(2/25) The Town Council discussed potentially changing the minimum street width requirements for new developments and subdivisions, passing the debate to the Planning and Zoning Committee. The Committee will discuss the issue and provide its recommendations to the Board at a future date.
Commissioner Bob Lookingbill brought the issue to the Town?s attention hearing complaints from residents in newer developments about the width of the street. Residents are having trouble with passing other moving vehicles when there are cars parked on both sides of the street due to the narrow width. ?We have narrowed the streets to the point that it is dangerous. I have been on these streets, I have a small car and there were times I could barely get through,? Thurmont resident Louise Shaffer said during public comment. ?Oversized vehicles, garbage trucks and emergency vehicles would have had a problem getting through the streets.?
The Town opted for narrower streets to calm traffic and reduce speeding in these residential areas. Mayor John Kinnaird immediately agreed with Lookingbill that, while the narrow streets did work as they were supposed to, he acknowledged the problem they were creating. ?They do work well, but they are an imposition on residents and people who are driving through the neighborhoods,? Kinnaird said before suggesting the Council pass along the request to the Planning and Zoning Committee for their review.
Chief of Police David Armstrong spoke on the positives and negatives of wider streets, reminding the Council that wider streets could cost the Town more money. According to Armstrong, wider streets could cause more run off and higher cost to install. He also shared information about the speed issue, citing an unknown source claiming that for every three feet wider the road is, the Town can expect traffic to travel 10 miles per hour faster. ?You put in a 13-foot wide travel lane, cars are just going to naturally travel faster on it? Armstrong said. He cited the differences in typical speeds on wider streets like Blue Ridge Drive in comparison to the narrower roads.
Kinnaird explained that the Council would vote on the issue once the Planning and Zoning Committee presents its recommendations based on the local subdivision regulations. Town Manager Jim Humerick clarified that the regulations would be for future streets built after the regulations go into effect, not necessarily for already existing streets.
Meredith Wivell, who is chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, but spoke as a Thurmont resident rather than in an official capacity, pointed out the need for traffic calming devices if the Town were to choose to implement wider streets. While Wivell had no doubt that the police department could help to combat speeding, she didn?t think it was the best use of the Town?s resources. ?How much of our resources are being wasted on curbing speeding when you can just put some traffic calming in and that would help with everyone?s problems,? she said, going on to suggest collecting data to confirm what the best option is for Thurmont.
Kinnaird explained that the Town?s hesitation surrounding speed bumps stemmed from their potential damage to snow plows. ?I think it?s time that maybe we have an open discussion [with Public Works] about that,? he said. Commissioner Bill Blakeslee suggested removable speed bumps that the Town could remove to prevent damage to snow plows. Lookingbill agreed to look into traffic calming techniques used by nearby communities as the discussion on the topic will continue.
