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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/10/1997CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APRIL 10, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Leonard called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Chair/Leonard. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Chair/Leonard, Vice Chair/Virginkar, and Commissioners Istik and Nice Staff: Deputy Director of Public Works David Liu; Assistant Engineer Rose Manela, Administrative Assistant Tseday Aberra, and Deputy Clark. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of March 13, 1997. C/Nice moved, VC/Virginkar seconded, to approve the minutes of March 13, 1997 as presented. The motion was approved 4-0 by roll call vote. II. COMMISSION COMMENTS - None III. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Craig Clute asked that agenda items between City Council and the Traffic and Transportation Commission be coordinated in a more timely and accurate fashion. He asked if public comments made during the Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting are included in the meeting minutes. He asked for an update on the Brea Canyon project. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR - None APRIL 10, 1997 77 V. OLD BUSINESS: PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION A. Evaluation of Heritage Tract Signing/Striping Improvements. DDPW/Liu presented the staff report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission discuss the evaluation of Heritage Tract signing and striping improvements and forward to the City Council its recommendation to remove the "No Left Turn" sign at the Country Hills Towne Center Fountain Springs Road driveway and remove 170 feet of red curbing and retain 160 feet of red curbing along Fountain Springs Road between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Crooked Creek Drive. Mario Sanchez, DRS Associates, presented the mitigation measures survey results. He stated the survey results indicate an eight -three percent citizen approval of Plan I mitigation measure implementation. He indicated that a majority of residents do not want a "No Left Turn" sign posted at the Fountain Springs Driveway of the Country Hills Towne Center. DKS Associates recommends that a total of 170 feet of red curbing be removed from Fountain Springs Driveway between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Crooked Creek Drive. With respect to school traffic circulation mitigation measures, he cited a lack of enforcement. Mr. Sanchez referred the Commission to the Institute of Transportation Engineer publication entitled Residential Street Design and Traffic Control for the definition of cut through traffic vs. local traffic which DKS Associates used as a guide for the Heritage Neighborhood Traffic Study. He explained the method used for the license plate survey. Mr. Sanchez responded to Chair/Leonard that the license plate surveys were conducted at the intersections of Pathfinder Road at Evergreen Springs Drive, Fountain Springs Road at Diamond Bar Boulevard, Cold Spring Lane at Diamond Bar Boulevard, Crooked Creek Road at Diamond Bar Boulevard, Cool Springs Drive at Brea Canyon Road, Cold Spring Lane at Brea Canyon Road, Fountain APRIL 10, 1997 1 1 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION Springs Road at Brea Canyon Road, and Fountain Springs Road at Diamond Bar Boulevard. C/Istik, commenting on the recommendation to remove additional red curbing along Fountain. Springs Road, stated Dr. Cho's building at the corner of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Fountain Springs Road does not provide sufficient parking for the tenants. As a result, the recommendation is to move red curbing that was installed to address site and safety concerns. He stated his concerns regarding the City's potential liability in the event the red curbing is removed to accommodate a land use deficiency. Leo Lee, DKS Associates, stated that the reason for reconsideration of removing additional red curbing from the westerly side of Fountain Springs Drive north of Diamond Bar Boulevard was due to the reduction of right turn traffic anticipated at the Country Hills Towne Center exit because of the City Council's action to remove the "No Left Turn" sign. Mr. Sanchez commented that removal of the additional red curbing on Fountain Springs Road will allow for parking of an additional four to five vehicles. C/Intik stated he hopes the City is not initiating a policy of allowing commercial parking on public streets due to the fact that patrons are not provided sufficient on-site parking. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that he is not aware of the specific three non compliance items involving Dr. Cho's building at the corner of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Fountain Springs Road. Potential parking deficiencies are considered enforcement issues and are addressed by the City's Planning Department. The additional street parking is considered residential street parking and is not specifically provided for Dr. Cho's building. C/Nice reiterated his concern that because Dr. Cho is out of compliance with respect to parking, the APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION City is attempting to provide on -street parking for his tenants' clients. He indicated he may have voted differently with respect to removal of red curbing on the south side of Fountain Springs Drive between Rising Star Drive and Crooked Creek Drive if he had been aware of the use permit violations. Chair/Leonard opened public testimony. Sherry Liebe, W/NA Dance Studio, said she does not believe she is in violation of her lease agreement. She reminded the Commission that in addition to conducting a private studio, she offers classes through the City of Diamond Bar. The installation of the red curbing has caused her to stop offering Mommie and Me Dance Classes through the City because the parking is inadequate and the younger children must have on-site adult supervision. She indicated she and her students now must park on Rising Star Drive and walk