It's been a tense few weeks for Willow Street residents as they wait to find out whether truck traffic will be coming their way from a near-by business.
The business, Dalton Enterprises, doesn't want to make use of an exit that would flow on to the residential road. It prefers its current access along Railroad Avenue
Dalton Enterprises is a pavement maintenance manufacturing and distribution company that offers Latexite pavement products, including sealers, fillers, primers, extenders and more. Its production produces truck traffic that if left to use Willow Street would bisect a residential neighborhood.
But throw in the issue of the continuation of the town's linear trail that must traverse the property somewhere and confusion has reigned for more than a decade.
That could come to an end this year if the state Department of Transportation approves the newest configuration that allows for the Railroad Avenue access and eliminates the need to use the Willow Street exit.
There's been a big misunderstanding as to the state of the project, according to Dave Carson, an owner of OCC Design, which is working on the project. Even his own 91-year-old mother, an active trail user herself, is under the mistaken impression that Dalton Enterprises doesn't want to see the trail expanded through its property, Carson said.
In 2002 Dalton came up with plans that would have eliminated the need to use Willow Street, quelling those neighbor's fears. But a short time later another plan presented by the state was the exact opposite of what Dalton proposed. As a result, the issue has sat festering for more than a decade unresolved.
If the plan they had proposed in 2001 had been accepted then, the path would have been long completed by now, Carson said.
Then, Dallton Enterprises agreed to an easement to push forward those plans. But now the new proposal needs a different easement agreed to, Carlson said.
But the residents on Willow Street and the surrounding area didn't want to see anything decided Monday night. They urged the Planning and Zoning Commission to not take any actions until the conceptual plan became more set in stone.
"We believe this application will create an undue hazard on Willow Street and will create unsafe conditions that are going to affect our property values," said Willow Street resident Kim Clark.
After several residents spoke out against the plans, with one presenting a petition signed by 150 people, the developer said he didn't accomplish what he set out to do.
"I had hoped with the rather lengthy presentation I could have gotten us focused on the issue," Carlson said. "I see that didn't work."
He'll have another chance at it on July 22, when the public hearing on the project will continue.
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