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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1993/09/09 . MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION Thursday, September 9, 1993 7:02 p.m. Counci I Chambers Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair Thomas, Vice Chair Padilla (arrived at 7:15), Commissioners Braden, Koester, Matacia, and Pitts Also Present: Harold Rosenberg, Traffic Engineer; Frank Rivera, Associate Traffic Engineer; Agent Bryan Treul, Police Department; Shirley Buxton, Recording Secretary 2. Pled!!e of Alle!!iance/Silent Praver 3. Ooenin!! Statement - Read by Chair Thomas 4. Aooroval of Minutes: July 1, 1993 (Workshop); July 8, 1993 (Revised); August 5, 1993 (Work- shop); and August 12, 1993 . MSC (Braden/Pitts) to accept the minutes of July 1, 1993 (Workshop); July 8, 1993 (Revised); August 5, 1993 (Workshop); and August 12, 1993 as presented. Approved unanimously with Commissioner Koester abstaining on the minutes of July 8, 1993; Commissioners Pitts and Koester abstaining on the minutes of August 5, 1993; and Commissioner Braden abstaining on the minutes of August 12, 1993. MEETING AGENDA 5. REPORT on vacation of a portion of Moss Street between Alpine Avenue and First Avenue Frank Rivera presented staff's report and the realignment options staff considered. Hal Rosenberg said from a traffic engineering perspective, the realignment of Moss Street would be an improvement over existing conditions which created an acute angle for motorists and made it difficult for motorists turning east onto Naples Street. Commissioner Matacia asked how much additional traffic would be created on Alpine Avenue. Frank Rivera said the current volume on Alpine Avenue was approximately 200 vehicles per day. Hal Rosenberg said there were 6,000 cars traveling on Moss Street. Those vehicles would be transferred to the curved section of Moss Street/Alpine Avenue. Motorists making a left hand turn from Alpine Avenue to Naples Street would be on a new portion of road wider than the current 20'. The increase on Alpine Avenue would be significant. Chair Thomas asked if there was off-street parking allowed on Alpine Avenue and how many spaces would be gained by widening the street. . Frank Rivera answered that off-street parking was allowed. Hal Rosenberg said when improvements were made, there would be parking allowed on both sides of the street. Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 2 Chair Thomas said there were palm trees that caused a sight problem. He asked how the reaiignment would take place so that the trees would not cause a sight problem. Hal Rosenberg said if there was a sight distance problem, it would be investigated. Commissioner Pitts asked staff if there was adequate room on Naples Street for vehicles making a left turn from both sides of Alpine Avenue onto Naples Street. Hal Rosenberg said the distance was short, but staff felt motorists at a stop sign had adequate time to judge the surrounding circumstances. The ability to see an opening to turn left was ample. Staff did not view that as a problem. Chair Thomas asked if there was any consideration given to an all-way stop at the intersection. Mr. Rosenberg said it could be a candidate for an all-way stop after the improvements were completed. The volumes of traffic were balanced on both Moss and Naples Streets. John Krabacher, 147 Naples Street, Chula Vista, 91911, said the Commission had addressed the angle of Moss and Naples Streets and said it was a problem for drivers. There had never been an accident at that intersection, but on Naples Street there were five. The Commission was going to double the traffic on Naples Street. He asked if the Commission was going along with the developer's idea or the City's view. With all the traffic there would be either a signal installed or an all-way stop and accidents would occur. He would like to see the intersection remain as it was or staff's option A. He asked what was going to be built on the land. Hal Rosenberg said the applicant's representative was in attendance, but he believed single family dwelling units were proposed. It was not a City project. The developer requested the City consider closing the street in turn for installing missing improvements that would beautify the area. Staff was obiigated to review the project for feasibility. From that perspective and safety point of view, staff felt it could work and would improve a substandard position. Mr. Krabacher said that staff had all but ruled out Option E which would have made Alpine Avenue a cross intersection because it would go through the applicant's property. Hal Rosenberg said staff did not rule that out, but it was not the applicant's proposal. If the applicant offered that proposal to staff, it would be accepted. Mr. Krabacher said he could foresee head-on collisions occurring. Since Naples Street went through to the hospital, it had become a thoroughfare for ambulances. Greg Cox, 3130 Bonita Road, Suite 200, Chula Vista, CA 91910, represented the San Diego Country Club and the Country Club Villa Estates who were the co-applicants for the street vacation. The owner was Frank Ferreira who put the property in a family trust, and in December 1992 transferred title to his children who were the owner of record. The parcel was zoned R-1 and was a 8,000 square foot triangular parcel which could accommodate one residence. With the vacation of Moss Street, it could accommodate four to five homes. The San Diego Country Club was supportive of the application for two reasons. It would improve their operations, because there would not be the traffic along Moss Street; and if the street was vacated the easement on the property would be abandoned. The beneficiaries of the vacation would be the San Diego Country Club and the Ferreiras. The Ferreiras negotiated with the San Diego Country Club in order to dedicate their half of Moss Street to them. San Diego Country Club wanted to be released from obligations to install public improvements and wanted the Ferreiras to install the improvements (curb, gutter, street lights). The . Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 3 improvements from Third Avenue to AlpineAvenue and Naples Street were valued at approximately $1 30,000. As a part of the application, a waiver to install the sidewalks had been filed. The rationale was there was no need for sidewalks on the north side, since there were sidewalks on the south side. It might be used as a jogging trail instead. There were many places in the City where sidewalks were not installed near open space areas. The balance of the improvements would be a condition of the proposed site. Curbs, gutters, and sidewalks would be required by the City. Mr. Cox said the vacation would be an economic benefit to the applicant as well as the City since the current intersection of Moss and Naples Streets would be corrected. He sympathized with the residents since traffic was heavy on Moss Street and travelled rapidly. He felt those improvements would slow traffic down. Installation of a three-way stop sign would be supported by the applicant. He agreed that traffic on Moss Street would decrease and Naples Street would increase. The three-way stop sign would keep traffic flowing and would not cause a back up in front of residences on the corner of Alpine Avenue and Moss Street. The intersection of Alpine Avenue and Moss Street would be improved and would provide for both a left and right turn lane on Alpine Avenue. Staff recommended that no access be permitted along the realigned Moss Street for the development. The applicant's concern was that if it was zoned R-1, it would be an awkward lot and requested the condition be modified to allow the applicant to submit a proposed design for the parcel and allow staff to look at it at that time. He felt it was a win-win solution since it would eliminate an awkward, dangerous intersection. Also vehicles were driving through the vacant dirt parcel rather than making a stop on AlpineAvenue and Naples Street. The parcel was an eyesore and a maintenance problem, but the vacation and development would bring the area up to City standards as well as improve the neighborhood. . Commissioner Braden said hopefully the homes would only be one-story homes and not town homes. Mr. Cox said there had not been any design yet, and could not respond to Commissioner Braden's comments. Charles Mitchell, 161 Naples Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911, stated he was a former police officer for the City of Chula Vista and never had investigated a traffic accident at Moss and Naples Streets. He had seen accidents at every other T-intersection along Naples Street due to the speeds. Vehicles travelling westbound on Naples Street between Hilltop Drive and Second Avenue reached speeds of 60-70 mph. A motor officer recently monitored the area and the officer wrote tickets for speeds 15 mph over the speed limit and could not write tickets fast enough. The officer mentioned that he could write two ticket books per day at that location, which equalled 50 tickets. Mr. Mitchell said he watched motorists roll through the stop sign at Second Avenue at speeds of 30 - 50 mph and asked the Commission why they would add an additional 6,000 cars to the street. He said there would be trouble. Since Naples Street had been opened through to Chula Vista Community Hospital, ambulances used Naples Street as their access. The south side of Naples Street from Third Avenue to Dixon was unimproved. Recently, he saw an ambulance travelling eastbound on Naples Street and motorists in front of the ambulance pulled off the road at 35 - 40 mph and caused the area to be covered in dust. He wondered how the ambulance driver could see the road. If a motorist had attempted a turn from Alpine Avenue, the ambulance would have collided with the vehicle. Chair Thomas asked for accident statistics in the area. . Frank Rivera said staff had accident history for the past three years. At Naples Street and First Avenue, there had been two accidents. One was a rear-end accident, and one a single vehicle accident that struck a fence. There had been an accident on Naples Street when an eastbound motorist was attempting a right turn onto Alpine Avenue and was passed on the right by another vehicle and broadsided the motorist attempting the turn. Another accident in the area was at Moss Street and Alpine Avenue in which a vehicle struck the fence near the Country Club. Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 4 Hal Rosenberg said when an unusual intersection had sight distance problems, motorists became more cautious. Staff would never allow that type of intersection to exist today as it was a liability risk to the City. The City would be negligent in allowing the intersection to exist and recommended against retaining the existing intersection. Robert Gans, 129 Naples Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911, lived on the corner of Naples Street and Alpine Avenue and stated the parcel of land used to be a vegetable field. Bob Casey owned the property and made the mistake of putting the jog in Alpine Avenue and thought the area was originally supposed to be commercial. Later Mr. Casey tried to have the area re-zoned for a home, driveway, and gas station. Residents defeated the proposal. Mr. Casey sold the land to Frank Ferreira. Mr. Ferreira also tried to develop the land which included closing Moss Street. The residents on Moss Street would be for it, because it would mean less traffic. Traffic however would back up on Alpine Avenue and the residents on the corner of Alpine Avenue would not be able to exit their homes. He hoped the Commission would take into consideration all the traffic that would be added to Alpine Avenue and Naples Street. Robert MacNear, 121 Naples Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911, said the traffic had increased and motorists used Alpine Avenue to shortcut to Naples Street. The intersection of Moss and Naples Streets was a bad location and made it difficult to see traffic on Naples Street. Motorists were apprehensive leaving the intersection. He suggested widening Moss Street. The area was not an eyesore because he cut the grass. He would like to see residents purchase the lot or see Moss Street widened with a traffic signal installed. Corinne Cabella, 1098 Alpine Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911, lived at the corner of Naples Street and Alpine Avenue and said the cars did not stop on Alpine Avenue. She was concerned about her health since exhaust would increase with the additional traffic. It would be easier to have Alpine Avenue north meet Alpine Avenue south at Naples Street even though it would cut through the proposed project. Her garage was on Naples Street. The sidewalks were needed and she didn't know why the Country Club could not put them in. She said children walked the area daily to get to school. jenene Boyd, 115 Naples Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911, was opposed to staff's recommendation. It would be nice if both Mr. Cox and Mr. Ferreira could make their profit, but Mr. Ferreira bought the property on a gamble. She said it would be good to install a stop sign on Naples Street, but what about at Moss Street instead of Alpine Avenue. The south side of Naples Street was unimproved and residents voted for incorporation with the assumption that it would be improved, and it had not been. Naples Street was a main thoroughfare for children going on Hilltop Drive and Castle Parks Schools. She was not for added traffic to Naples Street and agreed with previous speakers that speeds were high in the area. She was against closing any public street because then options were closed for both citizens and emergency vehicles. It happened with Fifth Avenue. Even though there was a nice shopping center, the closure had impacted other streets. It happened with Fig Avenue and motorists had to wait on H Street at a long stop light at Fourth Avenue. If an emergency vehicle saw Moss Street was backed up, it could take Alpine Avenue and vice versa. If the street was closed, that option would be gone. She didn't see any reason for going ahead with the project to benefit two individuals. She had not heard what the proposed project was, whether it was one house or five houses. All homes on Naples Street and in the affected area had their entrances and exits on Naples Street and more traffic would make it difficult to enter and exit their residences. Derry Coughlan, 1094 Alpine Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911, lived in the area for many years and would have known of traffic problems, if any. He agreed with previous speakers in that even though the corner of Moss and Naples Streets was awkward, it had never caused an accident. One of the accidents in the area was when a motorist fell asleep at the wheel and hit the fence by the Country Club. It had nothing to do with the intersection. He opposed the project because during early evening rush hours, there were five or six cars backed up at Alpine Avenue and Naples Street and there would be seven or eight cars backed up and at the corner of Moss and Naples Streets. Without the thoroughfare of Moss Street, the seven or eight cars from Moss . Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 5 Street would be wrapped around from Naples Street on Alpine Avenue to where he could not get out of his driveway. A bottleneck would be created on the corner. He liked option A, but recommended staying with the current situation. Robert Vega, 1108 Hilltop, Chula Vista, CA 91911, lived at the corner of Hilltop and Naples Street and said trees blocked the view of drivers on Alpine Avenue trying to enter Naples Street. At First Avenue and Moss Street, there was brush that obstructed vision and he did not understand why the City could not make the Country Club keep it trimmed. At Hilltop Drive and Naples Street, vehicles travelled through the red light and traffic was bad in the area. Mr. Cox returned to the podium and said the staff proposal was predicated on the fact that Moss and Naples Streets was a substandard intersection and a potential liability problem. Even though there had not been any accidents in the last three years, there was still the potential. The Commission had an opportunity to have improvements made to the intersection with no cost to the City. It would be a condition of the vacation to have the missing improvements installed. He agreed that speeding was a problem, but it was a problem in the entire City not just in the area. He supported the installation of a three-way stop on Naples Street. The re-alignment had been looked at by the City since 1985, and was not something new. The concern about the back up of traffic on Alpine Avenue was a legitimate concern. However, there would be Iwo lanes of traffic on Alpine Avenue, one lane to turn left, and one lane to turn right. With a better defined roadway, it would be an improvement of the existing conditions and he asked for the Commission's favorable opinion. . Chair Thomas said that after listening to the public hearing, he was more in favor of adding an all-way stop at Naples Street and Alpine Avenue not as a trial traffic regulation, but as part of the recommendation. Hal Rosenberg said staff had not evaluated the intersection in accordance with the Council policy, but it would most likely be a good candidate. Even if an all-way stop was installed, traffic patterns would remain the same. Moss Street represented a short cut to Third Avenue. There was an advantage to motorists travelling westbound who wanted to go north on Third Avenue to use Moss Street, it was convenient. Motorists southbound on Third Avenue would probably continue to use Moss Street to access Naples Street. The traffic volumes would remain the same. He provided additional comment regarding the size of lanes on Moss Street. Commissioner Pitts asked to review the traffic volume data. Hal Rosenberg displayed a table of traffic volumes in the area. Commissioner Pitts asked staff to clarify the statement that because of the new turn lanes on Alpine Avenue, the resident who lived on corner of Alpine Avenue and Moss Street would not have a problem exiting the driveway. Mr. Rosenberg said there would be times when the intersection would be backed up to the curb, but with an all-way stop, the 6,000 vehicles represented a good balance, and with the all-way stop the traffic would flow adequately. Commissioner Pitts asked what the City would have to do to proceed with Option E, which would take Alpine Avenue through the property and connect on Naples Street with the south side of Alpine Avenue. . Mr. Rosenberg indicated that the developer did not volunteer a redesign of the parcel to allow for the realignment. The City could negotiate purchase of the property if it felt the intersection was needed. He did not believe there was any incentive to do that. Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 6 Vice Chair Padilla said it seemed they were being asked to consolidate the property which would allow the property owner to have better selling options. There were also existing City-wide concerns. With a closure of a street, traffic would be moved to Naples Street or Alpine Avenue. The residents were concerned with the additional traffic but felt that it should be balanced with the City having a cleaner, safer area. Diverting directly to Naples Street would move traffic on Alpine Avenue. He would be more comfortable to go with Option A which would still allow westbound access to Moss Street from Naples Street. It was understood that it could interfere with the developers plans for the parcel. He would be comfortable with Option C with the addition of an all-way stop. MOTION: (Thomas) to approve staff's recommendation with two additions: 1) the all.way stop be incorporated in the design; and 2) the intersection of Alpine Avenue and Naples Street, in conjunction with the sight distance, be reevaluated and redesigned. Vice Chair Padilla asked if he should attempt to get support for Option A and asked Chair Thomas if he would withdraw his motion. Motion withdrawn by Chair Thomas. MOTION: (Padilla) to accept Option A of staff's report. Motion died for lack of second. MSUC (Thomas/Padilla)to: 1) realign a portion of Moss Streetto be builtto collector street design standards; 2) striping, marking, and signing be provided for the new alignment; 3) no access be permitted along the realigned Moss Street for the proposed development; 4) an all.way stop be installed at the intersection of Naples Street and Alpine Avenue; and 5) the addition of realigning the sight distance of the intersection of Alpine Avenue and Naples Street. Hal Rosenberg asked the Commission for clarification on realigning the sight distance portion. He asked if the Commission was asking staff to do whatever was necessary to improve the visibility or if the Commission actually intend to have the developer reconfigure the intersection. Chair Thomas said his motion was to have staff redesign the intersection in relationship to the crosswalk for the sight distance. At the current location of the crosswalk, a motorist could not make a right turn. Motorists moved up 10' or 12' encroaching into the right of way in order to see past the palm trees. Mr. Rosenberg made the observation that once the all-way stop was installed, that problem should disappear. Chair Thomas explained to the audience the motion and the decision that the Commission made. He clarified that stop signs would be placed on Naples Street at Alpine Avenue. 