Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/8/1994CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 8, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Ortiz called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMP) Hearing Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in the Pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Esposito. ROLL CALL Commissioners: Esposito, Chavers, Gravdahl, Vice Chairman Istik and Chairman Ortiz. Staff: Senior Engineer, David Liu; Consultant Engineer, Michael Myers; Sergeant Rawlings, and Engineering Secretary, Linda Smith. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTE - None II. COMMISSION COMMENTS - None III. PUBLIC COMMENTS Michael Snyder, 1100 Pebblewood Drive, commented that he had concerns regarding the traffic congestion on Grand Avenue. He stated that he has experienced time delays. He had calculated his average speed to be 13 MPH from Summitridge Drive to Diamond Bar Blvd., and 6 MPH from Diamond Bar Blvd. to Golden Springs Drive. He is concerned that much of the traffic on Grand is from residents of other cities. He asked staff about the status of the Grand Avenue Traffic Signal Synchronization. He suggested these alternatives as solutions: 1. An additional 15 seconds for the left -turn arrow for Diamond Bar Blvd. at Golden Springs Drive. 2. Busing of school children, and 3. Adding lanes to our existing roads including the HOV lanes on SR60 and build more roads. SE/Liu responded that the Grand Avenue Traffic Signal Synchronization Project is scheduled for Spring 1995. In conjunction with the Synchronization, Grand Avenue will be rehabilitated and there will be intersection modifications on Grand Avenue at Diamond Bar Blvd. and at Golden Springs Drive. The Diamond Bar Boulevard Reconstruction/Rehabilitation Project will be completed before work on Grand Avenue begins and that the bid opening for this project was held at City Hall today. C/Chavers commented that the civil improvements are completed before the timing Synchronization because vehicle detection loops which support the Synchronization are in the pavement. Thus, it is important to do these things sequentially to save money even though there maybe a time lag in getting things done. Bob Huff, 1641 Fire Hollow Drive, and representing the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar stated he had sent a letter to Diamond September 8, 1994 Page 2 T&T commission Bar Public Works Department in late August requesting parking on Diamond Bar Boulevard from Crooked Creek Drive to Brea Canyon Road on Sundays. He had hoped to see it on this agenda. Chair/Ortiz asked staff to agendize the item for October 13, 1994 meeting. SE/Liu responded that the Public Works Department was in receipt of Mr Huff's letter and the item is planned for the October 13, 1994 meeting. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR - None V. OLD BUSINESS - None VI. NEW BUSINESS - None VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS - None VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS C/Gravdahl commented that this is his first opportunity reviewing the traffic analysis in the Environmental Impact Report for the Diamond Ranch High School. He questioned if Deepsprings Drive is planned as a secondary access to the new school. VC/Istik indicated a concern for a lack of agenda items which seem to indicate a lack of traffic problems in the City of Diamond Bar. He commented that Diamond Bar has many traffic related items and requested they be brought to the Commission for discussion. C/Espositio commented that she needed more time to review the information given to the Commissioners. C/Chavers also stated a concern for the lack of agenda items. He commented that the items presented tonight to the Commissioners were via his request. He had been approached by citizens about a workshop/forum similar to those held at the Parks and Recreation Commission for the development of Pantera Park. To facilitate the discussion of the traffic impact issues at the Diamond Ranch High School site, he wanted the detailed reports not the overview as was presented in last Friday's packet. He further commented that the issue of bott dots had also come to his attention from concerned citizens. He has been made aware that they now appear on Goldrush Drive and this item had not come to the Traffic and Transportation Commission. He asked staff to keep the Commission abreast of these happenings. 1 He opened the discussion of traffic and site access for Diamond Bar Ranch High School by saying the neighborhood is bound to be impacted. He commented that this is the first meeting to form a strategy as called for in the draft General Plan Strategy 2.2.2 which states "Through the roadway system, ensure that new September 8, 1994 Page I T&T Commission development within the Tres Hermanos Ranch property is integrated into the community of Diamond Bar." He stated that while reading the material several rhetorical questions come to mind, including: The traffic study estimates about 3300 vehicle trips per day which will come from the Diamond Bar, Phillips Ranch and Pomona Areas. Where do these students live? The study does not indicate. The study says only 20% of the vehicles go west into Diamond Bar. Where do the rest live? What route does the rest of the traffic take? Further C/Chavers gave a brief overview indicating the proposed site on the aerial provided and pointing out the eastern access road at Scenic Ridge Road and a proposed western access at the end of Deepsprings Drive. Chair/Ortiz opened the floor for public discussion. Virginia Cylkowki, 667 Foxhaven Place, stated that she proposes workshops for getting information and details to the citizens of Diamond Bar who will be impacted by the Diamond Ranch High School site. She suggested that neighbors, representative of the Traffic and Transportation Commission, the Planning Commission, the City Council, City staff and the Ranch Boosters group as well as the school officials get together and solicit public comments. She further suggested discussion on the following issues: Safety, daily traffic, graffiti, impact of special events, overflow parking, glaring from the field lights, noise, etc. She concluded that residents in the neighborhood need reliable information. Joe McGraw, 24463 E. Deepsprings Drive, commented that he appreciates the efforts and thanked the Commission and staff. He commented that the grade school and park in the nearby vicinity will generate children and bicycles. He visualizes this as a potential problem with the high school traffic. Gary Neely, 344 Canoecove Drive, brought a map as a visual aid and pointed to the various access routes with the current infrastructure. He commented that the Pomona School District does not plan a western access road and that the issue of a western access road is a City of Diamond Bar issue. VC/Istik asked if the City of Diamond Bar responded to the Environment Impact Report (EIR) and if the traffic issues were addressed. Also, he asked if the EIR had been circulated. SE/Liu responded that the Community Development Director, James DeStefano, responded to the EIR and no specific traffic issues were addressed. The ETR was circulated in August of 1993. September 8, 1994 Page 4 T&T Commission VC/Istik stated that he would have liked it to have been brought to the Traffic and Transportation Commission for discussion. SE/Liu stated that Item No. Five of Community Development Director's response states, "The draft EIR identifies Deepsprings Drive as the western point of access to the high school. Alternatives for consideration include extending Carpio Drive along the Freeway and accessing an existing cul-de-sac. A detailed analysis of each of these options should be included within the draft EIR.11 C/Gravdahl asked if the EIR was reviewed by the City Traffic Consultant. SE/Liu responded that it had not. C/Chavers commented that it appears the School District is not assuming responsibility for the western access and quotes the site plan as saying "Not a Part of Project." Sue Sisk, 1.087 Flintrock Road, commented she has been involved on this project with the School District Advisory Committee established in August 1993. She stated the City Manager, Mr. Terrence Belanger, has come to some of the meetings. She indicated that at this time the district has no definition of what the road should be, even though a secondary access is mandated by the State of California if the school is to accommodate more than 1200 students. She stated that as a resident of Diamond Bar, she would like to see the City plan a road that would be most beneficial to the residents of Diamond Bar.. C/Chavers questioned the parking at the west end as indicated in the EIR. Ms. Sisk indicated that no parking is shown on the architects drawing. She commented that she has questioned this at the Advisory Committee meetings and had been told that no parking lot exists at the western access, and that the western and eastern access roads do not connect. C/Chavers asked staff to obtain a site plan for the Traffic and Transportation Commissioners and asked what input City staff has had with the School District. SE/Liu responded that as background information, a staff report was presented to the City Council last year which stated that the State Department of Education had indicated to the Pomona Unified School District that a secondary access road to the site, preferably from the west, should be constructed for an acceptable level of safety and emergency evacuation. Deepsprings Drive was identified as the j probable westerly access. Furthermore, SE/Liu stated that several meetings have been held with the Pomona Unified School District, and the Advisory September 8, 1994 Page 5 T&T commission Committee. Funds for a westerly access road have not been allocated by Diamond Bar, but the City is working with the other agencies to obtain a reasonable solution to the access matter. Ms. Sisk requested that Traffic and Transportation Commissioners become members of the Advisory Committee for involvement and to look out for the interest of the City of Diamond Bar and its residents. At this time a westerly road has yet to be designed by the State of California and Pomona Unified School District. C/Chavers asked staff to bring more information to the Traffic and Transportation Commission as a public forum for this continuing issue. CE/Myers responded that the Pomona Unified School District is exempt and removed from many Ordinances and requirements of the local municipalities including Diamond Bar. The best opportunity for input is via an active citizenry and friendly influence. He reiterated that influence of the City within its jurisdiction and relationship to the site is minimal. The Pomona Unified School District does not accept the burden of cost for a westerly access to Diamond Ranch High School. PSUD will assist in making provisions and will allow it, but no funds will be forthcoming. Ms. Sisk commented that at this time a liaison committee is in the process of being formed and she reiterated her request for City involvement. Chair/Ortiz asked the percentage of Diamond Bar students in relation to total school population. Ms. Sisk responded that this information is still being obtained by the PUSD. C/Gravdahl asked if the site plan as presented in the packet was correct. C/Gravdahl commented that his conversations with the PUSD indicated concerns of their principals and that parking is not proposed for the westerly access, but for a more northerly location. He commented that there was mention of a road parallel to the freeway and wondered if it were to be built would parking be accessible to it. He further commented that busing does not appear to be an option with the PUSD, and that an alternative route via Pantera Drive was mentioned to him by City Manager Belanger. Ms. Sisk stated that to her knowledge the orientation of the playing fields is different from C/Gravdahl's plan. She commented that in regards to the other matters, this could be brought to the Advisory Committee since the Brown Act requires meetings to be opened to the public. Chair/Ortiz asked if anyone would like to volunteer as a citizen to work as a liaison and C/Chavers and C/Gravdahl both accepted. September 8, 1994 Page 6 T&T Commission I Gary Neely, 344 Canoecove Drive, stated that the City of Pomona and others in the sphere of influence should be invited to discuss this item at the workshops. He also gave a visual picture of a road along the freeway. Michael Schneider, 1100 Pebblewood Drive, stated he would like to see the road built along the Freeway to eliminate traffic congestion. Virginia Cylkowski, 667 Foxhaven Place, thanked the Commission for their initiative in responding to the concerns of the neighbors and reiterated hope for information. Anshu Pathak, 24453 Rockbury Drive, said he would donate some land near Pantera Park in building a road for the use of Diamond Bar residents to Diamond Ranch High School, but he is against the Deepsprings Drive extension. IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF - None X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None XI. ADJOURNMENT Moved by C/Gravdahl, seconded by C/Chavers and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m.: Respectfully, i avid G. Liu Secretary Attest: T� Ortiz Chairman C:\WP60\LINDAKAY\TT-94\TT-SEP8.94