Pinehills Expansion Raises Traffic Concerns

Residents Express Worries as Planning Board Approves 40 New Townhomes

PLYMOUTH, MA - August 28 - The Plymouth Planning Board unanimously approved a subdivision modification for The Pinehills on Wednesday night, paving the way for 40 new townhomes in the Symington Woods neighborhood. The decision came amid residents' concerns about increased traffic and safety issues.

Deborah Sedaris, representing Pinehills, presented the plan for the fourth and final phase of Symington Woods. The project includes extending Mulberry and Paperbirch roads, as well as paving and gating an emergency access road.

"This is the final area that we are looking at, which would add another 40 townhomes and complete the neighborhood along with roads as well," Sedaris said.

Residents expressed worries about the impact on traffic, particularly given the single access point for over 100 homes in the area.

Lucille Stonis, a Symington Woods resident, voiced her concern: "With 40 additional homes, it's only one access and at one time... My only concern is not having a second egress on a regular basis and not just for emergency evacuation."

Several residents echoed this sentiment, requesting a second egress onto Clark Road. However, Sedaris explained that the original plan for a second access was designed for commercial development, which would have generated significantly more traffic than residential use.

"Residential use is far less intensive in traffic than commercial would have been, and so that was why the change occurred," Sedaris stated.

The plan also includes improvements to Clark Road, to be implemented in two phases. The first phase involves widening Clark Road to create a dedicated left turn lane into Pinehills Drive and full signalization at the intersection.

Sedaris addressed the timeline for these improvements, saying, "I still am optimistic that if we get the approvals... within the next week or two that I would expect by the end of September we will be able to start construction."

Despite these assurances, some residents remained skeptical. Susan Strahovski, a Sagebrush resident, expressed concern about current safety issues on Clark Road.

"We are dog walkers, the people that... will continue to take our lives in our hands for another year and cross our fingers," Strahovski said.

Planning Board members acknowledged the residents' concerns but ultimately supported the plan. Board member Tim Grandy noted, "This project again was approved by town meeting over 20 years ago... You make a sacrifice by doing higher density in some areas so you can save open space for the environment, the animals, the wildlife."

Sedaris highlighted that Pinehills preserves about 2,100-2,300 acres as open space, which is at least 70 percent of the total 3,265 acres.