Konover Amendment Given Positive Referral from Planning Commission

The next step in a plan to bring a pharmacy and other development to the corner of Route 44 and Lawton Road will be a Zoning Commission public hearing March 21. (Originally scheduled for March 16).

Monday night, the Planning Commission issued a positive referral, with several suggestions, to the Zoning Commission for Konover Development’s regulation and master plan amendment for property at the corner of Lawton Road and Route 44.

The amendment is for changes to existing zone and development approvals and is not a site plan, which would come later in the process.

The changes sought by Konover include spreading development at the site over three areas rather than two and putting in public access to the site from Lawton Road, in addition to the main one on Route 44. 

The proposal to change the Lawton Road access from emergency only to public has generated protest from several residents in the area, who say it will increase cut-through traffic on Lawton, Washburn and other area roads.

Attendance was down from the previous meeting, with about eight residents at the meeting. Many more, however, sent letters to the commission.

The Planning Commission is charged to determine whether the proposal fits the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. The Commission began discussing the issue at its last meeting but some members wanted more time and to look at a report from the town’s traffic consultant.

“The town’s consultant pretty much substantiated what was submitted by to consultant for the applicant,” commissioner Jonathan Thiesse said Monday.

The report from Tighe&Bond is several pages long but at one part states, “…It is not expected that the proposed access will significantly increase the traffic volumes on Lawtown Road…”

The report does make several suggestions for Konover’s plan such as a bypass lane for those turning left into the sight from Lawton Road. Konover’s conceptual drawing included a full left-turn lane.

In its referral, the Planning Commission requested the zoning commission look carefully at the traffic and pedestrian safety improvement suggestions of the study done for the town.

Commissioners also made sure the context of the decision was clear and asked the Zoning Commission to consider a few other issues as well.

Planning Chairwoman Rosemary Aldridge said the Design Review Team would eventually look at those having to do with building design and character.

Commissioners also expressed concern that someone may gain approval for a plan and then change it. While the exact site plan has not been filed and approved uses would be allowed, numerous regulations govern the property, Town Planner Neil Pade said.

After the meeting, Lawton Road resident Bob Feller said he was disappointed but was glad the commissioners asked the Zoning Commission to consider the traffic suggestions and other factors.

Jean Bouchard, who lives on the corner of Lawton and Washburn roads, said, “They just don’t seem to care about the neighborhood,” and proceeded down the hall to state that to members of the Konover team.

“It’s our goal to make sue the community is not agitated,” responded Landscape Architect Phil Doyle, a consultant for the project and a Canton resident.

He said the changes in layout and landscaping, which include a buffer of more than 100 trees in the rear, make the project less intrusive than any other plan for the site, including the one currently approved.

“Were trying to take a fresh look at this and make sure it’s done right,” he said, adding that nearly every person there had not been involved in any other of Konover’s proposals for the site.

While some residents seemed to appreciate those factors, those present remained opposed to the second access.

“The worst part is the access to Lawton Road,” Bouchard said.

Developers have said the use would be a neighborhood draw and not draw a lot of additional traffic through the area.

Monday Stanley C. Glantz, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company, said the pharmacy will only come with that access. He also said to residents that anyone who would cut over through the property would have turned onto Lawton at the intersection of Route 44 anyway.

“It’s the same car,” he said.

Residents, however, said many motorists will use it as a way to easily get off 44 and travel home via Lawton, even if they live a little ways from the area.

Glantz did also tell residents the company would make some changes such as the proposed bypass, which will help calm traffic.

“We’re all for that,” he said.