To: Mayor Jim Taylor, Mayor Town of Matthews NC, Suzanne Gulley, Commissioner, Paul Bailey, Commissioner, J. Miller, Commissioner, W, Kress Query, Commissioner, Nancy Moore, Commissioner, and John Urban, Commissioner
Petition for a traffic signal at S. Trade and Country Place Drive in Matthews, NC
In view of the planned ACTS Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) project on South Trade Street and the planned realignment of Country Place Drive to be directly opposite of the planned new main entrance to the proposed ACTS facility, I/we respectfully request(s) that the Town of Matthews locate a traffic light and pedestrian crossing lanes at the relocated intersection of Country Place Drive and South Trade. This traffic light is required to support the health and safety of the residential community in the Town of Matthews. The light is necessary because of the addition of the new ACTS main entrance, the heavy traffic flow on South Trade Street, and the increasing amount of pedestrian and cycle traffic following the opening of the Greenway. Furthermore, with the 3-lane configuration of the realigned Country Place Lane facing a divided 4-lane main entrance gate of the ACTS facility and the addition of turning lanes on Trade Street, it will become difficult and unsafe to make a left turn from Country Place Lane onto South Trade Street. Only such a traffic light and dedicated turning lanes on Country Place Drive would permit the save exit from Country Place Drive.
Why is this important?
Residents of Matthews Estates and Country Place Drive in Matthews, NC who can only access their homes from Country Place Drive:
The planned development of the ACTS expansion Application # 2012-589 at Fullwood and South Trade Street will change your ability to travel to and from your homes every day. Country Place Drive is our only road into and out of our homes; and the Town of Matthews is deciding to move the road in front of the ACTS facility without a traffic light or adequate turning lanes or pedestrian crosswalks, raising serious health and safety issues for all of us who drive or walk in the area.
We need to act now by returning a signed copy of the above petition to our town commissioners and also by contacting them and by attending any of the following meetings at Matthews Town Hall:
Town Board Meeting: Monday August 27, at 7:00 p.m. Open Comments
Planning Board Meeting: Tuesday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. Project Review Comments
Town Board Meeting: Monday September 10 at 7:00 p.m. Planned Vote
to make our community needs known and show support for a traffic light and a safe intersection in our neighborhood.
For more information about the ACTS project, call or email the mayor or town commissioners and planning commission, and for details please see Application #2012-589 at the following site: http://www.matthewsnc.com/Departments/PlanningandDevelopment/PendingZoningActions.aspx (See page 11 for current street configuration plans.)