A decision on a drive-thru Dunkin Donuts proposed for a gas station and convenience store at 901 West Main St. near the intersection of routes 68 and 70 was tabled this month but will be again taken up next week.
Consulting and Design LLC has proposed the drive-thru at the West Main Street Shell station and on Sept. 9 the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on the application.
Commission Vice-Chairman Sean Strullo said he was concerned about the traffic the drive-thru would produce, especially since it's such a busy area as is. Specifically, Strullo said he feared it would be difficult for drivers to exit to the left out of the store because of the traffic. A no-left-turn sign may be in order, he said.
Scott Hesketh of FAH Associates, Inc. said that the traffic study the firm did shows it will be possible to make the turn and the sign wouldn't be necessary.
Hesketh estimated that traffic would increase by about 50 percent at the location with the addition of the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru with about 54 cars going through the drive-thru per hour.
Several commission members expressed concerns about the increased traffic at the location, which is difficult because of the intersection of the busy roads nearby. Strullo suggested that it may be best to have the driveway for the business only go from Mountain Road.
Because of the commission's concerns about traffic flow, it decided to continue the public hearing to its Sept. 23 meeting.
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