One-way flow recommended for Peters Township street

Approval of a new Peters Township residential development likely would result in the traffic flow of a street in the Hackett neighborhood being changed to one way.
Township council on Dec. 10 agreed that limiting the direction of traffic on Barnett Street to flowing north off Venetia Road would be optimal if the proposed 25.94-acre Westbury Plan of Lots reaches fruition.

(Image courtesy of Peters Township)
“The challenge is, the street is very narrow. At its widest, it’s 17 feet. For the most part, it is 14 feet,” township manager Paul Lauer told council. “As a practical matter, it’s not possible to pass two cars there, particularly when what you’re talking about is a plan that is going to be of significant size behind it.”
In a memo to council, planning director Ed Zuk describes another challenge:
“The sight distances exiting Barnett Street onto Venetia Road are restricted by utility poles. To gain safe sight distances, vehicles must inch out onto Venetia Road, thus causing unsafe conditions.”
As illustrated in accompanying photographs, a retaining wall near the intersection prohibits a proper turning radius.
Municipal staff members recommend Barnett Street be designated as one way from Venetia Road to Westbury Drive, the name for the street that would serve as the primary ingress and egress for the development, from Church Hill Road.
Plans call for an extension of Barnett, which would have new residences on either side, and the street terminating in a cul de sac. Six homes now are on the street.
The Westbury development’s preliminary plan is on the Peters Township Planning Commission’s agenda for Dec. 12. Final approval is subject to council’s vote.
Lauer said that a cul de sac also is recommended for Mervin Drive, which is situated between Barnett Street and Church Hill Road.
“This is another one of these narrow streets where the only way you can plow snow or do garbage removal is actually go up and back out. You can’t turn around,” he explained.

Proposed Westbury Plan of Lots (Image courtesy of Peters Township)