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The Beall's Grant II expansion project in downtown Rockville will not have any major impacts on traffic, according to a study by city staff.

City traffic and transportation staff told the City Council Monday night that the amount of vehicles they expect will be added to Beall Avenue from the 109-unit affordable housing project on North Washington Street will not exceed the road's capacity level.

"In summary, the impact of Beall's Grant itself is very minimal," Emad Elshafei, chief of traffic and transportation, said.

The presentation was prompted by a request from Councilman John B. Britton, who wanted to address neighboring residents' concerns about the possibility of an increase in traffic on Beall Avenue, especially after Beall's Grant II is built.

"We raised this as an issue because when people came before us after the Planning Commission meeting, traffic was pervasive in their comments … and a problem with traffic may be misplaced on Beall's Grant," Britton said.

Based on Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission guidelines, which account for the proposed land use and development size, the projected number of vehicle trips from Beall's Grant II were 46 during the morning peak hour and 52 during the evening peak hour, according to a staff report.

Elshafei told council members that the study was based on a "worst-case scenario," assuming most people with vehicles would drive at the worst time of day, not taking into account that some people might take public transportation.

Councilman Piotr Gajewski suggested doing a real count of the current Beall's Grant apartments to show actual data that may show even lower numbers.

Elshafei responded that while he is confident in the numbers generated, he agreed that more could be done. He said traffic planners counted the number of vehicles in the current Beall's Grant parking lot at night and of the 60 units, there were 31 vehicles. City staff projected about 56 cars for the 109-unit Beall's Grant II.

The portion of Beall Avenue between North Washington and North Adams streets is classified in the business district and has a threshold of between 5,000 to 20,000 cars per day, Elshafei said. But traffic studies over the years show the traffic levels do not exceed 2,400 per day.

In a recent count done on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, the average daily traffic on the most congested section of Beall Avenue, between North Adams and Upton streets, was 2,388 per day and 299 per hour.

Because the traffic counts do not exceed the threshold, Montgomery Housing Partnership, who is developing Beall's Grant II, was not required to mitigate traffic impacts at nearby intersections. However, the agency will pay for added sidewalks on Old North Washington Street, a bus shelter and bicycle parking.

Beyond North Adams Street and up to Nelson Street, Beall Avenue is classified as primary residential class II, which means its threshold is for up to 5,000 vehicles per day and 500 per hour.

Roads are classified when they are built based on their function, Elshafei said Tuesday. A primary residential class II road typically handles traffic between neighborhoods rather than simply local traffic. Because Beall Elementary School is on Beall Avenue, it is expected to handle more traffic than the secondary side streets.

Britton asked whether there were other ways to mitigate traffic there.

"Even before the Beall's Grant II proposal came to light, people were complaining," Britton said.

Staff said there are a number of projects in the works right now, including sidewalk installation, landscaping and medians that are expected to slow down and reduce traffic.

Since new sidewalks have been installed in portions of Beall Avenue, traffic planners noted a decrease in volume and speed of vehicles on that stretch.

"So my recommendation is let's see what happens on that road that may be better than anything we're proposing otherwise," Craig Simoneau, director of public works, said.

Britton said he agrees to "wait and see," but hopes the public discussion continues through the community and that residents provide the council with feedback.

"I do believe it should be a combination of data and people's perception … if people don't feel safe, we're not doing our job," Britton said.

Controversy has surrounded the affordable housing project since it was approved by the Planning Commission in July. A group of residents started a campaign to "Stop Beall's Grant II," circulating a petition, erecting yard signs and most recently filing an appeal with Montgomery County Circuit Court. They oppose the project for various reasons, including concerns about overcrowding of schools, traffic and an increase in crime.

Former Mayor Larry Giammo is challenging the city's school capacity calculations related to the city's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance that ensures the city has the proper infrastructure when approving new development.

City officials defended their calculations, saying they are accurate. City police have said they have not had any major crime problems with the Beall's Grant apartments.

On Thursday, the West End Citizens Association will hold a meeting addressing the Beall's Grant II project. Montgomery Housing Partnership will give a presentation on its proposal and the opponents will give a presentation on why they are against the project.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Carnation Room of the Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive.