By ETHAN HARTLEY A proposed development that would reshape the Wildes Corner area of Warwick - which used to contain Benny's and now is slated to become the spot of the newest Dave's Marketplace, which would replace the existing (and first) Dave's
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*Editor's note: The map used in the print edition of the Beacon and in the original online version incorrectly located the area of the proposed traffic light. It has been corrected.
A proposed development that would reshape the Wildes Corner area of Warwick – which used to contain Benny’s and now is slated to become the spot of the newest Dave’s Marketplace, which would replace the existing (and first) Dave’s location on West Shore Road – passed another hurdle on Monday night as the Warwick City Council unanimously approved a zoning change on behalf of the developer, Carpionato Group.
The decision was one that generated nearly two hours of debate, with abutters of the proposed development – namely those that reside on Spring Grove Avenue – split between opponents of the proposal, who cited safety concerns regarding traffic being opened up to their street, and proponents who want to see a traffic light installed at the intersection of Spring Grove Avenue and West Shore Road, a juncture that can be chaotic to navigate, especially when turning left.
The root of the concern for the many who spoke out against the project on Monday night comes from the aforementioned traffic signal, which is an integral part of the development’s plan.
The situation boils down to one of two scenarios. If the city is granted approval for a traffic signal by the state, an old access road that connects the plaza with the former Benny’s to Spring Grove Avenue will be closed to any traffic and a pedestrian accessway will be installed. Only the Warwick Fire Department would have access to the road in the case of emergencies.
This is the situation that Kelly Coates, president and CEO of Carpionato Group, envisions and desires. While it is one he cannot guarantee, as the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) ultimately decides whether or not a signal should be installed at the location, he said that he has no reason to believe the request for a light would be turned down.
“I will not let you down. I live in Warwick; it's my city. We'll get it,” he said at the meeting on Monday night. “RIDOT has given us every assurance, and the neighbors won't have trucks in their neighborhood.”
But for some Spring Grove Avenue residents, an assurance is not good enough to quell their concerns, because if the traffic light is ultimately shot down and doesn’t get installed, the access road could be once again opened up to vehicular traffic going into the plaza.
“My 11-year-old son wants to walk home from school on the bus. That is something right now that, if this [access road] opens, is not going to happen,” said Lisa Messina, who lives next to the access road on Spring Grove Avenue. “There is no way I'm going to allow my son to walk home knowing of the chances of him being hit by a driver while walking down the dead-end street – that we purchased our home on for the safety of our children – is going to be opened.”
Other residents were concerned with lights spilling into their houses from passing cars going into and out of the plaza, and others questioned why additional access was needed into a plaza that would already have multiple other points of entry.
Coates lauded the overall good the project would do for the neighborhood, and discussed how the current Dave’s Marketplace is not easily accessible to seniors and often requires a traffic cop to dictate flow in and out of the small parking lot. He mentioned how having two signals, the existing one at the busy intersection near TD Bank, and the new one, would enable the system to “platoon” traffic and make left turns onto West Shore Road more manageable.
“This Dave's will be the latest Dave's within their chain, the highest tech Dave's within their chain, the best-looking Dave's within their chain – a great amenity for the neighborhood,” Coates said. “That increases property values in the neighborhood.”
But opposed Spring Grove Avenue residents insisted this wasn’t their point.
“Most of us are not against Dave's going into Benny's, that's not the issue,” said Michelle Marandola. “The issue is opening up onto our street.”
“Opening access to Spring Grove Avenue is beyond comprehension to the neighborhood,” added Maureen McNamara.
City Planning Director Bill DePasquale added his input that the proposed location of the traffic signal should warrant approval by the state.
“I wish I could say with 100 percent that I know DOT will issue that, but I will say if they don’t issue a full signal at this location, I don't know what warrants one,” he said.
Coates and DePasquale reminded concerned residents that the proposal still has to go before the planning board and obtain a second passage from the city council.
“This is an early step in the process,” said Coates.
City Council President Steve Merolla summarized the situation with his take shortly before calling the vote that ultimately went unanimously in favor of letting the development proceed.
“What I've listened to is, other than this access road, that this is a good project. I concur with that,” he said. “I think that area, in particular over by Benny's has been a blighted commercial area for a long time. To have something nice in that area and new I think is a benefit to everybody, and I haven't heard any testimony indicating that's not true.”
Merolla lamented that DOT holds so much influence over the project but put his confidence in Carpionato Group and Coates to make sure they get the process done in a way that satisfies the concerned residents.
“The projects that we've seen, he's delivered on situations similar to this. It's not a great position to be in as a council member, but there are mechanisms down the road to talk about that access if Armageddon strikes and they need access to that road,” he said. “It's not a perfect scenario, but it is what it is.”
