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A fifth roundabout would be located behind Clifton Park Center at the corner of Clifton Park Center Road and Sitterly Road. All five are on state roads.
The recommendations of the controversial roundabouts and the partnering of the two towns were just a few of the suggestions in the 128 page report. Others included expanding an overlay area used for transferring development rights, encouraging a greater range of housing, creation of larger open spaces rather than individual plots of green space, a Route 9 bus route, improvements to park and ride lots, and a pedestrian and bike underpass beneath the Northway connecting Clifton Park Center to the Crossing.
The report released late last month was the culmination of a study undertaken by both towns in conjunction with the Capital District Transportation Committee. New York City company BFJ Planning was hired to undertake the work with a $65,000 partial matching CDTC grant.
Roundabouts have proven controversial with the public as they begin to find their way into daily driving habits. In two workshops held as part of the study BFJ officials heard very few positive comments on the roundabouts. Several residents noted they have rerouted themselves to avoid Malta's roundabouts.
In a statement after the study's release Clifton Park supervisor Philip Barrett said the town is required to consider the potential impacts of multiple design alternatives for state and federal funded highway infrastructure projects.
"However," Barrett said, "it is extremely premature to expect that roundabouts will be a design feature in any current or future project in the town."
At Monday's Town Board meeting Barrett again noted the study simply offered possibilities. He promised an open public process whenever traffic improvements for the area are to be discussed.
"I'm sure we'll get a great deal of planning input from the state," he said, "and if they are dead set on putting in roundabouts then there must be a close look. We would have to make them user friendly. I don't think (roundabouts) will get a good reception from the Town Board."
Councilwoman Lynda Walowit opposed putting any roundabouts in the Exit 9 corridor.
Councilman Scott Hughes who served on the Exit 9 Study Committee agreed with Walowit saying he had serious reservations about them. "We are looking for common areas for the two towns to work together," he said. "I support the efforts to stop sprawl but traffic circles at this juncture are not appropriate."
Halfmoon supervisor Melinda "Mindy" Wormuth said she is fully aware roundabouts come with mixed views from the public and acknowledged that all the proposed locations are on state roads.
"They need to be reviewed," she said. Will they work is the question." Halfmoon officials were planning to present the study to the Town Board Tuesday.
Halfmoon Planning Board chairman and town building and development administrator Steve Watts recognized that if the roundabouts were approved and built town residents would be using them wherever their locations.
"There may be money from Washington available for infrastructure improvements but I'm sure the towns will still have to prioritize," he said. "There's a lot of recommendations here. Some are a wish list."
Watts took issue with the recommendation the towns establish better design standards for the Exit 9 area. "We don't believe we need architectural standards," he said. "Cooperative efforts between the town and builders have produced what we think is a diverse and pleasant architecture around town. Between the Town Board and the Planning Board we feel the buildings are architecturally pleasing."
The study also recommended that roads in both towns that end without making connections to any others be extended so they do. The study suggested Maxwell Drive connect to Clifton Park Center Road, Moe Road connect with Maxwell Drive Extension, Old Plank Road cross the Northway, and Plant Road connect to Route 9.
The study also suggested the towns concentrate development by allowing mixed use zoning, and making Route 146 a "complete" street with raised medians, cross walks, and landscaping.
