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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1988/04/26 Item 4• COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 4 Meeting Date 4/26/88 ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION~,~S3~ Approving an agreement with San Diego Trust and Savings Bank for the installation and maintenance of traffic control facilities SUBMITTED BY: Community Develo ment Director REVIEWED BY: Cit Mana er!~ '~ 4 5ths V Y g ~~~ ( / ote: YES NO X ) The closure to through traffic of Fig Avenue between H and I Streets is linked to the redevelopment of the adjacent Chula Vista Shopping Center. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the expanded Center called for, among other traffic mitigation measures, the closing of Fig Avenue so as to not impact the residential character of the street. Since the beginning of construction and the closure of Fifth Avenue, a temporary barricade has been erected on Fig north of Shasta Street. During this period ongoing discussions with a Closure Committee and the residents have taken place. • The major area of dispute centers around through traffic in the parking lot of San Diego Trust and Savings Bank. The resolution herewith is an attempt to resolve the issues and arrive at a reasonable solution. RECOMMENDATION: That the Council approve the resolution which: (1) places certain traffic control measures upon the bank; (2) establishes fines for non-compliance by the bank; (3) provides for additional control measures if traffic volumes exceed a certain level; (4) continues bank parking lot access to Fig Avenue; and (5) in effect sets the location of a permanent street barrier at Fig Avenue, north of Shasta Street. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: The Closure Committee consisting of representatives of the three neighborhood streets, the San Diego Gas and Electric Company office, and San Diego Trust and Savings Bank have met with staff from Community Development and Engineering on six separate occasions. The bank representative is in agreement with the placement of the barricade which allows access to their parking lot at Shasta and Fig. Representatives of Fig and Shasta Avenue want firmer measures. The compromise proposed • this evening represents progress but is not fully acceptable to all parties. A community informational meeting on Monday Page 2, Item 4 Meeting Date 4/26/88 • (April 25) will discuss these issues with the results presented at this evening's meeting. DISCUSSION: The issues are mainly concerned with commercial traffic to and from the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank parking lot from Fig and Shasta south of the current barricade. At the Council meeting of April 5th, the Bank was asked to negotiate with the Homart Development Company so as to obtain access from the Shopping Center's parking lot. Following is a discussion regarding the concerns of both the residents and commercial interests. THE MANDATE OF THE EIR The EIR requires that the 1,310 vehicles per day average daily traffic count on Fig Avenue not increase as a result of the closure of Fifth Avenue and the expansion of the Center. The residents of Fig and Shasta are of the opinion that the closure is not complete because through traffic may go through the bank's parking lot around the barricade. The bank, with the subject agreement, is obligated to close the opening which allows through traffic after business hours. In the past six months the bank has failed twice in not placing the barrier thus giving more credence to the residents' claim. The proposed agreement provides for fines whenever this occurs. LOCATION OF THE_BARRICADE A residents survey of the neighborhood was recently conducted, the results of which are provided as Exhibit A. From this there is almost unanimous support for the barricade to be located in a way that will prevent access to the bank's parking lot at Shasta and Fig. The bank, on the other hand, is adamant in their stance that if their access is taken from this area they will institute legal action. The City Attorney's Office is of the opinion that the bank may have a supportable claim. An appraisal to indicate the damages, if any, has not been obtained. With regard to the entrance to the bank's parking lot from the Shopping Center, the bank is again firm in their position. Provided as Exhibit B is a letter that in essence states that from their position, such access would be detrimental to their business. As for SDG&E, the company for the past three months has taken a neutral position except for the fact that they desire to see a cul-de-sac installed so as to facilitate traffic turns. • Page 3, Item 4 Meeting Date 4/26/88 TRAFFIC COUNTS AND CIRCULATION The following table indicates that, as a result of the placement of the Fig Avenue