Greenwich is looking to solve a dangerous Cos Cob intersection by implementing a four-way stop.
Richard Kaufman, Patch Staff
GREENWICH, CT — The Board of Selectmen last week delayed a vote on implementing a four-way stop at a dangerous Cos Cob intersection to allow more time for businesses in the area to be notified and provide feedback.
Lu Ann Bellantoni of Greenwich Parking Services said a letter went out to addresses on Valley Road, River Road Extension and Scofield Street on Oct. 12, but the town only heard back from a couple of people.
A vote could come at the board's next meeting on Nov. 26.
Department of Public Works Civil Engineer Michael Kiselak first appeared before the board in August and outlined a proposal to increase safety at the off-set intersection of Valley Road, River Road Extension and Scofield Street.
Two stop signs would be added to Valley Road, and the stop sign on River Road Extension would be moved up to enhance sightlines. The stop sign on Scofield Street would remain.
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Additionally, 250 feet before each new stop sign on Valley Road, there will be warning signs for drivers.
According to Greenwich DPW, there have been at least 21 crashes in the area since 2016, with nine occurring since 2021. Of those nine, four have involved bicycles and pedestrians, DPW said in August. There was also a pedestrian fatality in 1997.
A traffic study conducted by DPW from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9, 2024, showed Valley Road carries a weekday average of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 vehicles per day, River Road Extension 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles per day, and Scofield Street 1,000 vehicles or less per day.
Kiselak said last Thursday the proposal has been "on a little bit of a hold" since August because DPW realized there were some on-street parking impacts as a result of the all-way stop scenario.
Three parking spaces would be lost as a result, Kiselak said. Two of them are in front of a dog grooming business at 80 Valley Road, and another is "just upstream" on Valley Road on the right-hand side.
The spaces are signed as two hours, but they're 15-minute spaces in the town's ordinances, Kiselak said.
"The state law is you're not supposed to have parking within an intersection or within 25 feet of a stop sign or crosswalk. We're trying to correct that in this case," Kiselak said, noting that the spaces are technically illegal right now but they were "grandfathered" in.
Jonathan Baxendale, owner of Bax Cycles at 78 Valley Road, said something has to be done to increase safety at the intersection, but there needs to be a balance.
"Safety-wise, yes, we have to do something. We just want to make sure we're not hurting businesses at the same time," he said.
Kiselak explained that two spaces are being proposed as short-term parking in front of the St. Lawrence Club "just so businesses can continue to get that turnover."
"As we've heard, it's very important to them that they have the parking. Yes, it will be a little farther from the dog groomer, maybe 100 feet, but there will still be two short-term spaces," Kiselak said.
Kirsten Butler, a business owner in the area, said most of the clients for the dog groomer are handicapped and have service dogs, so parking further away could be a hindrance for them.
Butler detailed parking difficulties on and around Valley Road.
"I go at 4:30 a.m., and on my way, I see all the parking spaces on the hill between Scofield and Nassau being filled up with employees from the carting service," Butler said, noting parking on Scofield is also full by early morning.
Another Valley Road resident, Carmella Covello, said there's parking available just off Scofield in a gravel area, and customers to the dog groomer could bring their pets in through the backdoor rather than through the front.
First Selectman Fred Camillo said the town would look into it and see if an agreement could maybe be reached with the property owner.
"I think there's some opportunity here that could really help them... If it's private, could we come to an agreement? There are spaces around there," Camillo said.
Camillo was ready to vote last Thursday, but Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan and Selectwoman Laren Rabin said they weren't comfortable going forward yet after speakers said there wasn't adequate notice to business owners.
Stone McGuigan said the four-way stop is "not irrevocable," and the town could try it to see how it works, but she didn't want to vote yet and be seen "as cutting out several small local businesses from the discussion."
Camillo reiterated that something needs to be done at the intersection, and the town will continue to monitor the area going forward.
"I think this is something that's been needed for decades. Having grown up in that neighborhood we've seen people hit, and we've had near misses recently," Camillo added, noting a four-way stop would improve traffic flow on River Road Extension and help residents trying to get out of their driveways.
"If cars are at a four-way stop and cars are backed up a little bit, someone's trying to get out of their driveway, they're going to be seen," Camillo said. "This is definitely something we have to move on because we've been put on notice several times now about this."
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