16 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
dis shoulda bin tought of at first. now da city should shut down the hole project and form a study commission
Thursday, October 24, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
dis shoulda bin tought of at first. now da city should shut down the hole project and form a study commission
Thursday, October 24, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Big tax revenue. Dont let nimby's ruin
Friday, October 25, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Yay another traffic light in the city. Then you wonder why the city is a grid lock. Just blow through them problem solved.
Friday, October 25, 2019 Report this
Cat2222
Shall they leave it empty until your sons reaches an age where he knows how to share a road with vehicles? Or maybe you can pick him up. My mom did that for me when I went to Aldrich and Pilgrim. No one wanted their kids to be walking on Post road so they set up a system where parents carpooled with the kids.
The entire area over there is commercial. Put up a light in a logical location, make sure you sync the other lights to it and maybe do away with the bottle neck of going from two lanes down to one. It makes no sense to not free up the traffic pattern over there because a few residence don't want their situation to change. We have all faced it in one way or another. Money coming in from a taxable business should supersede the complaints.
Friday, October 25, 2019 Report this
wrkvoter
Cat yeah I wonder if making West Shore 4 lanes until at least past O.B. and eliminating the center turning lane would make sense?
Friday, October 25, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
Absolutely don't make it 4 lanes. We don't need another Main Ave. Or Warwick Ave and vehicles exceeding speed limits. Think of safety not your precious time in traffic.
Sunday, October 27, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
yeah ddb, lets sit in traffic fer hours watching johnny pick his nose and butt while he saunters to da bus.
Monday, October 28, 2019 Report this
perky4175
we do not need another light on west shore road if your going to put one for daves then the one in front of vets should only be used by crossing guards during school hours
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Report this
Concerned1234
First of all beacon would be nice for you to get your facts straight. Do didnt even touch the side of our community. Seems like you dont even care so much you left out. You should be ashamed. Also to ruin a dead end street with massive traffic is unacceptable. Noone wants to leave that place or come in waiting for all those lights every one takes the short fast way which will be threw that poor neighbor hood. Y cant anyone see that. What if it were yours. What then. I also know alot of childen are on that street and play basket ball ride bikes and i see skate boards every day i drive by going to work 2nd shift. Sorry to daves but because you wont think about your community and renegotiate terms of lease to keep gate closed i will not support you any longer. I dont support people that just dont care about the community.its a Shame. you rely on us for your ri made bussness. Untill this is resoved never will i nor many others support you. A business needs to keep there community happy to continue to get there support and grow. Get who makes money from all this the hard working homeowner heck no our taxes just sky rocket. Yes the town where money dissapears and the bussiness is where money goes. Money this money that. All we see warwick is you killing us. We will not sympathize with you its just more money for you more traffic and taxes for us shitty roads and a broke ass city still
Unbealiveable. Everyone i please ask you to support whats right. Your hard working neighbors your loving community. We all should support eachother. When its your time and you need help we will be there for you. Help them to preserve there neighbor hood and when you need them they will be there.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Report this
Concerned1234
No dont keep it empty. But to respect the community they say its for the neighborhood but clearly 90% of them dont want it open. So what now ??? If its for the neighbor hood and they dont want it and still forcing to have it open. why is it really being opened. Because there street is convenient and will substain alot of traffic from it and they know that. Its a bissiness. They have planners to think this stuff up gate being open only benifits the bussiness
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Report this
Concerned1234
So anyone who also like the idea of the light and a 4 lane road obviously doesnt live in the area. You generally dont know how it is to sit in all that traffic already. So if this doesnt affect your life atall dont comment and ruin others by harsher travel conditions going to work or tring to get home to there families. Look her up on facebook and sign there petition electroniclly. Maureen McNamara.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Report this
JohnStark
Light, no light. Access through Spring Grove or not. Bottom line is that West Shore Rd. was never, ever designed for the volume of traffic it now has. Dave's clearly needs to go in there. At the same time, the planning board needs to look at reducing the traffic flow in that area and, perhaps, consider alternate routes to Oakland Beach, Conimicut, and Warwick Neck. And btw, you might want to factor in the traffic/bus impact of a new, very large high school since Warwick's epicenter is not far from Wilde's Corner.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Report this
wrkvoter
How about thinking outside that small area, since we are now apparently past the fiscal crisis and into the money since we can build a 200 million school and install sewers for thousands, etc, build a bridge over to Potowamut, from Oakland beach. Not everyone would use that but enough to reduce the west shore rd amounts.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Report this
Cat2222
I am sorry but what is so special about your community above other communities? Tell me, were you there fighting for them with same passion?
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Report this
perky4175
daves should not been allowed to go there there should have been a traffic study
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this