OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—A traffic engineer for a proposed two-story, 72-bed assisted living facility planned at 184 Central Ave. told Planning Board members April 10 that the facility will “essentially have no traffic impact” on the school or neighborhood’s peak travel periods.
At the previous March 13 hearing, concerns were voiced about facility traffic worsening peak drop-off and pick-up periods at a nearby school, but Craig Peregoy, applicant traffic engineer with Dynamic Engineering, told members that because the facility has flexibility to switch employee start and leave times, it will not affect the heavy morning traffic around the school.
“From a traffic standpoint, this is actually an ideal use for this location when you have that morning chaos for that drop-off time,” said Peregoy, who said he personally observed the heavy morning school traffic.
To verify the accuracy of a traffic trip-generation model used, Peregoy said he took traffic counts at the site, including school hours, on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
He took traffic counts from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2-6 p.m.; and from noon to 2 p.m. on a Saturday, a time when weekend shoppers are traveling, he said.
He said the trip-generation model used, certified by the Institute of Traffic Engineers, employs data from traffic counts at similar facilities and helps provide accurate traffic estimates.
He said the “maximum trip generation,” or vehicles entering or leaving the assisted living facility at any peak travel time, was 26 vehicles.
Peak traffic ‘low volume’
He called the 26 vehicle number “a low volume” of peak traffic and said full-scale traffic studies are only done when peak counts total 100 or more vehicles.
He said from a traffic perspective, circulation around the facility is “adequate and safe” and said he was willing to work with police, fire or emergency services to address any traffic questions and concerns.
Artis Senior Living LLC is proposing a two-story, 42,618- square-foot assisted living facility on the 3.4-acre site at 184 Central Avenue.
The facility will focus on providing memory-care services, aiding individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.
The facility will be the borough’s second assisted living complex.
On March 13, questions about parking, facility operations and emergency response access were raised to the applicant’s engineer, who provided a point-by-point summation to address the concerns on April 10.
Engineer hears neighbors
Joseph Jaworski, Dynamic Engineering, said he met with three neighbors of adjoining properties following the last meeting to discuss modifications to fencing and landscaping.
He mentioned changes including enhancing fencing coverage and landscape plantings and asked for written reports on recommended revisions or changes from board professionals.
Jaworski said he had walked the proposed development site with the three neighbors, agreeing to changes requested to better address concerns on fence heights, screening by landscape plants and types and height of plantings.
He said the rear parking lot is about 50 feet from adjacent neighbors and the area will be buffered by additional evergreen trees.
He said all proposed plantings agreed to will be part of the landscaping plan.
Ambulance contract
Applicant attorney Gail Price told members that she will provide them with a contract for a private ambulance service for the facility as a condition of site plan approval, after several members requested an advance copy of the contract. No questions were asked by the public to either Peregoy or Jaworski.
Artis Senior Living is based in McLean, Virginia, and runs similar memory-care facilities in Princeton and Evesham. In addition, five more facilities are under construction or proposed in New Jersey. Price said she is hoping to conclude testimony at the next hearing, May 8, with the applicant’s planner.
