Neighbors warn of queuing, noise and spill risks at proposed Millington truck stop

Multiple residents and the Kent Conservation & Preservation Alliance presented detailed objections to the Friendly Travel Plaza proposal in Millington, focusing on traffic queuing at the nearby roundabout, potential spills from a truck wash in a critical area, noise from backing alarms and idling, and the practical difficulty of enforcing short parking limits.

Allen Durham and other neighbors described past problems at the site when it was the Dutch Family Deli, including dirt, dust and occasional spills; Durham said a truck spill could be difficult to contain given the gravity flow of runoff toward the Chester River. A letter submitted by neighbors (John Swain and Melanie Brookwater) described examples of semi truck activity and expressed skepticism about a 20–30 minute parking limit being enforceable. "There's no way to monitor overnight parking and no way to enforce the 20 to 30 minute parking," the written letter said.

Janet Christiansen Lewis argued staff’s and applicant’s materials lacked a site‑specific noise and idling analysis and called for the commission to withhold a favorable recommendation until MDOT/SHA reviewed the traffic study. The applicant responded that the truck‑wash discharge would be treated and reused, that the parcel currently produces untreated runoff and that a complete traffic impact study will be provided during preliminary site‑plan review.

Commissioners repeatedly returned to the question of how to prevent trucks from parking overnight and whether a single Edge Road entrance would produce queuing that affects emergency access. The commission ultimately required a four‑hour maximum truck parking condition and a SHA‑reviewed traffic study as part of its recommendation to the Board of Appeals.