across Fountain Springs Drive which she believes is more hazardous than parking on the westerly side of Fountain Springs Drive. She feels that she is being penalized for having a successful business. If she maintains a maximum eight students per class she will be forced to close her business. She asked the Commission to consider a compromise in order to accommodate overflow parking. Dr. John Fonmin, 2707 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard, asked the Commission to remove the red curbing on the west side of Fountain Springs Drive between Diamond Bar Boulevard and the Country Hills Towne Center driveway to assist his clients in reaching his office. Dr. Cho, 21842 Tenderfoot Way, said he suffers a monetary loss on his building rentals because of the inadequate parking. His building was permitted before Diamond Bar was a City. He indicated visitors to the adjacent residential community use his building's parking lot and removal of the red curbing will give not only his building additional parking availability, it willI also accommodate the adjacent residential neighborhood. He asked the Commission to consider 1 APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 5 TAT COMKISSION a compromise for the benefit of the residential and business community. Roger Meyer, 2634 Crooked Creek Drive, said he has lived in the neighborhood for many years and was not aware of any parking problem prior to the installation of the red curbing and the "No Left Turn" sign at the Country Hills Towne Center driveway on Fountain Springs Drive. He indicated that the residents do not want the "No Left Turn" sign and the red curbing. Earl Cox, 3051 Crooked Creek Drive, indicated the stop signs have mitigated the speeding traffic in his neighborhood. He said he believes the Traffic and Transportation Commission owes it to the citizens of Diamond Bar to determine if the purpose of Fountain Springs Road is to accommodate commercial traffic. The traffic study was requested in order to reduce the number of vehicles that travel on Fountain Springs Road. According to the traffic survey results, traffic has not decreased on Fountain Springs Road. He suggested the dance studio could move into a vacant space in the Country Hills Towne Center where adequate parking exists. He favors the red ;curbing on Fountain Springs Road. Craig Clute, 21217 Fountain Springs Road, said that on the basis of the original study, the red curbing should not be removed until Dr. Cho's building complies with building parking requirements. He asked that DKS Associates correct the report's reference to the street classification for Fountain Springs Road from Residential Collector to Residential in accordance with the City's General Plan. He questioned the effectiveness of the Heritage Tract Traffic Study Phase I mitigation measures. He stated the "No Left Turn" sign was not in place long enough to determine whether it was an effective mitigation measure. He asked why Fountain Springs Road is expected to accommodate 10,000 vehicles from the Country Hills Towne Center. He said his understanding of the matter is that the shopping center traffic is suppose to exit onto Diamond Bar Boulevard and travel via Pathfinder Road and APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION Diamond Bar Boulevard. He indicated that Ted Cross, Heritage tract resident said that in his absence, he echoes Mr. Clute's comments. Elizabeth Beard, 21652 Birch Hill Drive, said the traffic problems on her street are a result of the high school traffic. The "No Parking" signs on Evergreen Springs Drive between Pathfinder Road and Birch Hill Drive are ignored by the students. She recommended "No Stopping" signs replace the "No Parking" signs and that Birch Hill Drive from the high school to Castlerock Road should be posted for one hour parking on school days. All but one of the signs at Lost River Drive on the east side of Evergreen Springs Drive have been stolen. On school days, approximately 50 student vehicles areparkedon Birch Hill Drive. She recommended that the entire length of Birch Hill Drive and all of Lost River Drive be posted for one hour parking from 7:00 a.m.. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. She stated that no business or public entity has a right to turn residential streets into parking lots. Don Tice, 21341 Fountain Springs Road, said he is pleased with the Phase I mitigation measures. He concurs with removing additional red curbing on Fountain Springs Road as recommended by staff and the consultant. He believes Diamond Bar Boulevard and Pathfinder Road were designed to accommodate commercial and through traffic. He is concerned about the designation for his street and how the consultant classified traffic traveling to and exiting from the shopping center via Fountain Springs Road. Chair/Leonard closed public testimony. DDPW/Liu spoke to the resident's concerns. He stated the General Plan Circulation Element classifies Fountain Springs Road as a residential street (25 mph speed limit). He indicated staff is not recommending red curbing be eliminated on Fountain Springs Road to accommodate Dr. Cho. Staff has determined that removal of the red curbing will not result in additional safety APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION concerns. The "No Left Turn" at the Country Hills Towne Center was in place for a six week period. Upon installation of the sign, City Hall and City Council Members received numerous complaints. City Council responded by instructing staff to cover the sign. Reflected in the subsequent consultant's survey, 83 percent of the respondents favor deletion of the sign. The matter of missing and vandalized signs on Birch Hill Drive is an item of discussion with Diamond Bar High School as part of the School Traffic Circulation Study. Mr. Lee stated in response to Mr. Clute that there is an incorrect reference to Fountain Springs Road as a Residential Collector in one area of the report and it will be corrected. This reference does not effect the substance of the report. C/Istik stated he believes that at the same time the City Council was considering the street