Negligible Traffic Impact
Traffic projections show negligible community impact, and far less impact when compared to Daytop Village traffic and activity. The development will retain, without alteration, the scenic, safe and rural character of roads to and around the property.
A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) prepared by Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP, documented the developments negligible effect on traffic using industry and New York State Environmental Quality Review Act standards as well as input from qualified Town Staff, consultants and members of the public.
The impact will be significantly less than the prior seven-day-per-week commercial-level operational and traffic activity of Daytop Village.
The TIA evaluated Rock Ledge both as a weekend community and, at the direction of the Planning Board, also as a full-time community. As a weekend community, Rock Ledge would have generated 40 vehicle trips during the Friday evening peak hour (one (1) additional vehicle every 1.5 minutes). As a full-time community, however, Rock Ledge would generate 24 vehicle trips (one (1) additional vehicle every 2.5 minutes) during the Friday peak hour.
Under engineering or SEQR standards, it clearly is not plausible that the introduction of one (1) additional vehicle every 2.5 minutes during the Friday peak hour onto Ackert Hook Road can significantly impact safety, speed, delays or roadway or community character.
Access
The two (2) existing historic site access points from Ackert Hook Road will be improved and reused. The existing Main entrance will become an emergency-only access point. This is because of the limited existing sight distance and the environmental disturbance and change in the character of the roadway that would be required to achieve desirable sight distances. The northern driveway will be realigned to provide improved sightlines for ingress and egress -- a minimal disturbance to provide an appropriate safe and aesthetic residential community entryway.
In addition to establishing the peak-hour vehicle-trip generation rate of one (1) car every 2.5 minutes as a full time 36-condominium residential community, the TIA evaluated potential Rock Ledge traffic impacts on other factors. These include updated traffic counts, average road speed, “level of service” of each intersection in the area, waiting times, accident history and Ackert Hook Road’s classification as a “Low Volume Local Road.”
- From 2015 to 2021, updated traffic counts established that Ackert Hook traffic volume has decreased by about 10% and average speed has decreased from 40 MPH to 35 MPH. However, average speed has increased from 40 MPH to 45 MPH on Primrose Hill Road eastbound. The decreases in volume and increases in speeds are consistent with general changes in traffic patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, according to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The 3-year crash analysis showed 9 accidents, 2 of which resulted in injuries. None involved a pedestrian or cyclist.
- None of the neighborhood intersections will experience a negative impact in operation or waiting time.
As categorized by the American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Ackert Hook Road is a low-volume local road -- and it will remain a low-volume local road with the verifiably established level of Rock Ledge projected traffic.