barricade, traffic on Fig Avenue south of Shasta Street has decreased 47% from the level prior to the vacation of Fifth Avenue. Recent counts indicate that the amount of traffic on Shasta Street is slightly higher than on Fig Avenue south of Shasta. Because earlier counts were not conducted on Shasta Street, it is not known whether the traffic is greater or less than it was prior to the vacation of Fifth Avenue and the barricading of Fig Avenue. Average Daily Trips (excluding weekends Fig Avenue* South of Shasta • 9/4 - 9/13/88 (pre-5th Ave. closure) 10/28 - 10/30/87 (after closure of 5th & Fig) 11/6 - 11/13/87 (after bank lot facilities installed) 1/6 - 1/8/88 4/7 - 4/14/88 1310 870 770 740 690 Shasta St. no count no count 830 840 800 Guava Ave. no count no count 220 no count 200 *These traffic counts were taken at a location four houses south of the current location of the barricade on Fig Avenue. The traffic circulation plan for the Shopping Center as approved by the Redevelopment Agency provides for a north/south driveway from H to I Streets. This access will provide an additional route for residents of the area. In addition, the driveway will facilitate customer access to the bank. TERMS OF AGREEMENT As a result of earlier Committee meetings, the following terms were added to the agreement that was originally presented to the Council in September 1987. • - bank to be fined $100 per violation and $500 per violation, after six violations within 12 consecutive months, for failure to close traffic barriers on bank Page 4, Item 4~ Meeting Date 4/26/88 • parking lot; - City to monitor bank compliance in closing parking lot traffic barrier during bank's non-operating hours; - residents made third party beneficiaries of the agreement with enforcement rights as to bank compliance. - disputes over bank violations to go to binding arbitration; - bank pledges not to modify the configuration of its drive-through teller lanes so as to give them access to Fig Avenue south of the barricade; - if bank sells its property or leasehold it will require the purchaser or sublessee to assume bank's obligations. The proposed agreement has been further amended to say that the bank will close the gate in its parking lot all day on weekends, and holidays and on all other days will close the gate one half-hour after closing and one-half hour prior to opening. Language in the proposed agreement has also been changed to clarify the use of arbitration in case of a dispute over an alleged violation of the agreement. • PROPOSED COMPROMISE The proposed compromise to the agreement is included in the subject document. If traffic, as verified by the City Engineer exceeds the pre-Shopping Center expansion level of 1310 vehicles per day, then the bank will permanently close the access between their two lots thus preventing through traffic on a permanent basis. Pedestrians will still be able to park in the so called rear lot, off of Fig and Shasta, and walk to the bank. The agreement calls for at least two traffic counts per year to ascertain volumes which are taken for a week at a time in accordance with standard engineering procedures. The bank agrees to this proposal as does the representative from Guava Avenue. PROPOSED CUL-DE-SAC The bank, SDG&E and local residents have all expressed support for the installation of a cul-de-sac on Fig Avenue, north of Shasta Street. The cul-de-sac is conceptually illustrated in Exhibit C. The bank agreement makes no specific mention of a cul-de-sac because it has not yet been approved by Council and it is not known how its implementation would affect the driveways, parking areas and other facilities on the bank's and SDG&E's properties. An • RFP for design of the cul-de-sac has been issued and bids received. Page 5, Item 4 Meeting Date 4/26/88 • RESTRICTED PARKING The residents' poll indicates overwhelming support for restricting or controlling on-street parking in the residential neighborhood. The Fig Avenue Closure Committee has emphasized the need for controlling parking, particularly on Shasta Street. The committee proposes that residents be issued stickers to exempt their vehicles from parking restrictions or limitations. This issue is being analyzed by the Engineering Department. A proposal will be submitted to Council at a later date. Attached as Exhibit D are copies of notices sent to residents regarding this matter. In summary, residents were invited to a Closure Committee meeting, a general neighborhood gathering and this evening's meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: Staff monitoring of bank compliance with the agreement can be incorporated into regular duties of City Engineering and police staff and require no change in budget or staff time allocations. (Fig2) • • _- ~ ~~ by til~~ Clay' COUnCI~ Of Ch~;ia Vista, California Dated ~_