Mahwah March 13, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Crossroads traffic remains planning board’s focus by Frank J. McMahon Crossroads Developers’ plans to handle off-site vehicular traffic at the proposed Crossroads Town Center in Mahwah, and the on-site vehicular and pedestrian traffic inside the mall, were the focus of the planning board’s last public meeting. Crossroads Developers, LLC is seeking approval of its plans to construct a 600,000 square foot retail center on the site with two big box stores, a 10-plex theater, 200,000 square feet of retail shops along a pedestrian corridor, and an athletic field, on the 140-acre International Crossroads property at the Routes 17 and I-287. The developer’s latest external traffic access plan was reviewed by Crossroads’ traffic expert Dan Diserio, who explained that mall access at Leisure Lane was eliminated, although it will be used for emergency vehicle access. The main entrance to the mall will be at the Crossroads North entrance which is farther north on Route 17 past the Mountainside Road overpass. The road leading from the mall to the intersection with Mountainside Road will be a one way exit from the mall. A traffic light will be installed at that intersection. A new cloverleaf ramp will be constructed on the west side of Route 17 from the Mountainside Road overpass for traffic exiting the mall at the intersection of Mountainside and Cross roads to reach Route 17 southbound without using the Stag Hill Road intersection. Disario explained that the external traffic plan represents a consensus of what the planning board wants and, if it is approved, the plan would be sent to the New Jersey Department of Transportation for its review and approval. Peter Scandariato, the planning board’s attorney, advised the board that the only way the board can reject the plan is if it finds the developer cannot provide safe access to the site. He explained, however, that any approval of the plan by the board would be subject to approvals from the NJDOT and other governmental agencies. If those entities require changes to the plan, the developer would have to return to the planning board for approval of those changes. He also emphasized that anything the NJDOT requires the developer to build would have to be built at the developer’s expense. Several board members expressed concern about the plan for the Mountainside Road intersection due to confusion some motorists might encounter if they are in the left turn only lane on Cross Road leading to Mountainside Road, but want to turn into the mall. They pointed out that those motorists would be forced to go south on Route 17 and make a U-turn to get to the mall entrance. Concerns were also raised about emergency vehicle access to Stag Hill Road and whether moving the mall entrance farther north on Route 17 would result in more accidents on that highway where vehicles must change lanes to enter Route 287 and the New York Thruway. A concern was also raised about having one exit from the mall, but Disario pointed out there are two means of egress from the site, one at Mountainside Road and the other at the north end of the site onto Cross Road. Judd Rocciola, the planning board’s traffic expert, told the board’s members that they are faced with a tradeoff between their concern about the potential confusion of motorists on Cross Road, and their desire to close the Leisure Lane access. He said a clear signage program will be needed to direct motorists. “A way-finding system has to be developed. It’s wayfinding. The design will have to have a way-finding package,” he said. Several residents also expressed their concerns about the off-site traffic plan, especially its impact on the access to Stag Hill Road. One citizen recommended an alternate access over the Ramapo River at Clove Brook Road. Cross- roads attorney James Jaworski said his client would not consider that suggestion because it is in a flood plain and would involve his client in a morass of regulatory problems. Township Engineer Michael Kelly also advised that providing such an access would be a major undertaking and could require the taking of private property. Civil engineer Michael Junghans then presented the internal traffic plan for the mall. He advised that the “ring” road around the existing water feature in front of the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel would be changed from a one-way road to two-way internal circulation traffic with landscaped islands between the lanes. The road exiting the mall to Mountainside Road would be changed to a one-way exit. In addition to closing the Leisure Lane access to all but emergency vehicles, the Route 17 North access to the mall would be improved to three lanes. Junghans explained that the plan calls for push button pedestrian flashing lights at the hotel crosswalk, and an emergency bypass lane was added to Cross Road at the Mountainside Road intersection. He said additional striping and signage controls would be provided at the hotel parking lot exits. Board members voiced several concerns about the internal traffic plan, especially the location of the parking lots in relation to the theater and the safety of pedestrians who might choose to park in the hotel parking lots and walk to the theater. Junghans and Tony DiGiovanni, the director of development for Crossroads Developers, agreed to add more crosswalks and sidewalks and to reduce the seating capacity of the theater from 3,000 seats to 2,035 seats in order to reduce demand for parking. DiGiovanni emphasized, however, that the plan provides more than enough parking for the site. He pointed out that there are 198 parking spaces provided in an area behind (continued on page 13)