(11/13) The Emmitsburg Town Council approved a plan to allow for the closure of Irishtown Road for 90 days, and a subsequent partial-closure for an additional 30 days, at their December meeting, to "pave the way" for additional Brookfield home-development.

Town Planner Zach Gulden told the commissioners, "(Developer) Richard Demmitt is looking to improve Irishtown Road. It was a condition of approval back when it (the Brookfield development) was approved in the ‘90s, that Irishtown Road had to be widened, waterlines had to be added, sewer line had to be added, and sidewalks, trees, etcetera, has to be added to Irishtown Road in order to build houses on the 19 lots that are Brookfield lots along Irishtown Road."

Gulden subsequently noted that waterlines would be 10-inch while the sewer line would be 8-inch, and that curves gutter, storm drain infrastructure, street trees, and sidewalks along the side where the homes will be built. There will also streetlights.

"In order to do this effectively and efficiently and in a cost-effective manner," the town planner stated, "Mr. Demmitt is requesting that the town approve this two-phase road closure process."

Guilden said, with regard to Phase One, the developer has requested to close the road from the bridge and up to Brookfield Drive, so as far as local access, "if they’re (drivers) coming from the Town Square, they’d have to go up to the entrance of Brookfield (and) through (the) Brookfield (development) on Brookfield Drive in order to get to North Seton Avenue."

The town manager stated that the full-closure and detour would be in effect for a maximum of 90 days, and that the developer will have to go through a street closure permit process through the town manager. "If approved tonight", Guilden said, "we would allow them to have 90 days maximum. If they do need more time, we would have to bring it back to the board for approval. If they go over without requesting an extension, we do have the authority to fine them $1,000 per day. This is a town-owned road, so we have complete control over this."

Regarding Phase-Two, the town planner claimed that once the developer has completed this portion of the road, they are going to request closure of the left-side of Irishtown Road, which will be reduced to one-lane traffic with flagging. "There won’t be any delays in traffic that will be significant, compared to Phase-One," Guilden stated.

"This is an extremely expensive project - it’s over a million-dollar project - so we’re recommending to help him out in order to make this as cost-effective as possible so he does go forth with this. This is in the comprehensive plan to improve," the town manager stated.

Regarding the possibility of an increase in speeders on Brookfield Drive as a result of the detour, Gulden noted, "At the planning commission, Mr. Demmitt did let us know that when they were originally developing Brookfield Drive, it was designed to be a higher-speed road," that was intended as a bypass for motorists to avoid West Main Street by taking Tract Road over to Irishtown Road. It was also one of the reasons there are no Brookfield home driveways off Brookfield Drive.

The town planner noted that the developer would be providing a traffic-control plan for town staff approval regarding the use of Brookfield Drive.