June 21, 2006

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            But it has its problems. Because it is immediately north of Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School and the T intersection with Rogers Road, it is very difficult for Selsey residents to turn either right or left into South Main Street. Parents who are dropping off or waiting for their middle school children park in the street morning and evening. Although it is a narrow street where many residents park, there are speeders and parents fear for their children’s safety because many plan in the street.

            Some residents thought it was to be a cul-de-sac development, but when the Pemberley subdivision was built immediately to the west, Selsey was connected to Stone Monument Drive. However, to keep construction traffic from using Selsey, barriers were erected just before the two join.

            Construction is complete, the traffic on South Main is still heavy, and many of the neighbors in both subdivisions want the barriers removed to allow them to get to Stone Monument and Forbes Road as another exit point. Others fear the traffic will increase and endanger residents.

            It can take up to 20 minutes to get out of Selsey in the mornings, Suzette Duchene said during Tuesday night’s town board meeting. The barriers stop some people – she and others often see utility workers, EMS trucks, fire trucks and police cars turning around at the barriers and having to find another way – but other drivers pull around, onto the sidewalks and into her bushes and sprinklers, Duchene said.

            “Also, when the barricades are removed, we are interested in a speed table,” Duchene said. One was installed nearer South Main some years ago.

            Thomas Dement, speaking for the Pemberley homeowners’ association, also asked that the barriers be removed.

            Nelson Massey, a Raleigh fireman who has lived in his house at the corner of South Main for seven years, said neighbors know each other and watch out for the children – “Ben’s going to be out playing basketball. Karen’s going to be out skating.” – but strangers will not and they do speed through. “I’m not sure moving the barriers is going to help.” As for the corner and South Main, “It’s a game of chicken every day.”

            Commissioner Stephen Barrington asked him if he did not want the barriers removed, and Massey said he was concerned because it would open the street to so much traffic and there are so many children.

            Alma Brantley, who lives around the corner on Stone Monument, said her concern was the seconds and minutes that might be lost if the fire department or rescue squad had to turn at the barriers, as she sees happen. Construction may start soon for homes on the former Forbes farm property, and Brantley was concerned Forbes may be closed.

            “The problem is the speeding on the street,” Ruth Ann Rice said.

            Janet Obman said removing the barricades will create a complete circle, allowing middle school parents to pick up and drop off students on Selsey and get back onto South Main from Forbes. When Ligon Mill Road is complete to the bypass, it will give even more access.

            Rice said that when the first speed table was installed, the neighbors did not have to pay any share and were told the second would be constructed when the barriers were removed.

            Since then, the town has changed its policy. Now adjacent homeowners have to pay half the $1,200 cost for a speed table (flatter and wider than a speed bump and used on Woodland Avenue and other streets).

            It was not clear if there was a written agreement about the second speed table, and the commissioners agreed they should follow the policy and make the residents pay. There may still be a valid petition.

            Eric Keravuori, the director of engineering, said there was precedent for grandfathering agreements for speed tables in Crenshaw Hall and Heritage where there were valid petitions signed before the policy was changed.

            The board unanimously agreed the barriers should be removed immediately and a speed table constructed if there is a valid petition from the neighbors, signed either before or after the policy change.

            Selsey is the only through street for the Olwyn Parish subdivision which was designed by Sanford Bailey and built by St. Lawrence Homes between 1992 and 1995.