HERMITAGE McConnell Road opening is opposed by residents

Increased traffic and the safety of residents and their children are major concerns.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Residents of McConnell Road and Westminster and Audubon drives aren't giving up their opposition to the opening of McConnell Road between state Route 18 and North Keel Ridge Road.
There are 55 homes in that subdivision, all served by a single access off Route 18 onto McConnell Road, which is a dead-end street.
Developer Thomas McConnell wants to open more land for single-family housing and that triggers a city building regulation that will require a second access route.
The developer has proposed simply making McConnell Road a through-street, opening it to the east all the way to North Keel Ridge Road.
Looking for alternative: Residents presented city commissioners with a petition Wednesday bearing five pages of signatures of those who oppose the idea, asking the city to intervene and find a compromise plan.
"I feel hoodwinked," said David Mondok, who moved to McConnell Road 18 years ago because it had limited traffic access.
Opening the road will create traffic and safety problems because there are driveways about every 100 feet.
"Think about the safety of the kids," he said, adding that one possible compromise is to just open the closed end of McConnell to one-way traffic only exiting on Keel Ridge.
Planners say opening McConnell Road would help ease north-south traffic flows on Route 18 but Mondok said the city would be further ahead to improve Keel Ridge Road and Dutch Lane, both north-south routes, if it wants to relieve the pressure on Route 18.
Dr. Ernest Swanson of Audubon Drive offered another idea.
A cul-de-sac off Keel Ridge Road, dead-ending just before it reaches McConnell Road, might be a suitable solution. It would require a zoning variance and the city should grant that variance, Swanson said.
The cul-de-sac idea "is something we need to look at," said Commissioner Pat White, suggesting it might work.
City Manager Gary Hinkson said that was discussed with the developer when he first approached the city but the developer chose the through-street plan.
Hinkson said the city will review its options and meet again with the developer.