The proposed plans to build a Costco in Bel Air have hit a roadblock following a Development Advisory Committee hearing. Amidst concerns raised by residents and officials alike, the committee has requested a revised Traffic Impact Study, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. The revisions cover the traffic implications, road improvements, and minor clarifications.
Harford County and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) are seeking additional analysis of the proposed store's impact on local traffic. The development, expected to sprawl over 22.5 acres, would include a 162,000-square-foot warehouse store, 821 parking spaces, and a 24-pump gas station at a critical intersection of Plumtree and Emmorton roads. But already, residents have expressed concerns over traffic congestion, a sentiment echoed in official requests for more comprehensive plans. According to WMAR-2 News, the revised study must consider the broader implications of the development on the entire "major thoroughfare."
The SHA recommendations include significant road expansions and lane revisions. This includes turning Plumtree Road from two lanes to five, adding a traffic signal, and widening lanes at key intersections. Still, these potential changes have not alleviated residents’ fears of "a horrendous mess," as 38-year resident Bill Wehland stated in a Baltimore Sun interview. Traffic Data from the Maryland State Police highlights the urgency of these concerns, with more than 20 crashes recorded at nearby intersections this year alone.
