Zoning board reviews traffic study for Sherbrooke Farm

The Zoning Board and Dartmouth residents voiced concerns about a traffic study conducted to determine how the proposed Sherbrooke Farm development would affect traffic on Old Westport Road during a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Thursday, Oct. 30.  

The engineering company hired by the property developer found that the apartment building could add 70 cars entering and exiting Old Westport Road in the morning, and 86 in the evening. 

Zoning Board chair Michael Medeiros was especially concerned about how these numbers were calculated. 

The data was collected in October of 2024, and was done by averaging the number of apartments in the project compared with the national data of similar mid-level apartment buildings.

The development is planned to have 156 units and will be a variety of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. 

Other residents shared Medeiros’concerns, citing extreme traffic due to its proximity to UMass Dartmouth, which is just over a mile down the road from the proposed development’s site.

“This area is unique, not everybody has a college right next to them, or a mall right in front,” said Medeiros. 

Multiple residents were also concerned about rush hour traffic, stating that they have seen crashes along Little Lucy Road due to rushing and the curvy roads. 

“I’ve seen, by my house, the roads are a little slippery and causing rollovers,” said Roy Ronald, who lives on Old Westport Road. “Unfortunately there was a death earlier in the year. I just think that it’s a greater hazard by opening this unit on that particular property. I think it’s more risk to the residents and those who travel it on a daily basis.”

Resident Virginia Lewis pointed out that there may be 250 additional cars on the roads since there will be a maximum of 250 residents living in the apartments. She also mentioned that Old Westport Road and Lucy Little Road are both used by bicyclists and runners, with only one sidewalk opposite from the proposed property. 

Another concern surrounding the safety of traffic was the entrance and exit to the apartment. To make it safer, the developer is considering moving the entrance east for a safer sightline. A sightline is determined by how far a driver can see to their left and right when pulling out onto the road. 

Currently, where the entrance is planned will not meet the minimum sight line on Old Westport Road. The developer plans to trim vegetation to meet the requirements. The sightline for those on Old Westport Road to see those turning off the property does exceed minimum requirements. 

Jeffery Bandini from Nitsch Engineering said he wants a map showing how much vegetation would have to be cut to meet sightline standards, and whether it is on the development property or state property. 

Bandini, who also conducted a traffic study for the town, recommended moving the entrance to be across from Lucy Little Road and become a  four-way stop. Another main concern raised by the zoning board was the fact that this traffic study only looked at Lucy Little Road and Old Westport Road, and not at the intersection of Old Westport Road and Cross Road or other major roads in Dartmouth. 

Bandini stated that he has sent the developer a list of 23 concerns, most of which were raised by residents. He expects that the developer will send a formal response, either explaining what they will do about the concerns or confirm further studies.

Bandini mentioned several other considerations, including whether the developer would cover lighting and signage, what amenities would be on the property and whether they could run a shuttle from the apartment to the Southcoast Rail. He also suggested a second driveway for emergency vehicles.