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Mar
4
I am pissed. Just like people said before going into Iraq that the military part was easy, it was the peace part that would be hard, likewise, I knew before a single tree was felled in what is now Sterling Lakes, the “traffic problems” that the “new” Brainard was supposed to alleviate were going to migrate to my end of South Woodland, just east of Lander. And it was evident that that had happened immediately after the construction of the new Brainard was completed and Pepper Pike was forced to re-open the south end of Brainard Circle.
Now I read that Pepper wants to put a traffic circle in less than quarter mile from an already existent traffic circle (Lander and Chagrin) and less than half a mile from my house. All this, on top of okaying re-zoning and construction of a 35,000 sq. foot office building on Chagrin across from the Orange library and something, we don’t know what yet, across from Garfield Memorial Church – which is along the one-lane Lander Road.
I want Forest City to pay every last dime of every expenditure related to this study Pepper Pike says needs to be done. It is the fault of Sterling Lakes. It is the fault of approval of Sterling Lakes. And it was all foreseeable that the traffic was going to be pushed east from those million dollar homes and clog up the one-lane roads of Lander and South Woodland.
Here’s the story in the Chagrin Valley Times. Note, Allan Krulak, my city councilman and Democratic Ward Chair, VP and Director of Community Outreach for Forest City, and newly appointed member of the Lottery Commission thinks the circle at South Woodland is a good idea. What a surprise. Mr. Krulak – community outreach – on this issue. I’ll even host it. But we need it. Now.
From the Chagrin Valley Times this week:
Another traffic problem seen in Pepper Pike
By SALI McSHERRY
Pepper Pike City Council decided last week to move forward with a traffic study to determine whether to install a roundabout at the intersection of South Woodland and Lander roads to alleviate traffic backups.
Data collected from the study, which will include traffic counts at certain times of the day at the intersection, could be useful in the traffic study of Lander Circle at Chagrin Boulevard this spring, which was requested by Councilwoman Paulette Morganstern. By linking it to the Lander Circle study, the city can determine the impact of traffic on both circles, she said.
City Engineer Donald Sheehy presented council with options that would improve the capacity at the intersection. There are traffic backups there during the morning and early evening rush hours, as well as after school at about 2:30 p.m., he said. The next step would be to do a detailed analysis, he said.
If a circle were built within the existing pavement, along with islands with right-turn yield signs, there would be better traffic flow, he said.
Summit County has a circle at an intersection similar to South Woodland and Lander roads and has had success with it, Mr. Sheehy said.
The proposed circle would have about a 45-foot diameter and be designed for speeds of 20 mph, he said. About four cars could comfortably move through the circle at a time, he said.
South Woodland Road resident Pitt Curtiss told council that he doesn’t think there are traffic problems at the intersection. While a circle might be useful at rush hour in the early evening, most drivers are well-disciplined and orderly about taking turns, he said.
His wife, Joan, called it “the most civilized corner in the world.” While it can be congested at times, she doesn’t see the need for a traffic count, she said.
Resident Maryanne Lutjen said she is opposed to the roundabout concept and does not see a reason for it.
Over a decade ago, Pepper Pike considered installing a traffic light at the intersection on the advice of the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office. The city did a traffic study, which concluded that a light would be warranted. The city bid out the job and purchased some traffic-light equipment. However, some citizens opposed the installation, saying it would change the appearance of the area, and the city dropped the idea.
Mr. Curtiss said he was against the light, because he thought it would encourage accidents.
Mr. Sheehy’s options are an alternative to installing a traffic light. He said that a traffic light isn’t necessary most of the time, because the traffic isn’t heavy, except perhaps for rush hours. But there are some safety concerns associated with it due to the long hill down from the west on South Woodland Road to the intersection, he said.
Police are concerned that there could be accidents due to drivers traveling at higher speeds to get through a traffic light, he said. Also, because Bolingbrook Road is close to the intersection, an additional light might be needed there, if there were a traffic light at Lander and South Woodland roads, Mr. Sheehy said.
Councilman Richard Bain asked if the traffic information presented was anecdotal. He said, if there is an increase in traffic on Lander Road, finding out the cause of it should be a goal. He also suggested reopening Brainard Road.
However, according to Mr. Sheehy and Mayor Bruce H. Akers, the city received money from the state to fix the traffic-safety problem at Brainard Circle. It also was recommended by the police department, and reopening it would require the city to give back the money, they said.
Councilmen Clevis Svetlik and Allan Krulak said installing a roundabout at Lander and South Woodland roads makes sense, and they want to move forward with a traffic study.
