TOPSHAM — Topsham Setting up Board Tuesday approved strategies for a generate-thru Aroma Joe’s coffee store at the corner of Major Street and Route 196, if the condition problems a allow demanding protection updates to an adjacent intersection.
Aroma Joe’s Coffee Franchising, LLC strategies to construct a two-tale, 5,000-sq.-foot espresso shop at 1 Next St., a short avenue concerning Principal Road and Monument Way. The making would home the espresso shop and two commercial tenants on the 1st flooring and two flats on the 2nd ground.
The venture was proposed by franchisee Loren Goodridge of Bowdoin. He expressed fears Tuesday that the cost of the Principal Road and Route 196 intersection improvements the Maine Department of Transportation is requiring could jeopardize the task.
Assistant City Planner Andrew Deci claimed Wednesday that the Maine Section of Transportation is requiring Goodridge to develop sidewalks along Second Avenue from the Aroma Joe’s internet site to Monument Way and put in a crosswalk throughout Monument Way. Goodridge explained Tuesday he’s ready to do that.
At concern are the MaineDOT’s requested upgrades to the Route 196 and Most important Avenue intersection, which is regarded as a substantial-crash area. In accordance to the transportation department’s website, there have been 39 crashes at the intersection because 2018, ensuing in nine accidents but no fatalities.
The MaineDOT’s definition of a substantial-crash intersection is 1 with at the very least eight crashes above a a few-yr time period.
Deci mentioned MaineDOT would like targeted traffic signals on the traffic lanes exactly where eastbound Route 196 website traffic exits on to Main Avenue, and westbound website traffic exits off the Route 196 Coastal Connector to turn north on to Principal Street. There have been 10 crashes wherever targeted visitors merges from Route 196 onto Major Street southbound amongst 2017 and 2019, in accordance to the Maine DOT’s on the web crash info.
Deci said these traffic lanes presently only need automobiles to generate to other vehicles touring by the intersection. MaineDOT is inquiring the developer of the Aroma Joe’s task to install traffic alerts to sluggish site visitors so pedestrians can cross via the intersection much more properly.
The coffee shop is envisioned to attract much more foot targeted traffic by the intersection, which is why MaineDOT would like more pedestrian protection actions. Deci said the applicant options to provide the encompassing neighborhoods like learners of Mt. Ararat Superior College, positioned on Primary Road north of the Route 196 and Principal Road intersection.
Goodridge explained to the board Tuesday he is looking at pulling the job for the reason that he fears the intersection advancements necessary by the Maine DOT to get the allow, which he thinks could price upwards of $70,000 and make the venture unfeasible.
Planning board member Bruce Van Observe questioned the $70,000 value tag and urged Goodridge to talk to the transportation section initial. Van Observe is at the moment the state Transportation Commissioner as perfectly.
“That’s not my comprehension that what that expenditures at all,” Van Be aware said.
Although Goodridge has just about every right to halt the challenge, “I hope you don’t, truthfully,” Van Observe said.
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