Panel Reviews Traffic Impact Analysis For Proposed Martin's Super Market In Warsaw
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission Wednesday reviewed a traffic impact analysis for a proposed Martin's Super Market and bank in Warsaw.
The supermarket and bank are being proposed a quarter mile northwest of the Husky Trail/Parker Street intersection.
The proposed development incorporates an 8.6-acre parcel located in the northwest corner of the Menards subdivision development.The development plan proposes a mixed use of a supermarket and a bank.
Wightman Petrie, an Elkhart-based consulting engineer and land surveyor company, completed a 12-hour traffic analysis from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 22 at the existing Husky Trail/Parker Street intersection.
The traffic impact analysis was requested by Warsaw to determine the traffic volume for the proposed supermarket and bank.
The study included projected traffic counts generated by the future Culver's Restaurant site that will be located at the southwest corner of the Menards store.
The commission Wednesday recommended the company complete another traffic impact analysis now that the Menards store has been built.
"Another study will allow us to have a better idea of the current traffic volumes since the Menards store has opened," Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner said.
Skinner recommended the traffic study be a six-hour study conducted on a Saturday when traffic volume is the highest.
Warsaw Plan Commission will review the proposal at its meeting Monday night at city hall.
Ken Jones, Wightman Petrie president, shared the traffic impact analysis Wednesday with the commission. Jones said if the store is approved, plans are to have construction completed by 2010.
In the traffic analysis, the company recommended, based on capacity and site circulation, it will be necessary for the proposed Martin's site to have a dedicated access drive to Husky Trail.
Based on the number of right turns at the proposed Martin's access drive to Husky Trail, the study recommends a northbound right turn lane be constructed to move right-turning traffic from the through lane.
The recommendation also includes, based on the capacity and safety analysis at the proposed Martin's access drive to Husky Trail, a dedicated left-turn lane should be constructed at the entrance.
Based on the existing geometry of Husky Trail, it is recommended that widening of Husky Trail be constructed along the site's frontage to create a three-lane section to accommodate the left-turn lane.
The study also stated the intersection of Husky Trail and Parker Street should be continually monitored for the possible installation of a traffic signal in the future should it be necessary based on capacity or safety concerns.
In other business, the commission approved a request from Jerry Frush, Kosciusko County Historical Society president, to install one handicap parking space in front of the Old Jail Museum on North Indiana Street.
The space will be used for museum patrons on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the museum is open.
Warsaw Traffic Commission Administrator Kip Shuter presented former traffic commission member Ann Sweet with a plaque for her service on the commission. She served on the commission from 2003-2008.
Commissioners are George Clemens, Dan Hampton, Steve Foster, Jerry Patterson, Dan Robinson, Greg Schroeder, Shuter and Skinner.
The commission will meet again June 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Warsaw Police Department Training Center.
