Update from KMG

With MetLinks open and the controversial location of the golf course maintenance facility likely to be approved soon, Marshall Properties is ready and eager to turn to approval of the next phase at Metacomet, the commercial/retail section of its enormous development project.

This is a good time for a recap and a reality check. 1) Marshall intends to build a “village” of 153,000sf of commercial units, including a 100,000sf grocery store complex, and 890 residential units. 2) Full construction is anticipated to take 10 years. 3) The increase in daily average traffic along the Parkway is projected to be an additional 11,000 trips. 4) Marshall says that it must make drastic alterations to the Parkway to accommodate this massive increase in the number of daily vehicular trips. 5) Marshall plans on building a roundabout at Lyon Avenue, with a total of 1600 feet of pavement expanded to four lanes (now two). 6) The roundabout will facilitate the 30 daily truck deliveries to the new grocery store. This number does not include other deliveries. 7) These delivery trucks will traverse down the Parkway from the highway, then take the roundabout to an entrance on Lyon Avenue.

How does this affect me? you might ask.

The residents on Fisher Street and a portion of Fort already dread the thought of the maintenance facility practically in their backyards. They and the rest of the Fort Street area can also look forward to 10 solid years of traffic, noise and dust from the construction.

The folks on Lyon Ave will no doubt hear the same noise and choke on the same dust, but they will have the extra issue of traffic increasing nearly 250% on their street. Not to mention the roundabout and the 30+ delivery trucks pulling into or out of the first entrance on Lyon Avenue. There will eventually be two.

Residents with a Parkway address from Mercer to Lyon, as well as side streets, will have to contend not only with increased general traffic and the roundabout, but with those 30+ delivery trucks rumbling by their homes at all hours of the day and night. The folks at the upper end of the Parkway, including the residents of Kettle Point, will have the same concerns, minus the rumbling trucks.

South Broadway area residents will likely see a great deal more traffic as commuters seek to avoid the traffic jams sure to happen on the Parkway when those 11,000 extra vehicles hit the road. And you know the construction noise and dust are sure to find their way over the Cove.

Central East Providence folks aren’t off the hook either. You just know people coming from the Riverside area are going to stay on Pawtucket Avenue rather than face that Parkway traffic. That’s gonna cause some headaches, especially in the Kent Heights Elementary School area. Riverside residents, your commute will be challenging. Take note.

Rumford neighbors, these issues may not concern you greatly yet. And that’s OK. I remind you, though, that we never thought Metacomet would be developed. You know an investor would just love to get their hands on Wannamoisett or Agawam. All you bike path users—bicyclists and pedestrians—be prepared to share that roundabout with vehicular traffic. Be careful out there.

Every regulatory document governing the Parkway states that: “Redevelopment should be proportional to existing roadway capacity; scale of development limited to traffic capacity.” They also say: “Roadway widening discouraged” and “Increased truck traffic would adversely affect the neighborhood.”

The funny—or sad—thing is that no one sitting on the Boards and Commissions who will make key decisions shows any interest in this regulatory language. They and the Planning Department and Marshall seem to be moving along happily with this massive development with nary a thought of downsizing it to meet existing traffic capacity. Maybe the decisionmakers are all showing their poker faces now and at the last minute will say: “What, are you nuts? Of course you can’t build something this huge.”

No one in authority is asking the tough questions. Local media has been largely silent. It is up to us, the public, to pay attention, to say “We don’t want this!” To remind the City Council that the prior Council voted to restrict development to the existing traffic capacity of the Parkway. To make noise and to come to public meetings.

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Candy Seel
Keep Metacomet Green