PC 031412 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Cordtz proposed that a barrier be installed, like the rest of the developments have had, which are due to the man -made cuts from those developments. He indicated that he does not care to see the two -story, 4,700- square -foot houses on the lots right behind his going 40 feet up in the air. He asked the Commission to take that into consideration. John Bauer stated that he lives in the Ventana Hills community and works in the industrial portion of Sonoma Drive. He indicated that he often walks to work, so he is very familiar with his neighbor's comments regarding the existing traffic going down Junipero. Street. He noted that of the 32 comments received by staff, 30 related to existing traffic, and he did not see in any of the presentations where the City Traffic Engineering weighed in on the subject. He pointed out from the information he requested and received from Traffic Engineering staff that data points were collected right by the stop signs at San Antonio and Junipero Streets, using a benchmark of 33 miles per hour. He emphasized that approximately 100 feet from the stop sign, 225 vehicles out of 1,500 trips per day, or 15 percent of the traffic, exceed 33 miles per hour, which is 30 percent greater than the posted speed limit. Mr. Bauer stated that, as his neighbors have attested to in their comments, there is currently a total disregard for the two stop signs in the area, the one at a controlled intersection and the S -turn going through the park where he lives. He noted that he believes the problem is not necessarily the number of cars but the disregard in this behavior of cut - through traffic as well as the current people using the street. He added that he would not have a problem if the homeowners of the proposed homes come through Junipero Street and in front of his house, all travelling at 15 miles per hour and stopping at the stop signs. He suggested that Traffic Engineering Department weigh in on this subject and possibly look at alternatives, such as at the Bernal Avenue /Sunol Boulevard intersection. He questioned why people are coming through their neighborhood, making a left turn from Bernal Avenue onto Independence Drive, and racing down Independence Drive and then down Junipero Street. Commissioner O'Connor asked Mr. Bauer if he is experiencing this amount of traffic and these speeds where he lives, and if it is greater in the morning when the cut - through traffic would be happening. Mr. Bauer replied that as he sits in his front yard with his dog in the morning with a view directly across the park, he sees people racing down three or four cars at a time, so obviously they are taking a left off of Bernal, racing down Independence Drive, probably running the stop sign at Independence Drive and Junipero Street, racing through the S -turns at an exceedingly aggressive speed in front of his house, and racing down Junipero Street. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if this is a bigger problem and more profound in the morning with the cut - through traffic as opposed to the rest of the day. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 14, 2012 Page 15 of 35