Planning Board considers traffic at bottle center

Kevin J. Caldwell wants to turn his used car business into a bottle redemption center.

K.C. Autosales, 19208 Route 11, would be turned into a satellite redemption center for another center on Route 11 north of the city, Mr. Caldwell said at the May meeting of the town of Watertown Planning Board.

At its June meeting, the town Planning Board asked whether the lot would have enough space for parking.

Mr. Caldwell explained that the cars will make a loop to drop off cans and bottles at the building's doors.

"There's almost 90 feet in the lot," he said. "That's plenty of room unless we have RVs or something. The trucks would be behind the property. There's quite a bit of paved area behind the building."

The Jefferson County Planning Board, meeting Tuesday afternoon, reiterated traffic concerns.

The state Department of Transportation "has a lot of concern over this," said Michael J. Bourcy, community development coordinator.

He said concerns include whether there is enough space for cars queuing to redeem cans to prevent a backup onto Route 11.

"Usually you have commercial vehicles to pick up the cans. That's not a lot of space for maneuvering that," board vice-chairman Dale A. Kenyon said.

The used car lot is next to a residence and the entrances and parking for the two buildings were not clearly marked on plans.

"The local board needs to take into consideration the residence right next door here," Mr. Bourcy said.

He suggested a vegetative border may be needed.

In his plans, Mr. Caldwell included planting a few trees on the north side of the property — the opposite side from the residence — and changing the building's sign. He said cans and bottles would not be stored there overnight.

"We will keep it very clean," Mr. Caldwell said.

The redemption center will be one of several public hearings at 7 tonight at the town of Watertown Planning Board meeting. Other topics include a proposed used car dealership by Chris Goutramout on County Route 165, an expansion of the Rent-a-Wreck office on Route 11, renovation of the former Hillside Motel at 16444 Route 11 and construction of a storage facility by Kathleen R. and Duncan N. St. Croix.