MEMORANDUM. Date: May 31, West Windsor Township Planning Board

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1 Date: May 31, 2007 MEMORANDUM To: From: Subject: West Windsor Township Planning Board Dan Dobromilsky, Landscape Architect James Parvesse, Township Engineer John Madden, Professional Planner Ted Ehrlich, Traffic Engineer Analysis of Ward Road Master Plan Minor Collector The West Windsor Township Master Plan Circulation Plan Element has designated Ward Road as Minor Collector between North Post Road and Penn Lyle Road. The following is an analysis of that designation, prepared by the West Windsor Township Planning Board staff and consultants. This analysis objectively examines the history and factual aspects of this road and the impacts that may be anticipated if the connection is implemented, or abandoned. At the conclusion of the analysis, some additional considerations are offered followed by an aerial image of the area, to aid with the review of this matter. I. Township Master Plan History A Minor Collector Road is included in the Circulation Plan Element of the West Windsor Township Master Plan, as an east to west connector between North Post Road (now designated as a Principal Collector) and Penn Lyle Road (now designated as a Minor Collector). This road is presently known as Ward Road. Minor Collector Roads are described as follows. Minor collector roadways (60 feet right of way) which function to collect traffic within a subdivision or planned development and indirectly distribute traffic to arterials. Major collectors would require reverse frontage lots whereas minor collector roadways could have direct frontage access. The 1979 Master Plan also included several other Collector Roads as follows: Southfield Road to Rabbit Hill Road (constructed as Bennington Drive). Penn Lyle Road to North/South Mill Road (constructed as Woodmere Way). Farber Road to Alexander Road (constructed as Canal Pointe Boulevard). Route One to Roszel Road (constructed as Carnegie Center Drive).

2 1979 Master Plan Collector Roads cont. Extension of South Lane across the Assunpink Creek to Meadowbrook Road in Washington Township (not constructed). Extending Penn Lyle Road to connect Village Road to Conover Road (constructed as a circuitous combination of local streets including Sapphire Drive, Glacier Drive, Highpoint Place and Ginnie Lane). Also, Lanwin Boulevard, which connects Mill Road to Route 571, is listed as a Minor Arterial Road in the 1979 Master Plan. The 1979 Master Plan listed, under the circulation goals, the following: Establish a minor collector road network to insure a more even distribution of local traffic. This Master Plan also provides the following clarification and description of the Circulation Plan. It should be noted that the Circulation Plan is conceptual in nature and is not intended to reflect exact roadway alignments, but rather principles to achieve in the Township s circulation network. During subsequent implementation of this Master Plan, further detailed study will be necessary to select exact roadway alignments for the various road improvements to be undertaken. In a properly designed circulation system each roadway should be designed in accordance with its function; that is, the service that it will be expected to perform. Generally, the road system in the Township can be classified into four functional categories: principal arterials (expressway); arterials (major and minor); collectors (major and minor); and local streets. In principle, the classification system is graded in nature. The major road classification carries regional or through traffic to the next level roadway, distributing regional traffic to an arterial system, which in turn distributes traffic to the next level of roadway, the neighborhood collector system, which in turn distributes traffic to a local street giving individual property access. The 1979 Master Plan indicated that the population of West Windsor was 7,834 persons in 2,675 dwelling units. The land use capacity was estimated at 30,600 to 35,600 persons in 9,900 to 11,700 dwelling units, with a potential build out at 38,400 to 43,400 persons The current Township Master Plan was adopted by the Planning Board in 2002, but the Housing Plan Element was amended in October The housing plan element indicates that the population in 2000 was 21,900 persons in 7,450 dwelling units. This element includes a population estimate by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission of 29,265 persons residing in West Windsor in the year

