Milton to see four warehouses on 5th Avenue. Residents cite traffic concerns
Milton has approved a four-warehouse project to be built on a former quarry next to I-5.
The “Lloyds site” will become a 118-acre warehouse center with hundreds of big rigs using 5th Avenue daily, according to the application submitted to Milton.
The City Council voted 5-0, with two abstentions, on Jan. 6 to approve the Bridge Development Partners’ project.
Bridge Partners has applied to build a four warehouses totaling 2,043,024 square feet on the former quarry site, which is book-ended by two apartment complexes.
Up to six tenants will rent the spaces for light warehouse and distribution use, like auto part distribution, moving and storage or paper distributors, a partner with the development company, Justin Carlucci, told a hearing examiner in October.
The warehouses are estimated to bring 900-1,200 jobs with wages varying from $35,000 to $100,000, Carlucci said.
The warehouse project has residents concerned about the increased truck traffic it will bring on 5th Avenue and Porter Way. Milton resident Bryan Alderman told a hearing examiner in November truck traffic is already bad.
A traffic expert told the hearing examiner he estimates about 3,000 vehicle trips per day on 5th Avenue when the project is complete.
“The impact of this project will be felt by all,” Milton resident Phil Linden said in an October public meeting.
The developer has agreed to widen 5th Avenue, which runs parallel to I-5 and is frequently used to avoid interstate backups. Bridge Development Partners will pay for or construct $10 million worth of traffic improvements, Carlucci told The Herald, including a roundabout at 5th Avenue and Porter Way.
“It’s important to keep in mind that the legal requirement of the project is to fully mitigate all of its traffic impacts, to assure the level of service remains the same upon construction and occupancy of the project,” he said via email.
The site needs to be cleared of gravel and sediment left from the quarry, paved and landscaped, according to the master plan presented to the council on Jan. 6. The developer still has to obtain all the required permits before construction can start, said Nick Afzali, Milton’s public works director.
Milton residents also complained in the October meeting that the city did not properly notify the public.
Bruce Castle, who said he was a retired geologist, called for three critical reports to be done before the city moved forward in approving the developer’s application: an environmental site assessment, a hydro-geologic report and a risk management plan.
