CCMIN021897 - Laserfiche WebLink

Eric Finn, 202 Del Valle Court, representing the Homeowners Association, stated that the residents want to get their privacy back. The entrance into the area was designed to meet city standards. He stated that the citizens of the area have worked together to come up with a viable solution and feel that a gate is warranted to protect their families, especially the children that play on Del Valle Court. Mr. Finn stated that Council has the ability to study each application on a case by case basis and that approval of this application would not set a precedent for other such applications. He stated that if he had a private driveway he would not need staff's approval, that this is a private street and the residents should be able to put up a gate. He said that he was not comfortable in putting up walls to narrow the access to the area, as it would impair drivers' vision and more accidents could happen. He stated that the traffic has increased since the General Plan was adopted and is increasing on a daily basis. Cliff Casperson, 201 Del Valle Court, stated that he looked at the Rachael Court's entrance and compared it to Del Valle Court. Rachael Court has a monument in the middle and created a threshold with cobblestones. It gives an appearance that Rachael Court is a private drive, so this discourages people from driving down this drive. Del Valle Court is wide open and does not discourage people from driving down it. Mr. Casperson stated that Del Valle Court is a private street and said that the CC&R's for this development clearly states that the private streets within this development shall be maintained by the Homeowners Association. The cost and repair of these private streets are included within the budget and are part of the regular assessment. He measured the distance and visualized how it would look with the gate. Mr. Casperson felt that the gate will not affect the City of Pleasanton's feel of openness. Robert Bielby, 265 Del Valle Court, stated the homeowners were concerned about unsafe situations. Mr. Bielby stated that the homeowners tried alternative solutions, for example, putting up private street signs. The signs had no visible effect in slowing the cars down. Mr. Bielby stated that he sees about three cars an hour coming down Del Valle Court it was apparent to him that these cars have no reason being there and were driving at a speed higher than the posted speed limit. He stated that the homeowners had no desire to generate an elitist community; that the homeowners were looking for a way to protect their children. He stated that a concern has been brought up about the access for emergency vehicles. He said that if a situation happened that an emergency vehicle needed to get access, the gate would be opened well in advance by the residents. He said if the access for emergency vehicles are the main reason for denying a gate, then all gate applications should be denied. The homeowners have to pay for the gate and wanted to do this in order to protect their children. Mr. Bielby feels this is the best solution to the problem. Vice Mayor Pico respected the right of the community to make the request for a gated street. However, he has a very strong personal bias against putting up gates in the community. Mr. Pico recognized that Stanley Boulevard is a busy street and that Del Valle Court is a private street. He referred to the comment about Rachael Court's entrance design and how it discourages traffic from entering. Vice Mayor Pico believed that there was a way to create a frontage to this Court that would significantly detour any traffic from turning onto Del Valle Pleasalon City Council 2/18/97 Minutes 7