Another option is “shrinking the intersection,” so drivers would have a clear view of every other car at the intersection, Mr. Sheehy said. There are about 120 feet between stop signs at opposite sides of the intersections, he said. If the intersection were made smaller, the gap would be about 60 feet, and there would be small islands with yield right-turn signs at each of the corners, he said.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:17 pm March 4th, 2007 in Politics
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10 Responses to “Open Brainard or make Forest City and/or Sterling Lakes pay”
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Shalom Jill,
Sam Miller PAY for something?
What have you been smoking?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jill, I am very familiar with the area.
Plus, i do this type of work, construction management/administration on large capital improvement projects.
The information you are being given from Don Sheehy is pretty on point.
A light has restrictions and requirements on the placements. The Round abouts have had a lot of positve things said about them.
From what I am led to believe, they are NOT the same as an traffic circle or oval. I believe they are much smaller, allow for better traffic flow and are able to handle a higher volume of traffic than a circle.
Your issues with the developer is a double edged sword. On one hand you want them to make improvements to any areas that their development will affect, be it sewers, water lines, traffic, etc…
But how far do you go? Bottom line is the residents, but you also want to try and promote growth. But again, not at the cost of the residents or to create a larger burden to the city services.
My two cents…
King
Jeff – I know – I know. Just a gut instinct that he should have as well. You should hear Max go on about it!
King – Thanks! I really appreciate what you’re saying.
Are you familiar with the history of the Porter Property? That’s what was turned into Sterling Lakes – are you familiar with how it enabled the moving of “old” Brainard and the construction – at the state’s cost to a large extent – of “new” Brainard?
I’d actually say that if you aren’t familiar with the history of the entire situation, you’d possibly be an excellent person from whom I’d like to get an opinion because I was never in favor of that land being developed as residences. Too much to go into here but again, if you have followed it at all, I’d be curious to know your take.
Of course I realize that Sterling Lakes is here to stay – it’s not going to be razed and re-planted, I know that. But the destruction it’s left in its wake – the impact on every area around it – I get red in the face.
Anyway – be interested to hear your thoughts.
Interesting. Porter wanted to develop the land for commercial use. The city was correct to fight Porter on the zoning. Sterling Lakes is far better than a Beachwood style commercial mess you see directly across the freeway.
Well, Notso, I know your points are valid. I don’t dispute them. But…we’ll really never know. I mean, look what Mayor Akers, Council and eventually, unfortunately, the voters of Pepper Pike have approved in building across from the Orange Public Library and across from Garfield Memorial Church. Lander Circle is a congested traffic nightmare right now. I voted against the variances for the Smith Barney building, and what galls me even more?
We’ve been told repeatedly that that building is ONLY for Smith Barney. But if that’s the case, then why is there a “for rent” sign in front of the construction?
I agree with your above post. FWIW I hope they scrap the roundabout idea. NHTSA recommends a traffic light with dedicated left turn lanes/arrows at intersections similar to Lander/S. Woodland. The 12-13 year old traffic study recommended the same.
As much as I don’t want anything about my corner to change because I still don’t like how the traffic has all ended up being re-routed around Sterling Lakes and Old Brainard (I know, I’m being stubborn on this), I would prefer a light to a roundabout. I guess we’ll see. And I should try to get to some meetings.
IMHO, the Brainard turning circle is a complete mess. I take it every day to work and it has literally turned into the Autobahn when entering from Shaker eastbound. With no stop sign and no lanes marked, cars enter that circle at 35+ miles per hour side by side. People from the left lane attempt to turn on to Shaker near City Hall while people on right are continuing on to Gates Mills or Brainard (new or old – who knows what the part between the circle and Fairmont is called).
After all the dough that was spent on that project, you would think that they could afford one more stop sign!
Oh, and Akers needs to pay for an update to the GPS Navigation DVD in my Q7. That damn thing thinks that I have jumped the rails onto the freeway every time I take New Brainard!
Sorry for the rant – I nearly got hit yesterday on that mess as someone tried to turn right from the imaginary left lane!
Accident – I would URGE you to copy and paste what you’ve written here and send it to Mayor Akers, the building and zoning folks, copy all the city council members (their emails are online at the Pepper Pike site in the lefthand sidebar) and also email it to the Sun papers and the Chagrin Valley Times.
Have you been on Lander Circle lately? It’s even worse, I think, because it’s narrower and you have school buses going around it several times a day during the weekdays.
When I read about the plans for Solon, I just hang my head – not once have the articles mentioned traffic.