Response Memorandum: Rooijsestraat Final Design
Comment 1
Is the church available for a funeral during the fair?
Response from the municipality
The municipality has reached an agreement with the parish council regarding this matter. The church is always available for funerals.
Comment 2
Set up one-way traffic for freight vehicles only after the square
Response from the municipality
This has been implemented.
Comment 3
Could you give us an example of what the trim strips will look like along the property line? Other than that, it looks great!
Response from the municipality
The curb strip is similar to a narrow sidewalk. It consists of a curb with paving stones.
Comment 4
Nice plans—they look good. Just make sure to leave room for the trash cans if these sheds are going to be placed in front of the sidewalk.
Response from the municipality
We are creating several areas where wheelie bins can be placed. We will install wheelie bin tiles in these areas.
Comment 5
If no “buffer” zone—such as a sidewalk or parking space—is designated on either side of the design, this increases the risk of dangerous situations and potential injury. One suggestion here, for example, could be to divide the combined sidewalk and parking space on the east side between the west and east sides to create a ‘buffer’ zone on both sides.
Response from the municipality
A wide sidewalk has been planned for the east side of the street. The street is too narrow to accommodate sidewalks on both sides.
Comment 6
With these two key issues in mind, I propose that we follow the guidelines issued by CROW (the Independent Knowledge Center for Infrastructure, Public Space, Traffic, and Transport) regarding the minimum width for two-way traffic of 4.80 meters, rather than the proposed 5.10 meters.
Response from the municipality
The proposed width of 5.10 m allows trucks and cars to pass each other.
At 4.80 m, this is not possible.
Comment 7
It looks beautiful. The green spaces are lovely.
Response from the municipality
Thank you for your compliment.
Comment 8
Since, in my opinion, the road at the Kerkpad exit is the narrowest, I wonder if this is really safe and if traffic isn’t passing by much too closely here. Why not, for example, extend the sidewalk on the side of Kerkpad and/or extend the Kerkpad exit across its full width, with or without a crosswalk?
Response from the municipality
A wide sidewalk has been planned for the east side of the street. In the technical design, we will make the curb strip as wide as possible.
Comment 9
Please install a crosswalk
Response from the municipality
In a 30 km/h zone, drivers are expected to drive more slowly and be alert to other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. A crosswalk can actually create a false sense of security. The new street layout should encourage safe crossing in multiple locations.
Comment 10
From Ekershof, a wide sidewalk on the north side. Mirror the current design
Response from the municipality
A wide sidewalk has been installed on the side with the shops. The sidewalk on the opposite side has been widened all the way to Hienkershoff.
Comment 11
The current streetlight at numbers 85 and 87, which illuminates the intersection with Zwaanstraat, is great.
Response from the municipality
The intersection remains lit.
Comment 12
Overall, it’s a good design, especially with the single sidewalk and parking spaces. However, narrowing the road at Kerkpad is unwise. Turning onto Rooijsestraat from Kerkpad offers poor visibility.
Response from the municipality
Thank you for your compliment. There are plenty of sightlines when entering and exiting Kerkpad. We take this into account when selecting the plants.
Comment 13
This major redevelopment should have been presented to the entire village, not just to the residents of this section of Rooijsestraat.
Response from the municipality
A different participatory process has been chosen.
Comment 14
For safety reasons, narrowing the roadway is not a good option.
Response from the municipality
We have opted for narrowings and false plateaus. Speed bumps cause vibrations, which we want to avoid.
Comment 15
Making the road one-way for freight traffic is a drastic measure.
Have you given sufficient consideration to alternative routes in the event of an emergency on Van Heemstraweg?
Response from the municipality
In the event of an emergency, there are plenty of alternative routes. Emergency services will be notified. Rooijsestraat will always remain easily accessible.
Comment 16
Wouldn't it be an option to purchase a section of the orchard near No. 68 to build a parking lot there with electric charging stations?
Response from the municipality
We are not purchasing any land for this project.
Comment 17
We strongly urge you to take into account the vegetation in and around the windmill habitat. The relevant regulations are included in the Dreumel zoning plan.
Response from the municipality
The green plan takes into account the designated windmill habitat.
