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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInfo Item Cul-de-sac Goleta Ave at Portola Ave - Fred Waring Drive Widening - 5 • CITY OF PALM DESERT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - CUL-DE-SAC OF GOLETA AVENUE AT PORTOLA AVENUE FRED WARING DRIVE WIDENING PROJECT SAN PASCUAL AVENUE TO DEEP CANYON ROAD DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2001 CONTENTS: NOVEMBER 15, 2001 GOLETA NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING MINUTES Background: As part of the project to widen Fred Waring Drive between San Pascual Avenue and Deep Canyon Road, the City developed a plan to cul-de-sac Goleta Avenue just east of Portola Avenue. This cul-de-sac was proposed for two reasons; to cut down on speeding by motorists using Goleta Avenue as an alternative to Fred Waring Drive, and to reduce problems with the already congested intersection of Portola Avenue and Fred Waring Drive. This plan was formulated several years ago in response to requests voiced by the residents of Goleta Avenue. The plan to accomplish it as part of the Fred Waring Drive Widening Project was made because of the similarity in nature and location of the road work. When a public agency undertakes a project such as the widening of Fred Waring Drive, they're required to notify the public in one of three manners: 1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation, 2) posting of the notice on the site, or 3) direct mail to owners and occupants of the properties contiguous to the project. City staff elected to notify the public by all three manners rather than just one. The notice was published in the newspaper, posted on the site, and mailed to the residents on the north side of Goleta Avenue. Because the residents on the south side of Goleta were not contiguous to either the widening of Fred Waring Drive or the cul-de-sac,they were not individually notified by mail. When public meetings were held on the project in June 2000 and April 2001, residents expressed strong support for the plan to cul-de-sac Goleta at Portola Avenue. In October 2001, a resident who lives on the south side of Goleta Avenue contacted the City and complained that she had not been notified by mail of the plan to cul-de-sac Goleta Avenue. She requested the opportunity to make her concerns known to the City and suggested that all residents living on the south side of Goleta be given the similar opportunity. Staff agreed that it was appropriate to revisit the issue with any and all concerned parties to determine whether there was still support for the plan from those most directly impacted by it. On November 15, 2001, a meeting was held for all interested parties to discuss this plan. All property owners on Goleta Avenue were notified of the meeting by mail so that they would have an opportunity to attend the meeting or to call or write the City to express their concerns regarding the project. Seventeen residents attended the meeting and most used Staff Report Planned Cul-De-Sac of Goleta Avenue December 13, 2001 Page 2 the opportunity to verbally express their concerns, questions, and support or lack thereof for the planned project. Additionally, 43 residents made their feelings known by signing a petition that was circulated by the residents themselves. Of the residents who attended the meeting or signed a petition, 41 supported the plan to create a cul-de-sac at Portola Avenue. Representatives from two households did not support the cul-de-sac. Comments from an additional three parties who neither attended the meeting nor signed the petition were received; two supported the cul-de-sac and one did not. Reasons for supporting the cul-de-sac were generally that it would reduce the number of vehicles using Goleta Avenue to avoid Fred Waring Drive, and that it would reduce the speed at which vehicles traveled the length of this straight, wide residential street. Reasons given for not supporting the proposed cul-de-sac were that it would hamper access to the neighborhood and that the home situated at the end of the new access road to Goleta Avenue would be adversely impacted by headlights and by sound. At the public meeting, residents offered a number of additional comments regarding traffic conditions on Goleta Avenue and neighboring streets. In particular, a number of people requested that the east end of Goleta Avenue at Deep Canyon Road be cul-de-saced as well. They suggested that another vacant lot be purchased at the east end of the street and that another new access road be constructed thereon. Several residents also reported problems with pedestrians walking down the street to reach the high school while avoiding Fred Waring Drive. They suggested that the block wall on Fred Waring Drive be extended southward down Portola Avenue, past the proposed new cul-de-sac so pedestrians would not be able to walk from Portola onto Goleta. Other concerns expressed included a generalized worry that vehicles slowing to turn right on the new access road into Goleta would be rear ended by vehicles speeding through the intersection at Fred Waring and Portola. It will be difficult to turn from Goleta north bound onto Deep Canyon Road and to exit the Goleta area to travel westbound on Fred Waring Drive. A number of meeting attendees were also concerned that vehicles would continue to speed down Goleta Avenue as an alternative to Fred Waring Drive once they discovered that the new access road would connect them to this alternate route. Staff responded, during the meeting, to many of the concerns and has carefully reviewed each of the issues raised by the residents. In particular the following information was provided in response and is hereby put forth for the information of the council members: 1) There is no guarantee that a cul-de-sac at Portola Avenue will eliminate all speeding on Goleta Avenue or that some vehicles won't continue to use Goleta as an alternate to Fred Waring Drive. However, traffic will flow better on Fred Waring Drive once the street is widened, and the turn from Fred Waring Drive onto southbound Deep Canyon will be facilitated by a new right-turn pocket. Consequently, taking Goleta as an alternate to Fred Waring Drive is not likely to result in saving the motorist time. 2) The right turn from Fred Waring Drive onto the new access road to Goleta is similarly situated to many other driveways and streets on Fred Waring Drive and throughout the City. While rear-end accidents may occur when drivers fail to watch the vehicles in front of them, it is no more likely to happen in this location than at dozens of others. GOLETA AVENUE RESIDENTS MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2001 MINUTES Attendees: Susan and Patrick Sheehan, 74280 Goleta Avenue Larry and Tari Gibson, 74445 Goleta Avenue Jeanette and Norman Elam, 74-035 Goleta Avenue Ken and Sue Watts, 74215 Goleta Avenue Linda Gayler, 74425 Goleta Avenue Virgil Forero, 74290 Goleta Avenue Jose O. Perez, Jr., 74400 Goleta Avenue Mike and Denise Lehmann, 74090 Goleta Avenue Harold and Icilda Lyttle, 74195 Goleta Avenue Jodi and Mark Ratliff, 74065 Goleta Avenue Lauri Aylaian, City of Palm Desert Mark Greenwood, City of Palm Desert Justin McCarthy, City of Palm Desert Maria Hunt, City of Palm Desert Meetingwas called to order at 5:35 p.m. Ms. Lauri Aylaian introduced herself as the Project Manager for the Fred Waring Widening Project and Mr. Mark Greenwood as the City of Palm Desert Engineering Manager. She advised that part of that project was to cul de sac Goleta Avenue where it meets Portola Avenue in response to years of complaints and concerns from local residents who said that Goleta was used as a speed way by people trying to avoid Fred Waring Drive. The intersection at Portola and Goleta is also problematic and staff hopes to cut down the problems there. Ms. Aylaian explained that the project went through all of the public hearing processes a year and a half ago. She explained that legally when a city plans a project like this they are required to notify residents in one of three ways: by placing ad in newspaper to hold public hearings; or by posting notices on the project site where the work is going to be done; or by notifying all property owners within 300 feet of the project by letter. Ms. Aylaian stated she had chosen to post notices, to put ads in the newspaper, and to notify homeowners on the north side of Goleta by mail, but that owners on the south side had not been notified by letter. She reported that a resident recently pointed out that despite the fact that this met the letter of the law, it did not meet the spirit of the law which is to let everybody know what is going on and give them a chance to provide input. Consequently, the City decided to convene residents again to revisit the issue and make sure that the residents on Goleta still want to cul de sac the street at Portola Avenue to reduce cut G\RDA\Mana Hunt\WPDATA\AYLAIAN\fwproj\goletaresntsmtgmins Staff Report Planned Cul-de-sac of Goleta Avenue December 13, 2001 Page 3 3) Creating a cul-de-sac at the east end of Goleta Avenue in addition to the west end would significantly impact the accessability of the neighborhood. Without specifically asking the question to all of the residents, it is not possible to tell if those who spoke in favor of the idea at the public meeting represent the majority of the residents on Goleta Avenue. Staff believes that the most prudent course of action is to cul-de-sac Goleta Avenue at the west end and observe the change in traffic patterns for three to six months. Then consulting with residents could determine if additional work is necessary, or if the single cul-de-sac solved the majority of the problems being experienced. 