3 The 2002 Master Plan includes the following goal and policies regarding circulation: Goal: Continue to pursue a coordinated road plan, which enables the safe and efficient movement of people and goods and minimizes the negative impact of regional traffic on local roads, particularly in residential areas. Policies: Establish a hierarchy of roads with appropriate geometric characteristics and capacity for future traffic volumes, thus avoiding channeling regional traffic onto local streets resulting in degradation of residential and community centers. Continue to support a system of arterial roadways for the purpose of carrying regional and inter-municipal traffic through West Windsor. Discourage regional traffic from using local roadways. Limit major new road construction to those linkages and improvements identified in the Circulation Plan as needed to insure an adequate distribution of local traffic. The 2002 Master Plan still includes Ward Road as a Minor Collector connecting North Post Road (Principal Collector) to Penn Lyle Road (Minor Collector). Ward Road is part of a series of Minor Collectors (Penn Lyle Road, Woodmere Way and Village Road West/East) in the center of the Township that interconnect the local residential streets to the Principal Collectors and Secondary Arterial Roads (North Post Road, Clarksville Road, Princeton Hightstown Road, Mill/Edinburg Road and New Village Road). The following description of Collector Roads is offered in the 2002 Master Plan: Collector roads are designed to carry moderate volumes of traffic from other collector roads and local roads to the arterial road network. Generally, collector roads carry traffic originating in one location within a municipal boundary, destined for another location within the municipality. The following Minor Collector Roads (2 lanes wide) are listed: Millstone Bypass extension roads (to Harrison Street, Washington Road & Sarnoff) Southfield Road South Post Road Rabbit Hill Road Cranbury Road Millstone Road Clarksville Road (Route 571 to Cranbury Road) Village Road East Conover Road Robbinsville Road North Mill Road Bennington Drive Ward Road Dorchester Drive - 3 -

4 2002 Master Plan Collector Roads cont. Line Road Windsor Road Wallace Road North Post Road (Clarksville Road to Alexander Road) Washington Road (Station Drive to Millstone Bypass) Lanwin Boulevard Meadowbrook Road Woodmere Way Cubberly Road Grovers Mill Road South Lane (between Village Road East and Windsor Road) Wheeler Way (Emmons Drive to Farber Road) Emmons Drive (Wheeler Way to Route 1) Penn Lyle Road Proposed Vaughn Drive Extension II. Subdivision/Site Plan Approval History 1980 Preliminary/Final Subdivision approval was granted to create two new residential building lots (lot #131, section 16 and lot #6, section 16e, presently #25 and #26 Birchwood Court) at the end of Birchwood Court as it intersects with the proposed Master Plan Road connecting North Post Road and Penn Lyle Road. This subdivision includes dedication of 70 Right of Way abutting the new lots, necessary for the new Master Plan Road, from lot #8 of section 16 (to be later known as the Sunrise II tract) to lot #7, of section 16 (to be later known as Westwinds). The plat indicates that a temporary turnaround will be constructed at the end of Birchwood Court, to be removed when the Master Plan Road is constructed A use variance was granted for development of 69 single-family, age restricted, homes, clustered into 23 three unit clusters, in an innovative passive solar energy saving layout, with 70% preserved open space. This development is known as Westwinds Major Subdivision approval was granted for development of a 36 lot, cluster, residential neighborhood known as Princeton Junction Properties II, later changed to Sunrise II. Construction of this subdivision will include a portion of Ward Road from North Post Road east approximately 1,000 feet. Ward Road will end as a stub at the tract boundary. Two cul de sac streets (Margaret Court and Brendan Place) are extended from Ward Road with 19 lots fronting upon these side streets but no lots fronting upon Ward Road. This subdivision also included the extension of Lorrie Lane with five new lots that reverse front upon Post and Ward Roads. Final approval is later granted for this project in In February, Preliminary Subdivision and Site Plan approval was granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the Westwinds development. This approval includes the construction of a Master Plan Road (Ward Road), and the closing of a curb cut on Lorrie Lane with the provision of an emergency access point on Lorrie Lane. As a condition the applicant was required to build the Master Plan Road as shown on the plan. The applicants cost of building this road, inclusive of bonding, shall not exceed 50% of the total cost of constructing the entire road