Comment 18
The road narrowing near our driveway makes it difficult to keep our property accessible to trucks. Please keep this in mind.
Response from the municipality
The entrance remains open to freight traffic. The narrowing has been adjusted.
Comment 19
Originally, all homes on Rooijsestraat had on-site parking. The fact that current residents now use the street as a parking lot is a complete reversal of the original situation. Therefore, the goal should be to keep parked cars off the street rather than moving ones.
Response from the municipality
A decision was made to create a few parking spaces in combination with green areas.
Comment 20
Due to noise pollution and vibrations, it is advisable to use asphalt instead of pavers. Pavers can become slippery more quickly during the winter months, which can also lead to dangerous situations. In the long term, pavers also require more maintenance due to settlement.
Response from the municipality
The paving bricks are laid and set in such a way that they do not vibrate. To further prevent this, no speed bumps are used. Paving bricks are easier to maintain and have a longer lifespan than asphalt.
Comment 21
You’re making the greening of Rooijsestraat a priority, but this street is already lined with large gardens and plenty of trees.
Response from the municipality
It's nice to have lots of greenery in gardens. However, we have no control over that.
Comment 22
The planned road narrowing (near Kerkpad) should be replaced with a crosswalk to prevent reckless driving by drivers in a hurry. There’s always someone who thinks they have to be first.
Response from the municipality
In a 30 km/h zone, drivers are expected to drive more slowly and be alert to other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. A crosswalk can actually create a false sense of security. The new street layout should provide multiple safe crossing points.
Comment 23
Retain the section of sidewalk at the corner of Rooijsestraat and Hienkershoff.
Response from the municipality
This has been revised. That section of the sidewalk will remain.
Comment 24
Replace the Zuivelweg intersection with a grade-separated intersection.
Response from the municipality
Because of the house on the corner of Zuivelweg, visibility is very limited. This makes the situation difficult to assess. Therefore, the situation remains the same
Comment 25
Move the curb line at 93 to create a sidewalk there.
Response from the municipality
Due to the limited number of residential units, a green space has been created here. The side with the shops has been designated as a pedestrian route.
Comment 26
Move the curb line at 67 to create a sidewalk there.
Response from the municipality
This has been updated. The sidewalk will remain.
Comment 27
Remove the parking lot at the corner of Groot Hogeveld. Extend the green strip.
Response from the municipality
This has been updated; the parking space has been removed. The green strip has been extended only slightly. This is due to limited visibility.
Comment 28
Has the location of cables and pipes been checked?
Response from the municipality
The location has been identified and verified. This also applies to the placement of the trees.
Comment 29
A sidewalk from Zwaanstraat to Hienkershoff.
Response from the municipality
There is a wide sidewalk on the side of the shops. On the other side, we are making the curb strip as wide as possible.
Comment 30
Extend the traffic marking at the exit of Kerkepad. This is to mark the exit
Response from the municipality
From a traffic engineering perspective, this is not an ideal situation.
Comment 31
Maintenance of hedges along the sidewalk
Response from the municipality
The owner of the hedge is responsible for trimming it back. Enforcement officials may issue a warning and then take enforcement action.
Comment 32
Location of the light poles in relation to cables, utility lines, and trees
Response from the municipality
The lighting plan takes into account the tree canopies and existing utility lines.
Comment 33
Trees in combination with canopies and through traffic
Response from the municipality
The planting plan takes into account the size/width of the tree canopy.
Comment 34
Not enough parking spaces at HN 74.
Response from the municipality
The homes here have private driveways. For homes without a driveway, parking spaces have been provided. Parking along the road is also permitted.
Comment 35
Proposal to retain the parking area and green strip at 89
Response from the municipality
The road is too narrow for that. The sidewalk on the side with the shops would then have to be removed.
Comment 36
Is the 5.10-meter road width the minimum or the maximum?
Response from the municipality
The proposed width of 5.10 m allows trucks and cars to pass each other safely. In some places, the width is 5.00 m because otherwise traffic would come too close to the property lines or low walls. The shoulder is wide enough throughout the street to prevent this.
Comment 37
Place two large trees with seating benches on the church square.
Response from the municipality
In consultation with the parish, it was decided not to plant these trees, as this would come at the expense of parking spaces and the fairgrounds.