Two New No Left Turns Passed

Want to make a left out of the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot onto Franklin Avenue on your way to work at 7:30 a.m.? Don't do it. How about at 2:15 p.m.? Think again. The borough council passed an ordinance at its meeting Tuesday night prohibiting left turns at two locations in the borough. 

The first, from the southwesterly end of McCoy Road onto Colonial Road, which was the site of a fatal accident on Christmas Eve, was of pressing importance to pass, Mayor Frank Bivona stated at the meeting.

The second, from Franklin Square Shopping Center onto Franklin Avenue between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and between 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, was met with objections from an attorney for property owner Robert Decker. Decker's attorney urged the council to delay the vote while working with the property owner to provide an alternative solution. A no left turn out of the property would compromise the economic viability of businesses at the shopping center, she said.

Franklin Square, which houses Piazella Pizzeria, Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital and Dunkin Donuts among others, was built 16 years ago. Council President Paulette Ramsey noted that traffic in the area is much different than it was when the center was built, with Franklin Avenue being used as a main thoroughfare  for traffic going from Route 287 to Ramsey and Wyckoff. 

While the council was sympathetic to the merchants, Bivona said he felt it was important to pass the ordinance in order to be able to start enforcing the no left turn at Colonial and McCoy roads. A sign was erected last month prohibiting turns at the intersection, however police could not ticket violators until the ordinance was passed and posted. 

On Dec. 24, 2010, Larry Sephton was making a left from McCoy onto Colonial, when his car was struck by another motorist. Sephton was pronounced dead on the scene. The other driver, Ohannes Iskahanian, was hospitalized and later ticketed for careless driving.