4) The home at 74-065 Goleta Avenue is likely to be adversely impacted by its location at the end of the new access road to Goleta Avenue. Staff has committed to working with the owners of this home to provide landscaping or screening to block vehicle headlights from shining into the home. Sound engineers will be asked to review the configuration of the sound attenuation walls to determine if they will result in noise being echoed towards this home. If such is the case, sound mitigation measures will be investigated. 5) It is currently difficult to exit Goleta Avenue to the north and then turn west bound onto Fred Waring Drive, regardless of whether the maneuver is attempted from the Deep Canyon end or the Portola Avenue end. Because Goleta Avenue is so close to Fred Waring Drive and because Portola and Deep Canyon are both busy streets, this situation is not likely to be improved with or without the proposed cul-de-sac. There are no technically feasible solutions to this problematic road configuration. Minutes of the public meeting held on November 15, 2001 are attached to this report for additional information to City Council members. As ever, staff is available to answer questions regarding the information provided in this report at the convenience of the City Council. Submitted By: Approval: AP auri Aylaian .ave Yri•oyes Pro.ect Administrator -- Director of Rz development • Mark re n L 1.e oo . ti McCarthy Engineering Manager ACM for Redevelo•1 Il LA:pmw Carlos L. Ort ga City Manager CITY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED DENIED RECEIVED OTHER MEETING DATE 1 - I -r°1 I AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: VERIFIED BY: f l a Original on File with Caty clerk's Office *With Council concurrence, authorized Councilmen Crites and Spiegel to meet with staff and Messrs. Lehmann and Ratliff to review potential project adjustments related to sound and light mitigation, pedestrian travel, deceleration lane, further authorizing those Councilmen to make same as deemed appropriate. 1 ~ \j4,--' Q VELARDO DR � RANCHO RD �� 1 \ I � MARIGOLD DR O • ASTER DR W / W \ �� Cr • x Possible Future Cul de Sac More Study Required) j New Access Road it (Right Turn In and Out Only) la.` Proposed Culls-Sac WII8 ie8 ! 8Ig • 8 ' S 8 ,12 s 81 $ 2 8 81c R 21 F. 8 « 2 B Sr g e ftee ' N N N N N N N M • M M M '0IP or x f x I r i i 1 x t r. n ,. I P. P. 1 r. 1 P. P. 1 P. P. P. i. 1 r. r. . NNN P. 'I P. P. A J 0 0 ._ _ • GOLETA AVE w mm g T ;' ` in 1 M ,_N 1 on in N r 1 n •1 N I I N 1O I IN. • P 1 N N • I N I V A • P 1 on O N ♦ N V • N N "' m d ^I • L r e e e e e S N N N N N N N ' N H M M M M M M * `/ E-L> e,,, ez-no)m[]Qcoe ; ,.....„ y►NTA ROSA CIR C1 B > Qii� 9. 1Q _ 7a v to� , > � l'' SP) :03"CSD, z nE 0 z ZHRJ _ 2----- \z �, Proposed Cul-de-Say A �04/. of Goleta Avenue Q ��ao�/ ,...,..,,,, .4.. soo t? Zoo F 1 Feet Ms. Aylaian explained what was depicted in the rendering of the proposed improvements to Goleta. She noted that the City had purchased a vacant lot for the creation of an access road to Goleta. Residents would be able to get to Goleta by a right turn in from Fred Waring Drive, and be able to get back to Fred Waring Drive from a right turn out. Another reason for the access road is that emergency vehicles need to have easy access. Ms. Aylaian explained that the purpose of the meeting was to give property owners the opportunity to express their support or lack thereof for creation of a cul de sac at Portola Avenue. This information will be reported to the City Council for their meeting of December 13 2001. Staff is gathering comments and will prepare a report for the City Council that consolidates the input that is received today so that Councilmembers will know whether or not this project is supported by the people who are most directly affected by it. Following are property owners' comments: Mike Lehmann, 74-090 Goleta Avenue: For years residents have been interested in blocking off Goleta. Until recently, it had not occurred to him that blocking off could result in extra " cut through" traffic. He is concerned that if traffic on Fred Waring is backed up from Deep Canyon, the inlet might