5 In June, Final Subdivision and Site Plan approval was granted for the Westwinds development, with the same condition regarding construction of the Master Plan Road as noted with the Preliminary approval. The final signed plat for this project depicts the Master Plan Road to be constructed from Penn Lyle Road to a point approximately 250 west. A Right-of-Way reservation was depicted from the end of the stubbed road construction curving to meet the northern property line and then straddling the property line common with adjacent lot #24 of block 16 and extending to the west terminating at lot #120 of block 16, which is the land dedicated to West Windsor Township for the Master Plan Road in On the final plat for the Westwinds development the following note is provided regarding the Master Plan Road Right-of-Way: Land reserved for future Master Plan Road to be conveyed to the Township of West Windsor at no charge, upon request from the Township. The Public Offering Statement for the Westwinds development includes the following paragraph under Article III Property Rights: Common Areas and Facilities: The right of the Township of West Windsor to require, free of charge, the dedication of that area shown on the Plan as Reserved for Possible Future Right-of-Way Dedication Modified site plan approval is granted for the Westwinds development, by the West Windsor Township Zoning Board resulting in the construction of a cul de sac turnaround, with a landscape island, at the termination of Lorrie Lane and construction of an emergency access lane between Lorrie Lane and Westwinds Drive. This amendment does not present any changes regarding the Master Plan Road. III. Capital Improvement Program The Township s Capital Improvement Program lists construction of the 1600 Ward Road Collector connection for 2013 to 2017, inclusive of the connection of Birchwood Court to Ward. Birchwood is currently paved as a cul de sac. IV. Traffic Analysis Urbitran Associates has run the Township s traffic model program to determine the intensity of traffic anticipated for Ward Road, if constructed. The model indicates the following number of trips in the a.m. and p.m. peak hours on a constructed Ward Road in the year 2015, from traffic not generated by the neighborhoods that directly feed Ward Road. Direction A.M. Peak through trips P.M. Peak through trips Eastbound (Post to Penn Lyle) Westbound (Penn Lyle to Post) It is noted that this analysis anticipates construction of other planned improvements to the regional traffic pattern which will minimize the number of potential cut through trips by motorists trying to avoid congested intersections

6 For instance, if a dedicated left turn lane is not implemented at the intersection of North Post Road and Village Road West on the southbound North Post Road approach, then the P.M. Peak eastbound trips on Ward Road could inflate to 136. As indicated on the Circulation Plan, it can be seen that Ward Road is intended to serve as a Collector Road. Without completion, extended travel on other Arterial and Major Collector Roadways is necessary for inter-neighborhood movements. This will produce an impact upon the traffic at the intersections of these roads (North Post, Clarksville, New Village and Penn-Lyle). However, it should be emphasized that capacity issues are not necessarily creating the need for this collector; it is by definition proposed to provide a connection for travel between Township neighborhoods and local residences. V. Emergency Services Analysis The West Windsor Township Director of Emergency Services, Jim Yates, and the Police Department were requested to offer input regarding the need and utility of Ward Road in the provision of emergency services. They have indicated that any new or additional road that provides improved connectivity or shorter travel time between two points will aid in the delivery of emergency services. However, they do not perceive a problem with the adequate provision of emergency services to this area of the Township, at present, with Ward Road not connected. It is not possible to fully evaluate the future impact of not constructing this connection since this analysis would require an understanding of the ability to easily traverse all roads in the area. Thus, more connections provide more options and thereby a better ability to deliver emergency services in a timely manner. VI. New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) Considerations It is noted that the RSIS establishes the following definition for a Minor Collector Street: Middle order or residential street. Provide frontage for access to lots and carries traffic of adjoining residential access streets. Designed to carry somewhat higher traffic volumes than lower order streets such as rural and residential access streets, with traffic limited to motorists having origin or destination within the immediate neighborhood. Is not intended to carry regional traffic. (Minor Collector Maximum Average Daily Traffic or ADT s 3,500) The neighborhood surrounding and that would be connected to Ward Road includes 178 homes to equate to an estimated 1,797 average daily trips. Sunrise II Westwinds Birchwood Court neighborhood Proposed Cherry Grove homes 69 homes 78 homes 12 homes 178 homes 178 homes multiplied by 10.1 ADT per single family home = 1,797 average daily trips - 6 -