6. REPORT on Request for crosswalk and stop signs in the vicinity of Rohr Elementary School Frank Rivera presented staff's report and the Commissioners viewed slides of the area. Commissioner Matacia asked what the school had designated as the "safe route to school" and if the area would be safer without the walkway. Frank Rivera said Rohr School did not recommend a particular route and left that decision to the parents. The School distributed the map to the parents to assist them in planning where the most protected crossings were. . Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 7 Hal Rosenberg said with the changes that the Commission recommended, if any, the map would be revised reflecting the changes and given to the School. The situation would be better without the walkway, but as the plat showed, it was an extremely long distance to walk to the school if the walkway wasn't there. Commissioner Matacia questioned whether placing a barrier at the walkway location and informing children they needed to walk 1/2 block down the street in order to cross would happen. Hal Rosenberg said it would probably work, except for the children who lived directly across the street from the walkway. Commissioner Pitts asked if the Safety Patrol was set up in the location around the walkway. Frank Rivera said the School Patrol was at Malta Avenue and Slate Street and there were adult volunteer crossing guards at other locations. Commissioner Pitts asked staff why they did not recommend a stop sign on Max Avenue since they were recommending a crosswalk be installed. Frank Rivera said the recommendation was based on the fact there was not a problem with right-of-way at the intersection and the visibility was good. If an all-way stop were recommended, it would not be justified. Staff wanted to install the stop on Malta Avenue, but not on Max Avenue. . Hal Rosenberg said staff was trying to direct the children to use a particular route. It was a local street and signs would be installed to let motorists know there would pedestrians. The park generated pedestrians as well as school children. Chair Thomas asked why staff was against putting a stop sign at on Max Avenue. Mr. Rosenberg said that a stop sign was a 24 hour regulation and when pedestrians were not in the area, motorists became annoyed at stopping for no apparent reason. Chair Thomas said staff was dealing with pedestrians of a younger age and thought they needed to be a little more protected. Mr. Rosenberg said installing an all-way stop could give a false sense of security. It would give the children the impression that a motorist would stop when they entered the street. Staff could go either way on the recommendation and it could have some emphasis on the suggested route to school. . Mr. Carl Fletcher, 262 Sandstone, Chula Vista, CA 9t911, volunteered for the Safety Program at Rohr Elementary School. He said another volunteer wanted to paint curbs in the area, but he suggested talking with a representative of the City. The parents were as bad as the children. He said parents were running across the street with their children. If children could be taught now to cross at intersections, it would become a habit. The principal of Rohr Elementary School sent a letter to parents asking them to speak with their children about crossing the street at intersections and it made a tremendous difference. He commended Frank Rivera for his assistance. He said if a stop sign were installed at Malta Avenue and crosswalks added on Max Avenue, it would give the children a place to cross. He thanked the Commission for whatever they could do to help the situation. At the corner of Slate Street and Malta Avenue, there was a crosswalk. It was aT-intersection and he requested a crosswalk on the south side of Malta Avenue. Vice Chair Padilla commended Mr. Fletcher and the other volunteers for taking time to help the children cross the street. Not many people would take free time of their own to take care of problems that were not theirs. Safety Commission Minutes September 9, 1993 Page 8 MSUC (Matacia/Koester) to install stop signs on Talus Street at Malta Avenue and also on Malta Avenue at Max Avenue and install a pedestrian barrier at the pedestrian access point on Max Avenue and direct staff to evaluate the need for a crosswalk at the intersection of Malta Avenue And Slate Street with the School Safety Task Force and return with a recommendation on that crosswalk as well as the crosswalk at Max Avenue and Malta Avenue. 7. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None. STAFF REPORTS 8. 1993-1994 ClP Status Staff Report - Distributed for Commissioner information. 9. Chula Vista Police Department Traffic Summary for July 1993 - Distributed for Commissioner information. OTHER BUSINESS 10. Commissioner Comments - None. 11. ADJOURNMENT at 9:05 p.m. to the next regular meeting of October 14, 1993. Respectfully Submitted, SB:5NETY/09Q993.MIN 092293