be taken as a short cut, after which time they would use it . Personally, he didn't think it would be as much "cut through" traffic as they get now. He felt that the solution would be to cul de sac the east end too. He stated that many residents felt that when there is a right turn east bound on Fred Waring from Goleta on to southbound Deep Canyon, it will further restrict someone's ability to turn left onto Deep Canyon. Currently there is a lot west of the east end of Goleta that is vacant and looks like a likely second inlet. He knows that there would be a cost involved, but he thinks percentage wise it would make the project more complete for Goleta. He also reported he had heard complaints of not continuing the wall south at Portola to cover the proposed cul de sac, and that there are a number of persons concerned about the walkthrough traffic of kids up and down Goleta. Mark Ratliff, 74-065 Goleta Avenue: Stated he lives across from the proposed entrance to Goleta. He is concerned with the two sound walls on the new access road creating an echo chamber directly at his home. All cars making right hand turns will turn southbound directly into his front yard which actually impacts his front door and his sons' rooms. He is concerned about the amount of traffic coming in, and felt the access road should be placed instead at one tenth or two tenths of the way down the street. He believes the proposed entrance is going to benefit mostly the five remaining houses to the west. He stated that nobody would continue eastbound on Fred Waring to Deep Canyon, make a right-hand turn and then another right turn onto Goleta;everyone would enter at the access road. He agrees with Mike Lehmann's suggestion of putting a cul de sac at the east end and a second entrance to Goleta. His main concern is the safety of his children. He stated he had been told that there would be a stop sign at the proposed entrance. He reported he would be looking at records to find out how many accidents have occurred in residential areas by people running stop signs. He also wanted to know why they were not notified about the proposed changes to Goleta. G:\RDA\Maria Hunt\WPDATA\AYLAIAN\fwproj\goletaresntsmtgnrns 2 Joe Perez, 74-400 Goleta Avenue: Stated that the cul de sac is a good idea. People are now coming in off of Portola to get to Deep Canyon. Goleta also gets a lot of foot traffic from kids going to school. He suggested that the City take the wall south on Portola past the cul de sac. Susan Sheehan, 74-280 Goleta Avenue: Stated she is in favor of the cul de sac, but is concerned with the proposed entry. She stated that on De Anza there is a little street, where you can get out and turn right, but where the other side has a gate. On De Anza, the Police and Fire Departments use a key for access. Perhaps this would be an option. Another suggestion would be to put an island right in the middle so that vehicles would have to stop. She stated that at the last meeting, discussion was held regarding speed bumps, but people were not in favor of them. She would not be opposed to having a speed hump in front of her house because it is different from a speed bump. She is concerned about turning left onto Deep Canyon when there is a right turn only lane coming from Fred Waring onto Deep Canyon. She explained that she already makes a right onto Deep Canyon from Goleta and goes to Hwy 111to travel west because she is afraid to go out on Portola. She pointed out that nobody sees the "Keep Clear" sign on Portola. She added that she has not had any problems with kids. Susan Watts, 74-215 Goleta Avenue: Stated she had gone around the neighborhood trying to get signatures from people who were in favor of the cul de sac. She agrees with what the previous residents expressed. She stated she respects Mark Greenwood because of previous things he has done. She questioned what would be done if the planned improvements don't solve the traffic problems. Would the City ignore it? Mr. Greenwood replied that the City does not abandon its residents. The City could go ahead with the plan as is, and after about three to six months Staff can look to determine if the solution is working and/or if additional work is needed. Mark Ratliff, 74-065 Goleta Avenue: Asked why the particular vacant lot was chosen to provide the new access road, rather than one of the vacant lots in the middle between Portola and Deep Canyon. Mark Greenwood explained that this particular lot had been selected because of the Fire Department's explicit requirement that a cul de sac be no longer than 600 feet. There were only two lots to select from, the one selected, and one