis (Route 132) to be conservative in assessing the potential queues at drive-throughs, the proposed project is located on a road that carries substantially less traffic volumes as compared to those locations and the expectation is that the West Main Street location will not have similar activity levels at the two existing facilities, it is likely to be much less. Fast Food with Drive through is highly dependent on pass-by traffic activity and with significantly less pass-by traffic at West Main Street location, the drive-through queues are expected to be significantly less at the site than those experienced at the Wendy’s on Route 28 and 132. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 14 closed. Page 11 of 13 envpartners.com Recommendations Comment 15 EP Comment 09/29/2023: EP notes the Applicant team stated in a meeting that they would install a Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon (RRFB) across West Main Street for a safe pedestrian connection between Barnstable High School and the Project site. Pedestrian curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and a crosswalk would also be required. The location of the crossing should be coordinated with the Town and the design reviewed. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The proponent is committed to working with the Town to install the crosswalk, RRFB, and ADA ramps to improve the safety for pedestrians between the site and High School. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 15 closed. Site Plan Comment 16 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The length of the proposed parking spaces is 19 feet. The dimensions should be revised in compliance with the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, which requires a minimum length of 20 feet. EP also recommends confirming the dimensions of the two (2) existing parking spaces that will be retained from the existing site are also in accordance with the Town’s Zoning Ordinance. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The parking has been designed in accordance with the Town of Barnstable requirements for 90-degree angled parking spaces which suggest a minimum length of 19 feet. EP Response 11/01/2023: During the meeting with the Town and the Applicant team on October 27, 2023, it was clarified that the 19-foot dimension for length of parking space is in accordance with an attachment to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance. Comment 16 closed. Comment 17 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The dimension of the accessible parking space is not compliant with ADA requirements. According to the ADA guidelines, the single accessible parking space must be van accessible and have a minimum width of 11 feet next to an access aisle of minimum five (5) feet wide, or alternatively have a minimum width of eight (8) feet next to an access aisle with a minimum width of eight (8) feet. VHB Response 10/12/2023: BSC Group agrees with this comment. These tweaks are minor and will be made to the site plans. Page 12 of 13 envpartners.com EP Response 11/01/2023: EP assumes the site plans will be revised to accommodate the standard dimensions for accessible parking spaces without major impacts to the site layout; we remain available for review if desired. Comment 18 EP Comment 09/29/2023: The site plans did not provide truck turning templates for emergency vehicles and loading trucks or traffic signage, and as such, no review of this item has been performed. A review of this item is recommended. VHB Response 10/12/2023: The Proponent worked with the fire department during the development of the site plan. The plan was prepared and submitted to Cpt. David Webb, in October of 2022. Please see emails, summarizing BSC Group’s coordination with the Fire Department and the Hyannis Fire Apparatus turning path. EP Response 11/01/2023: As discussed during the meeting with the Town and the Applicant team on October 27, 2023, the provided truck turning templates are based on the old site plans and will be revised accordingly. EP remains available for review if desired. Comment 19 (not numbered in VHB’s responses) EP Comment 09/29/2023: EP recommends adding a stop line at all the three proposed driveway exits along with a “STOP” sign. In addition, “ONE-WAY” and “DO NOT ENTER” signs should be installed on the exit-only driveways as appropriate. VHB Response 10/12/2023: There are STOP Signs and DO NOT ENTER Signs shown on the BSC Group Site Plan Titled Vehicle Circulation Plan that is provided in the attachments to the Traffic Memo. Stop lines were not shown on the plan but the intention has always been to have them and they will be added as suggested. Adding a one-way sign to the right-out only driveway is not necessary in our opinion and would just add clutter. The DO NOT ENTER signs shown on the plan adequately depict the intended use of the right-out driveway. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 19 closed. Comment 20 (referenced as Comment 19 in VHB’s responses) EP Comment 09/29/2023: EP recommends adding a “RIGHT TURN ONLY” sign at the proposed driveway exit at West Main Street. VHB Response 10/12/2023: There are RIGHT TURN ONLY signs shown on same post as the STOP SIGNS show at the right-out driveway on the BSC Group Site Plan Titled Vehicle Circulation Plan that is provided in the attachments to the Traffic Page 13 of 13 envpartners.com Memo. A supplemental right-turn only sign will also be added on the far edge of pavement across West Main Street to further enforce this restriction. EP Response 11/01/2023: No further action; Comment 20 closed. Summary VHB has provided additional information and adequately addressed most of EP’s comments from the original peer review. Based on the updated information provided in the RTC and if the matter in front of the ZBA is specific to the inclusion of a drive-through window and not the development itself, EP agrees that there is no substantial difference in the traffic operations between the Wendy’s with a drive-through window or without a drive-through window (and very little difference in traffic operations between the proposed use and the former bank use) based on ITE. EP acknowledges that the Applicant is providing mitigation in the way of access consolidation/improvements at the site driveways and pedestrian/safety improvements with the installation of RRFBs, crosswalks, and ADA-compliant ramps at the intersection of West Main Street at Pine Street and HS Driveway. Regarding potential pedestrian traffic from the high school, we note that there is no pedestrian connection from the high school building to the sidewalk along the north side of West Main Street and students accessing the proposed RRFB and crosswalk will likely either walk along the high school driveway or across the grass between the parking lot and North Main Street. The two outstanding comments above (Comments 17 and 18) are both related to minor changes to the site plans; EP remains available for any further discussion and to review these outstanding items if the Town desires.