In an effort to slow traffic in the Scamman Street neighborhood, the South Portland City Council has authorized the installation of several new stop signs.

At its meeting Monday the council agreed with neighbors and Police Chief Ed Googins that the stop signs were necessary, particularly with redevelopment of the armory moving forward.

Last fall Priority Real Estate Group in Topsham purchased the historic building at the foot of the Casco Bay Bridge with plans to construct a gas station and convenience store, while preserving the armory’s fac?ade.

At numerous meetings between the developer and the neighborhood throughout the winter and spring, the most common concern was cut-through traffic and how redevelopment of the armory property could create additional impacts, according to City Manager Jim Gailey.

That’s why the council agreed to the traffic-calming measure of putting up the additional stop signs. As a temporary experiment, earlier this year the city installed signs at the intersections of Scamman and Anchor, Hudson and Cooper streets, Gailey said.

By local ordinance, these temporary stop signs require council approval within 90 days of installation in order to become permanent.

In a memo provided to the council prior to Monday’s meeting, Gailey also requested approval to put up stop signs at the intersection of Harriett and Sprague streets.

“With the increase in young families on Harriett Street and the blind corner that exists at Harriett and Sprague, residents originally requested to have ‘slow children playing’ signs placed on both Sprague and Harriett,” the memo said. “Chief Googins is (now) recommending stop signs versus the ‘slow children playing’ signs.”

The armory project has received a necessary zone change from the City Council, but has not yet gotten site plan approval from the Planning Board.

– Kate Irish Collins

As part of the armory redevelopment project in South Portland, the City Council has approved the installation of several new stop signs along Scamman Street. Courtesy image