This is a horrible decision that effects a lot of families. I hope the 3 board member that voted against the cul-de-sac sleep well knowing of all of the accidents that could have been prevented, had they made the correct decision. The left hand turn off of Circle Drive onto Route 19 is not a safe one. They will double the traffic by making such a poor choice. I hope everyone takes this into consideration when it's time to vote on members!

I think the board made the right decision. If one is headed southbound on 19 - Circle Drive is a very convenient way to exit Deerfield (rather than snaking through the community and dealing with the Boyce Road traffic/light); I see people leaving via that route all the time. And who would argue that Circle is most definitely a very handy way to enter the community when returning home from southern points as well? I would think that the homeowners-to-be would prefer the option of having more direct access to 19 - never mind how the connectivity would also benefit them should they need emergency vehicles sent their way. I don't understand the argument that connectivity versus remaining a cul-de-sac will result in increased traffic on Turnberry . . . Turnberry traffic will be increased regardless when more homes are built in the new section. The people of Hollow Tree should be the most concerned as a cul-de-sac configuration will surely increase traffic on their street!

This is a stupid and careless decision. I cannot understand why Commisioners Orchowski, Delre, and Seitanakis would vote to increase traffic to the most dangerous intersection in Deerfield Manor. The southbound traffic comes too quickly to make this a safe exit. The Townships OWN consultant testified to this in the Planning Commission meeting, stating that this was an unsafe situation, and the Planning Commission unanimously agreed. The Commissioners have negated the Planning Commission's recommendation which is almost never done. The Commisioners vote was stupid and shameful. God forbid and accident occurs at Circle Drive. These three Commissioners (and Mr Rectenwald of REX GLASS who abstained and could have stopped the issue) will have to answer for any injuries or deaths. Commisioners, please reconsider before someone is hurt or killed. Thank you Commisioners Dandoy, Christie, and Paoly for excercising caution and good sense.

"However, township staff maintained that Turnberry Drive should connect to Circle Drive because it reduces travel distances, reduces traffic congestion and improves emergency response time."

Township officials: How about listening to the residents on this one. Don't you think Deerfield residents would be best to decide these issues? The residents decided that your concerns were unjustified and they expressed the concerns to you at the meeting which you countermanded. Deerfield has FOUR entrances to allow traffic to flow.

By the way, "failing to pass" by a 3-3 vote is a poor way to make a decision. If it was so clear to the Township, one would think the vote would be more clear.

Aren't we talking about a mere ten lots? (And Thomas Homes is saying they have a prospective buyer who wants four of those for just one residence.) So, truly, how much extra traffic will there be?? And again - those up in arms about the "traffic" are overlooking their Hollow Tree neighbors who will be the ones to most certainly incur extra traffic if Turnberry remains a dead end.

Liza
If there are only 10 lots [or 7 if one buyer wants 4], then how much traffic is served by the cut through? Is it worth the extra traffic at Circle and 19?
Most traffic from Turnberry exits on Milwood which is much safer.

Good for the township, bad for McMansion owners! I won't lose any sleep over it! Turnberry/Merryoak residents routinely fly through the streets of Deerfield to get to their homes. If the connection is built, they will have to deal with "through" traffic just like the residents of Circle, Pinetree, Hollowtree, Fairgeen, Redfern, etc. The connection makes sense for Deerfield.

I am confused. Who are all the extra people that will be turning left onto Route 19 if the Circle/Turnberry connection is made? Do the people currently living on Turnberry not turn left at that intersection because they exit their street from the other end? I think the people who turn left at that intersection will continue to do so regardless of whether or not the connection is made. Do you think the connection will be an enticement for Turnberry residents to make a left that they would not normally do if they had to exit via Hollow Tree?

"Jim"
McMansion? Really? You insult people you don't even know.
Is your real name Barack?

What floors me is the plain simple fact that we are going on a decision that was made over 2 decades ago! This was a time when it was safe to let your children outside to play. The main concern here is safety. This matter impacts both Turnberry and Hollowtree residents. If people speed through Hollowtree to get onto Turnberry then maybe the police should be alerted. I feel this takes away from the "tight Knit" reputation that USC has. By the way Jim, this has absolutely nothing to do with the size of anyones home!

The traffic on Turnberry currently consists of Turnberry residents (and construction vehicles). Once the connection to Circle is made, the traffic on Turnberry will STILL be the same Turnberry residents. Turnberry residents and emergency responders DIRECTLY benefit from the Circle connection because without a doubt that intersection would be shortest way to get to Turnberry from Rt 19. Nobody else DIRECTLY benefits from the connection. It is not a short cut. People will not suddenly start using Turnberry because it saves them time or gets them to a special place. BUT INDIRECTLY....All of Deerfield will benefit. Currently, MerryOak and Turnberry residents are forced to use HollowTree, Redfern, Ivydale and the other streets in Deerfield to enter and exit the neighborhood. Yes, some Turnberry residents will continue to do that after the connection is made BUT, if Turnberry or Merryoak residents are going south on 19, if they are turning into Deerfield from either direction on 19 or if they are going left onto 19 during light traffic times, they will be able to do so without driving on any other street in the neighborhood. These 3 instances alone mean that the other streets (and the families who live on these streets with their kids who occasionally play in the street) will see a decrease in number of cars driving by their houses. And the best part is, Turnberry traffic will still be the same traffic they currently have....just with an additional entrance and exit.

Amen, Stephanie! Great summary - very well said.

Stephanie
What do you think of the ownships own consultant sayiing that the Circle Drive exit was unsafe and the Planning commision's unanimous vote?
Should safety not trump everything?

I cannot speak to the wisdom of this plan and have never had a reason to go to the Deerfield Manor neighborhood. But as an 11-year resident of USC, it frustrates me that there are so few through streets in the township.

I did not go to the planning commission meeting so perhaps I don't understand fully how the "safety" of making a left turn onto 19 is related to connecting Circle to Turnberry. I totally agree that making a left turn onto Rt 19 is not easy or smart during high traffic times but quite honestly neither is the making the left turn from Millgrove to Boyce. Making a left turn at both of those intersections is the judgement call of the driver and requires common sense. Isn't that what we tell our kids? I have faith current Turnberry residents and future Turnberry residents will continue to use good judgement once the connection is made. Common sense will tell them, it's 1:35pm on a Thursday, lunch traffic is over, rush hour hasn't started, I think it would be pretty open if I wanted to make a left onto 19. It will also tell them, it's 5:20pm, people are rushing home from work, everybody's going a little fast, traffic is coming from both directions, making a left onto 19 right now is not a good idea... I'm sorry but saying the Turnberry connection should not be made for safety reasons is not the answer, not to mention it's a little insulting because when you break it down it implies when given the choice (which is actually something they can already do) these people will be overcome by temptation and smart people will be enticed into turning left onto 19 against their better judgement. If this isn't the nanny state I don't know what is.

Amen Stephanie!

The Nanny state is when the Government [Commissioners] tell the governed [ the citizens] that they know better than them and don't listen to the citizens who said no.
The Planning Commission said no [unanimously], the Townships' own engineering consultant called it "unsafe", and a 3-3 vote to decide an issue of this importnace to these residents is stupid.
What more does one need to convince oneself that it was poor judgement?

Additionally, the Township will have to grant a variance to inself and violate the codes that govern street development. One would hope they have a good reason for that.

Mr Trombetta, you are correct, you are not the nanny, in my argument I guess you are more like the babysitter. I mean no disrespect. I totally agree with all your views about the school board, their reckless spending and the unnecessary wasteful IB program. I was referring more to the mentality that we as adults need someone to "hold our hands", like when we were in kindergarten. Will Turnberry residents really need their hand held if their street suddenly has 2 exits? Do you have that little faith in their ability to use good judgment? Lots of people use that intersection without incident. How exactly would connecting turnberry to circle to change things? Options are being added here, not taken away. If Turnberry residents choose to continue to exit their street onto hollow tree because they feel safer then more power to them. But there will be some who choose to use the new entrance/exit and that will translate into less traffic in the rest of deerfield as a whole.

I tried to find minutes from that January planning commission meeting and they were not posted yet. Can you clarify what the planning commission deemed unsafe? The circle/rt 19 intersection OR the proposed circle/turnberry connection? And if it was the circle/turnberry connection, did they mention the safety of the circle/hollowtree connection or the circle/pinetree connection? Surely those are equally if not more unsafe then the circle/turnberry connection in your argument.

The turn from Circle onto Rt 19 was deemed unsafe due to rapidly moving southbound traffic.

Mr Trombette it sounds to me like your main argument is that you want your street to remain a cul de sac. Trust me we would all love to live on a cul de sac, but that is obviously not possible. I think the increase of traffic on your street will be minimal (if at all!). You and the other residents on your street will be fine. I live on a street that is a cut threw and my family and I have been able to live a perfectly happy and safe life.

I also wanted to know what codes you are referring to?

Kim,
My street is a cul de sac. Turnberry's throughput does not affect me directly.
My main points are
1. Safety
2. The Comissioners votinng against the residents whom they represent [austensibly]
3. The Planning Commissions unanimous voted was ignored.
4. The 3-3 tie was essentially a negative vote doomed to fail. Somewhat like rigging the vote but not exactly when one commisioner abstained. In other words, there was NO majority vote.
5. The exact code i am unfamiliar with, but it was presented the night of the informational meeting

welcome to my world turnberry residents . as a hollow tree resident this will definitely reduce the traffic that tears down my street. this is the way dearfield was designed and approved. no real estate developer would not know the streets (paper or otherwise) that they were buying lots and land on. shame on thomas homes for telling people they did not know this after their due diligence prior to purchasing the land and lots. good for the commissioners who have the guts to stand up to the bullying