7 RSIS provides 5 options for cartway and right-of-way widths for Minor Collector Streets to correspond to the anticipated intensity as follows: Intensity ROW Cartway Travel Way Parking Lane Low intensity no parking* Low intensity 1 parking lane Med-High, 1 parking lane Med-High, 2 parking lanes (2) Med-High, off street pkg * Permitted only when there is no direct driveway access to the Collector Road Application of RSIS standards to the present and proposed intensity for Ward Road, (i.e. no driveway access no parking - low intensity origin/destination within the immediate neighborhood) would establish that a 50 ROW and 20 cartway is appropriate. The Township Master Plan establishes a 60 ROW and cartway, which corresponds to the RSIS standard for a medium to high intensity street with parking on one or two sides. However, the Township standard provides for bikelanes in addition to the vehicular cartway width. VII. Resident Petition At the April 25 th Planning Board meeting, a group of residents from the Birchwood Estate neighborhood and Westwinds Homeowners Association requested that Ward Road as a minor collector road connecting Penn Lyle Road to Post Road be deleted from the Township Master Plan, Circulation Plan Element and the Capital Improvements Program. These residents expressed the following specific concerns: 1. The traffic flow in the area has changed due to the preservation of open space so that a connected Ward Road is no longer necessary. 2. Ward Road due to the area's development pattern would not create an east west connector road. 3. Ward Road as a connected road would not improve traffic circulation. 4. If connected, Ward Road would attract cut-through traffic in the neighborhood. Westwinds Road has an existing parking program and could not accommodate through traffic. 5. Connecting Ward Road would adversely impact the ecological value of the currently mature wooded area where the missing segment of Ward Road is located and would worsen an existing drainage problem

8 VIII. Additional Considerations In evaluating the retention of Ward Road as a Minor Collector road in the Master Plan and/or construction this street as a through road, the following additional considerations could be assessed: 1. Lack of street connectivity contributes to an increase in vehicle miles traveled, travel time, fuel consumption and air pollution. Also, lack of street connectivity adds inter-neighborhood trips to the traffic on Major Collector or Arterial Roads. 2. Ward Road would provide connectivity for walking and bicycling through the neighborhood. 3. Street connections between neighborhoods facilitates more convenient vehicular access for services such as police patrol, mail and parcel delivery, trash and recycling disposal, leaf pick-up, school transportation and other community services. 4. The connection between Ward Road and Birchwood Court would introduce thru traffic to Birchwood, which is presently not a thru street. However, the connection could either be built to provide full access, emergency and pedestrian access only, or not connected at all. 5. The Police Department expressed concern for the ability to control the speed of vehicles on Ward Road if constructed with a direct, unobstructed route. Ward Road as a minor collector lacking the "friction" of multiple driveways, or other traffic calming, which could invite higher speed and cutthrough traffic, resulting in increased man power requirements for Police services. 6. Residents of the Westwinds community have expressed concern that stormwater run-off from the adjacent property is presently impacting their drainage system. The construction stormwater management infrastructure (drainage system, detention and infiltration elements) with the subdivision on the adjacent property (Cherry Grove) will present the opportunity to resolve any stormwater run-off from the adjacent property onto the Westwinds site, either with or without the construction of Ward Road. 7. The construction of Ward Road will result in the clearing of approximately 1.3 acres of existing woodland. About 60% of this acreage (.75 acres) occurs within the public R.O.W. dedicated in 1980 with the two lots on Birchwood Court. Although, this woodland is located within the Township Greenbelt, the Greenbelt designation for this area of woodland occurred with the inclusion of all existing woodland into the Greenbelt in The main belt of the Greenbelt in this area occurs along the Duck Pond Run, about ½ mile south of Ward Road. In the broad view, the impact upon the woodland resource of the Township and the Greenbelt will be peripheral and minimal when compared to the size and integrity of the Greenbelt (approximately 2,500 acres) and community forest as a whole. The woodland removal and disturbance to construct Ward Road would present a localized impact upon the flora, fauna and aesthetics of the neighborhood. 8. The proposed Cherry Grove subdivision offers the potential to construct 1,600 linear feet of public road, to serve as a Township Minor Collector, at no initial construction cost to the Township. The development of additional roads will present an increased long term liability to the Township in terms of increased maintenance, repair and future re-surfacing costs. However, this road would only represent 2 tenths of one percent, of the entire 125 mile road system owned by the Township

9 IX. Image Aerial photo of Ward Road neighborhood, with approximate Master Plan Connection in dashed white line End. 9

ARTICLE 13 STREETS General

ARTICLE 13 STREETS General ARTICLE 13 STREETS 13.1 General Streets shall be designed to suit their functions. Many streets have purposes other than vehicular traffic. As an alternative to current N.C. Department of Transportation