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Following a July decision by the Warsaw Plan Commission approving the initial plat for Zimmer Lane, adjacent property owners requested road cuts onto the new thoroughfare.
At the Warsaw Traffic Commission Thursday, members recommended the Plan Commission deny the requests, saying that the proposed Zimmer Lane would be created for the specific purpose of industrial traffic. The decision was unanimous.
"Allowing drive cuts onto the road will only create confusion and congestion," council representative George Clemens said.
According to a report from Chief of Police Steve Foster, access onto Zimmer Lane was not a possibility for either side of the street. Zimmer Inc. agreed not to construct entrances on the south side of the road, and would only allow access to its parking lot from Hepler Drive.
"The purpose of this road is not to solve homeowners' property problems," traffic commission member Ann Sweet said. "Opening Zimmer Lane is not putting these owners in any worse position."
The final plat approval for Zimmer Lane will be decided by the Plan Commission during a meeting Aug. 8.
In other matters, city planner Jeremy Skinner presented a proposal to realign the intersection of CRs 75N and 175E. Biggs Inc.'s projected development of the "Path of Deerfield" housing edition prompted a discussion as to if and when the roads could be realigned by the Warsaw Street Department. The edition will be southwest of the intersection.
Members discussed increased traffic possibilities at the intersection once residents move into the edition, and reported the roads could experience 600-700 additional vehicles per day.
"Traffic accidents at the intersection are not worse than anywhere else," Skinner said.
WPD Sgt. Kip Shuter responded to Skinner's comment by saying that the area was labeled a "problem intersection.
"The (Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department) responded to accidents in the area until recently," Shuter said. "We've had larger accidents there, and the increased traffic on the roads needs to be considered."
Street Department superintendent Lacy Francis estimated construction costs to be at least $20,000 for curb and asphalt.
Francis recommended safety features be put in place at the intersection even after realignment because the area southwest of the roads will be an open area inside the housing edition.
"Anytime you have an open field, there will be kids playing in the area," Skinner said.
The commission voted to recommend:
• The realignment take place during the construction of the northwest section of the housing edition.
• The developer be responsible for safety features around the intersection, such as guardrails and/or vegetative screening.
• The developer is to give the city the right-of-way for the intersection as well as pay for all engineering costs for the project.
Regarding the placement of enforcement signs along U.S. 30, Ann Sweet reported installation would take place Aug. 12.
"In some cities where cameras are not available, signs do make a difference for traffic control," Sweet said.
The signs label U.S. 30 as a "Target Enforcement Zone" and will be placed at two intersections within Warsaw's city limits.
Sweet hoped the Indiana Department of Transportation will allow the placement of additional signs along the highway.
Present members were Shuter, Sweet, Skinner, Clemens, Greg Schroeder and Bill Rhoades. Member Dan Robinson was absent.
