June 3, 2026 Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes

- , He identified several operational problems at the existing intersection: ° = Pedestrian warrants = Crash warrants m= Other operational criteria Traffic engineers primarily rely on: a Traffic volume warrants u Engineering judgment consistent with the MUTCD Mr. Pehnke then described the existing conditions at the Oval Road / Eagle Rock Avenue intersection: © ‘Oval Road serves the West Essex Highlands development. ° ° Mr. Pehnke described sight-distance problems at Oval Road: ° ° Based on those conditions, Mr. Pehnke concluded: ° ° ° Eagle Rock Avenue is currently a four-lane county roadway, with two travel lanes in each direction. In the westbound direction: m= One lane operates as a through lane. a Another Jane serves through traffic and right turns onto Oval Road. In the eastbound direction: = The curb lane carries through traffic. = The inside lane serves both through traffic and vehicles making left turns onto Oval Road. Eastbound vehicles making left turns onto Oval Road must stop within a through lane. Stopped left-turning vehicles force following traffic to maneuver around them. These conditions were specifically considered in designing the proposed improvements. Drivers exiting Oval Road must stop and search for gaps in heavy traffic on Eagle Rock Avenue. Eagle Rock Avenue carries approximately 800 to over 1,200 vehicles per hour, depending on the time of day. Looking to the right from Oval Road is particularly difficult because: = /A fence along Essex Fells Country Club restricts visibility m Eagle Rock Avenue curves away = Vegetation increasingly obstructs views during the growing season Looking left is somewhat better but still partially obstructed by fencing and vegetation. The existing intersection has conditions that justify improvements. Existing traffic volumes satisfy the requirements of MUTCD Warrant 2, the four- hour traffic volume warrant, for signalization. Even without considering future development at West Essex Highlands, the existing conditions independently warrant installation of a traffic signal. According to MUTCD guidance and engineering judgment, signalization at this | location is justified. - Mr. Pehnke testified that the need for a traffic signal has been recognized for many years. The issue was likely not technical but financial. - The settlement agreement helped provide the resources necessary to

testified that the need for a traffic signal has been recognized for many years. The issue was likely not technical but financial. - The settlement agreement helped provide the resources necessary to construct the long- needed improvements. He next explained how Crestmont Country Club became involved: ° Installing a dedicated left-turn lane onto Oval Road required widening Eagle Rock Avenue.