in close proximity to Primrose. The latter was not selected because of its proximity to Primrose. It would not have been acceptable because left turns would have had to be prohibited for traffic turning onto Primrose. Mr. Greenwood also explained that there will be no left turn in or left turn out of the access road. Mr. Greenwood added that a dedicated right turn lane from Fred Waring onto the access road would impact two residential properties, therefore there will be no right turn pocket. Mr. Lehmann offered to give a portion of his property for the right turn pocket. Mr. Greenwood explained that there would be a four foot sidewalk and landscaping on Fred G:\RDA\Maria Hunt\WPDATAWYLAIAN\fwproj\goletaresntsmtgmins 3 Waring. He explained that four feet is only a third of the property needed for the right turn pocket, therefore there will be no right turn pocket. Harold Lyttle, 74-195 Goleta Avenue: Stated he did not remember receiving a letter stating where the access road was going to be placed. The problem that he has with the plan is that it does not allow a left turn onto Fred Waring for westbound travel. Stated he had gone to the Public Works Department to complain when they put two left turn lanes on Deep Canyon to accommodate the traffic on Deep Canyon, but did not give any consideration to people turning off Fred Waring and turning onto Goleta. Many times, he was almost rear-ended because motorists were so close behind him and did not pay attention to his signal. He questioned how a left turn from Goleta onto Deep Canyon would be made when congestion already makes that difficult. He explained that people speed through the signal at Portola just to beat the light and this would cause persons making a right turn onto the access road to be rear ended. He believes this jeopardizes safety. Mark Greenwood stated the argument that three lanes (rather than two) does not cause more traffic. The City is trying to keep the traffic from flowing into residential neighborhoods. Traffic volumes on Fred Waring are projected to double. If the City were to not make these improvements, traffic would definitely be filtrating into neighborhoods to a much greater degree than it will after this project. Patrick Sheehan, 74-280 Goleta Avenue: Objected to the access road saying that the Fred Waring speed way is going to provide more opportunities for rear-enders than they currently have. The distance from the Portola intersection to the access road just enough time to 65 mph. In the last three months from about June through September, he believes that the record will show that there have been three rear-end accidents going eastbound on Fred Waringfrom Portola to DeepCanyon. He stated that this occurred before the current construction started. He is concerned about personal safety. It is the responsibility of the City to protect residents and see that they are safe in their neighborhood. He asked if they would be safe from traffic. He added that exiting eastbound on Goleta Avenue onto Deep Canyon, currently a motorist would get hit probably on the eighth or tenth time if they are not very fast. He stated that going northbound on Deep Canyon then across three lanes to go eastbound on Fred Waring is suicide. Mark Greenwood stated that Palm Desert is one of the safest cities in Riverside County. Riverside County is one of the safest counties in the State of California, and the State of California is one of the safest states in the United States, and the United States is one of the safest places in the world to drive a car. He reported that the City is doing a good job of controlling traffic in neighborhoods. He stated that the City would welcome any alternative brought forward; it has brought forward its best alternative. He stated his confidence that this will work out and would be an improvement to the neighborhood. It cannot be guaranteed to be perfect, but the City is willing to hear concerns and to make sure that everybody can buy into this plan or an alternative, if necessary. G:\RDA\Maria Hunt\WPDATA\AYLAIAN\fwproj\goletaresntsmtgmins 4 A question was raised about the safety of the right turn onto the access road. Mr. Greenwood stated that there are 50 to 70 driveways on Fred Waring with no right turn pockets. None of those have shown up in the top 100 high accident intersections in the city. Larry Gibson, 74-445 Goleta Avenue: His home is located four houses from Deep Canyon on the south side. He stated he is in favor of the cul de sac. With increased traffic and regardless of this project, on the south side of Goleta near Deep Canyon, the intersection is going to be problematic. Felt that people