Chris -
Good to see the consideration for bikes and pedestrians. I emailed a while back to ask that, like other new businesses on rte 7 (eg, Auto Zone, fed gov't building), this new development be required to construct sidewalks along both rte 7 & Deckers Creek Blvd. What a great opportunity to further improve that corridor that "welcomes" so many people to Morgantown.
Best,
Christiaan

>>> On 10/20/2011 at 6:03 PM, <cfletcher@cityofmorgantown.org> wrote:
Mr. Gmeindl:

Thank you for your comments.  During our discussions with the Walgreens developer, Terry Hough and I have closely considered the impacts you reference below along with related opportunities with the rail-trail facility.

Specifically, we will be requiring a dedicated access from the trail to the Walgreens site similar to that achieved with the neighboring Auto Zone development.  Bicycle racks will also be provided near the building entrance.  We have advised them that grading work and the entrance into the site proposed near the trail facility from Deckers Creek Blvd. must improve existing site visibility obstructions and be designed to mitigate adverse impacts to pedestrians and bicyclists along the trail and at the crossing.

I would be more than happy to meet with you and Terry to show you the preliminary site plan and cover our ongoing discussions with the Walgreens developer.

Respectfully,

Christopher M. Fletcher, AICP
Director of Development Services


From: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com>
To: "Christopher Fletcher" <cfletcher@cityofmorgantown.org>, "Roy Nutter" <Roy.Nutter@mail.wvu.edu>, "Bill Austin" <baustin@labyrinth.net>
Cc: "Bicycle Board" <bikeboard@cheat.org>, "Christiaan Abildso" <christiaan.abildso@mail.wvu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 9:58:12 AM
Subject: Walgreen

Chris, Roy, Bill,

I read in this morning's Dominion Post that Walgreens is going to replace Southern States in Sabraton.  How is that going to effect the Deckers Creek trail and bicycle traffic?

As you know, the Deckers Creek trail currently runs adjacent to the Southern States site.  Behind Southern States, the crossing of Deckers Creek Blvd. heading upstream is quite dangerous due to the poor sight line.  Looking to the left, Deckers Creek Blvd. curves out of the sight line and the fence and stuff in the Southern States lot blocks visibility.   Permitting the Walgreens project should consider mitigating this disaster waiting to happen.  Certainly,we can't let it be worsened.  If Walgreens is permitted to have a traffic exit/entrance onto Deckers Creek Blvd., that crossing will become an even bigger disaster.

With the WVDOH also planning to install a westbound left turn lane from Rt. 7 at the other end of Deckers Creek Blvd. do we have an opportunity to improve the dangers presented by the misalignments of the Deckers Creek trail with Deckers Creek Blvd. at both crossings?

The Walgreens project, the Rt. 7 left turn lane project, the Hogback turn project, and the perpetual uproar about truck traffic through downtown, seems to present us with an opportunity to take an overall systems view of living, business and traffic INCLUDING bicycle and pedestrian between the Mon River and the Sabraton I-68 interchange. 

Chris, please don't let the Walgreen's project proceed without considering the impact on bicycle traffic in that area.

Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles