CVS Impact Would Be 'Imperceptible,' Engineer Says
A proposed CVS in Washington Township is closely intertwined with a county plan to improve a busy intersection.
Building a proposed CVS would increase the wait for drivers at the intersection of Pascack Road and Washington Avenue by less than a second if an intersection improvement were completed, according to traffic engineer Gary Dean.
Dean, an expert testifying on behalf of applicant First Hartford Realty, previously said the intersection improvement would help traffic run more smoothly through the busy crossroads. At the previous hearing, board members asked Dean what impact the improvement would have if the proposed CVS were not built.
"The impact of CVS would be imperceptible," Dean answered Tuesday.
According to Dean, the average delay at the improved intersection would be 28.5 seconds without the CVS. The delay would be 29.3 seconds with the CVS, Dean said.
Board members still had concerns about the plan with the possible impact a 14,500-square-foot store could have on the residential neighborhood.
"It changes the atmosphere of a residential community," board Chairman William Johnson said.
Another potential issue is that the intersection improvement may never even happen. Washington Township Mayor Janet Sobkowicz previously said she would not sign a contract with the county allowing the improvement — which would involve widening the intersection with more turning lanes — to happen.
"All this data is for nought," board member Laura Merkle said.
The intersection improvement relies on the CVS plan, as well as the plan for 5 Star Gas which was approved earlier this year, being approved because the applicants both offered to donate a piece of their land to the county for the project, on the condition that their plans were approved.
Board attorney Donna Baboulis said the board could require the improvement happen as a condition of approval, but Carmine Alampi, the attorney representing the applicant, said that the board would be overstepping its authority to require a condition beyond the applicant's control.
Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Kelly Van Rijn
12:48 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Dollars to donuts, I betcha traffic engineer Gary Dean doesn't live next to that intersection!
Enough Already
7:26 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
b
manny
7:26 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
it already backs up over there just because of the bus stopping at the bus stop, it's gonna be even worse with a cvs there; with cars coming in and out too.
Pauline
7:16 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
An attractive structure would enhance the appearance of that corner & if the average delay at the improved intersection would be 28.5 seconds without the CVS & 29.3 seconds with it, I'm in favor of allowing a CVS to be build in that spot.
Ouija
3:43 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
I would not rely on CVS to erect an "attractive structure" of any kind at any time anywhere in the United States. They are uniformly poorly designed monoliths with giant windows meant for tacky sale signs. Just drive by the new CVS hulk in Westwood...there is barely room for a sidewalk.
Enough Already
7:16 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
I think this is a great idea. There are no CVS's in the area. The closest one is in Westwood, a whopping 1.5 miles away, that's just crazy. Once I had to walk there, it took me two days. The parish of Saint Andrews were kind enough to put me up and feed me on my journey.
twp370
7:16 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
forget the cvs and how bout. the town fights the parkway authority and get the wood cliff lake exit to change to be able to make a right turn that would alleviate traffic in the twp.
joe
5:40 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012
That CVS would be more of an eyesore than the run down homes that are there. We don't need another strip mall there.
Jeffrey Tammen
10:12 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Just because the intersection is going to be improved upon doesn't mean the traffic will all of a sudden just poof and go away. Pascack and Washington are still 2 lane roads, how much congestion can u fit on them.major problems are woodcliff lake must open up right turn on exit 171 and hillsdale must let truck go up straight to van emburgh and to 17 this would help reduce all the congestion.and the bus stop is even worse when picking up passengers it shuts Washington ave down..cvs will sell u the Brooklyn bridge if it could just to bldg there.plus seasons would have a new place to store stuff and park more cars after hours.
Jeffrey Tammen
10:12 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
I would ask cvs and seasons to live in the houses on pascack and Washington ave for a month and truly live there and operate and see how they feel later and let them tell us if we need anymore traffic.