are still going to cut through the access road when they see the long line of traffic turning south onto Deep Canyon. He supports a cul de sac at Deep Canyon and possibly another access road in. He would put up with the inconvenience of only being able to turn right. He suggested some type of landscape circles at that intersection in front of Ratliffs' home directly across the access road, or other traffic islands further down Goleta towards Deep Canyon. This would prevent cars from speeding through the intersection or running the stop sign if one is placed there. Mark Greenwood explained that landscape circles in this case would require more property to be taken from the homeowners. Mike Lehmann suggested that if a cul de sac is placed on the east end, then there would be two access roads; one on the 10'h lot and the other as proposed. He suggested that the west access be used as the exit and the east access as the entrance. A question was raised as to why traffic on Primrose is allowed to turn left on Fred Waring. Mr. Greenwood replied that left turns are allowed from Primrose because it is a larger neighborhood. However, when Fred Waring is widened to six lanes, left turns out of Primrose will not be permitted, but left turns in will be allowed. Mr. Ratliff pointed out that his home would be impacted by the vehicles' headlights. Ms. Aylaian replied that staff is willing to look at mitigating the impact of the lights, perhaps landscape on his property to block the lights. She added that trees would be placed at the entrance. Susan Watts reported that 43 signatures had been obtained in favor of the cul de sac at Portola Avenue, but not necessarily with the proposed access road. Linda Gayler, 74-425 Goleta Avenue: She stated that her home is located on the south side of Goleta near Deep Canyon. She stated that she disagrees with the cul de sac at Portola because traffic will be worse at east end. She stated she had been relocated from Fred Waring Drive and had not been told about the cul de sac when she bought the home. If she had known, she would not have moved there. Mike Lehmann suggested that a gate be installed at the access road. Mr. Greenwood explained that a public street cannot be gated. Ms. Aylaian stated that if residents were interested in forming their own homeowners association, she could put them in touch with G:\RDA\Mana Hunt\W PDATA\AYLAIAN\twproj\goletaresntsmtgmins 5 the appropriate persons. Mr. Greenwood pointed out that all homeowners have to be in favor of that process, otherwise it would not be approved. Mark Greenwood was asked if he thought this would be the safest and best thing to do. Mr. Greenwood replied that he did think it was the best solution to the problem. Residents expressed their concern with speeding. Residents requested that they be notified by mail of any new developments with the project. Ms. Aylaian stated that they would be notified by mail. Mr. Lehmann suggested putting stop signs at intermediate points on Goleta. Mr. Greenwood noted that stop signs are effective. Residents requested that the "Keep Clear" signs on Portola be painted so they are more visible. Mr. Greenwood stated that the City would take care of the painting. Ms.Aylaian noted that the widening of Fred Waring would begin next summer. The access will also be done next summer. Residents inquired about construction on Monterey. Mr. Greenwood stated that there would be two lanes turning onto Highway 111 and two lanes going through to Highway 74. The City will be extending the left turn pocket to El Paseo. Residents inquired as to how soon the houses on Deep Canyon would be demolished. Ms. Aylaian advised that the homes would be demolished after the first of the year. The Fire Department may be using one or more as a control burn, and will discuss this proposal with residents before proceeding further. A resident pointed out that construction workers on Fred Waring are still starting work at 6 a.m. Ms. Aylaian stated she would contact the contractor; work should not begin before 7 a.m.. Mr. Greenwood complimented the residents for informing themselves and conducting themselves professionally. Ms. Aylaian advised that an informational report would be submitted to the City Council on December 13. She explained that no action will be taken by the Council at that meeting since it is an informational item. She added that the residents' names and addresses would be provided to the City Clerk's office so that they may be notified of upcoming matters regarding this project. Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. G:\RDA\Mana Hunt\WPDATAWYLAIAN\fwproj\goletaresntsmtgmins 6