The city council approved a resolution Tuesday urging construction of a new southern entrance to University View, but legal action from the owner of a neighboring liquor store property might delay the project.
Proponents of the approximately $254,000 project, including city politicians and the View’s owner, say the new entrance would solve safety problems and reduce traffic created by the intersection of Route 1 and the driveway into the View. A spokesman from the State Highway Administration said the View is required to find a way to mitigate the traffic congestion it causes.
But Annette Sargent, the owner of the neighboring Number 1 Liquors property, is trying to prevent the construction of the new entrance out of concern that it will take away parking spaces for the store’s customers, according to court documents.
Although the View is allowed to use Sargent’s property to a certain degree, she contends in a lawsuit that the planned construction is “beyond the scope” of the View owner’s property rights, court documents state.
Sargent is filing for a permanent restraining order against the View to prevent construction of the new entrance. A circuit court has already granted her a 10-day restraining order, which was renewed for another 10 days. Sargent could not be reached for comment.
Council members voted overwhelmingly in support of the project because it is could help remedy congestion on Route 1. The council’s resolution specifies construction of two left-turn lanes and one through/right-turn lane opposite of Navahoe Street, essentially connecting the View entrance to a traffic light.
College Park Mayor Stephen Brayman said traffic patterns between University View, Route 1 and Navahoe Street are “dysfunctional” and said a new driveway could bring “drastic improvements” for traffic flow.
Nathan Adler, an attorney representing the View, said a new entrance would be safer for residents, Shuttle-UM buses and all drivers on Route 1.
“It’s a question of safety,” he said. “We’re grateful for the city’s support in the past for this project and the university’s support for this idea.”
The State Highway Administration said the View’s owner is responsible for finding a solution to the traffic problems it causes regardless of Sargent’s legal action.
“The city, county and developer need to get this ironed out,” said SHA spokesman David Buck. “That’s out of our hands … it’s not the administration’s issue if they can’t get that liquor store acquired. We still need to make those safety improvements to that intersection.”
Buck said temporary improvements can be put in place until an agreement is reached with Sargent.
“If [the View] can’t acquire this liquor store, they still have to improve the situation at Navahoe because they increased the traffic,” he said. “The SHA wants to make sure they’re making appropriate safety improvements, regardless of what’s happening with the liquor store.”
Dan Shilling, a Shuttle-UM driver who drives University View’s evening route four times a week, said the proposed construction may be helpful to shuttle drivers, who enter and exit the complex several times each day and night.
“I think access to a light would make everything a lot easier,” said Shilling. “People would have to wait a bit longer to get out, but they’d be safer.”
Shilling said motorists illegally enter and exit the current southern University View exit, which prohibits left turns, and often have to cross a double yellow line to enter the complex with no chance to decelerate – factors that Shilling said pose a significant safety risk.
“We don’t want to have an incident,” said University View owner Otis Warren. “We can do more.”
Contact reporter Laura Schwartzman at schwartzmandbk@gmail.com.