speeds, they were looking at the General Plan. In order to allow these streets to be 25 mph, the Council dropped the Residential Collector category to Residential to allow radar to be used for traffic enforcement. DDPW/Liu stated that there have been many versions of the General Plan. The current approved version contains no reference to Residential Collector. C/Istik stated he feels the parking non-compliance issue and the matter of eliminating a portion of the red curbing on Fountain Springs Road are related. If the Traffic and Transportation Commission recommends removal of the red curbing, he hopes that Dr. Cho will compromise by limiting the building's on street parking. He does not support removal of the red curbing. With respect to the "No Left Turn" sign, he favors installation of a "porkchop" intersection to physically restrict the shopping center driveway to a "Right Turn only" ingress/egress. VC/Virginkar stated he previously recommended removing the red curbing on both sides of Fountain Springs Road just north of Diamond Bar Boulevard. Due to safety concerns, he agreed to recommend APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 8 T&T COMMISSION removing red curbing only on the west side of Fountain Springs Road. He is pleased with the recommendation to remove additional red curbing and the traffic study and implemented mitigation measures. He said, however, that since he has served on the Commission, more and more stop signs, double striping, and other restrictive traffic measures have been initiated. Mr. Sanchez responded to VC/Virginkar that a portion of red curbing will remain immediately to the north and south of the shopping center driveway to preserve adequate site distance for exiting vehicles. VC/Virginkar stated he supports the majority of residents who favor elimination of the "No Left Turn" sign at the shopping center driveway. C/Nice asked if the City is establishing precedent by removing red curbing and allowing commercial parking on a residential street. DDPW/Liu reiterated that the parking situation at Dr. Cho's building is an ongoing compliance issue and has no bearing on the Fountain Springs Road red curbing issue. A re-evaluation of the traffic mitigation study reveals that the issue of commercial and cut -through traffic on Fountain Springs Road has been mitigated by stop sign installations. Therefore, removal of the red curbing will not compromise the effectiveness of the traffic study mitigation measures and will not effect the overall circulation pattern consistent with the original intent of traffic movement in and out of Fountain Springs Road. C/Nice stated that according to his survey, Fountain Springs Road residents are concerned about traffic turning left when exiting the shopping center. He asked if alternative mitigation measures could be considered to alleviate the traffic resulting from the shopping center ingress/egress on Fountain Springs Road. Mr. Lee responded to C/Nice that traffic study follow-up reveals Fountain Springs Road there was APRIL 10, 1997 1 1 PAGE 9 T&T CONMISSION not previously and is not currently, a significant amount of cut -through traffic. The street's traffic volumes are within the guidelines of a residential street. C/Istik questioned DKS Associates definition of cut -through traffic as traffic coming from Brea Canyon Road to Fountain Springs Road, in through the Country Hills Town Center driveway, and then exiting the tract in that manner up to Pathfinder. The DKS report indicated that this type of traffic is local traffic. He indicated he believes that if this type of traffic was considered to be cut - through traffic, the report would identify the existence of a cut -through traffic problem. He reiterated his concern that the report containing the error in classification of Fountain Springs Road be corrected by DKS Associates. Mr. Sanchez stated the Residential Collector statement is an oxymoron. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that the shopping center is not the sole generator of traffic on Fountain Springs Road. Diamond Bar High School students frequently use the street to avoid the Pathfinder Road traffic. Country Hills Towne Center was notified of tonight's meeting regarding the neighborhood traffic study. C/Nice, speaking to the issue of sign vandalism on Birch Hill Drive, asked for increased enforcement. DDPW/Liu stated staff will replace the stolen signs and request enforcement assistance from the Sheriff's Department. Responding to Chair/Leonard, DDPW/Liu indicated that in order to make restrictive changes, legal authority and procedure must be invoked. Chair/Leonard stated she concurs with the majority of survey respondents who wish to have the "No Left Turn" shopping center driveway sign removed. With respect to removal of the red curbing. Craig Clute reiterated his concern that the APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 10 T&T COMMISSION Commission is considering supporting Dr. Cho's non-compliance by removing red curbing on Fountain Springs Road. He suggested the Commission recommend that the Planning Commission review the non-compliance issue prior to taking action to remove the red curbing. He said he wants Fountain Springs Road to remain residential in character and volume. He is concerned that if the shopping center reaches a leased out level of 90 percent, the street traffic will reach an unbearable level. He disagreed with the traffic study's definition of through traffic. He stated that in his opinion, the "No Left Turn" sign was not present for a long enough period to determine whether or not it was effective in eliminating cut -through traffic on Fountain Springs Road. He also stated that he disagreed with the language of the traffic study survey question regarding the "No Left Turn" sign. Roger Myer reminded the Commission that Los Angeles County designated Fountain Springs Road for a greater number of vehicles that currently travel the street. A "No Left Turn" sign at the shopping center driveway would necessitate the installation of a "No U -Turn" sign at Rising Star Drive. Heindicatedthat as a result of surveying the neighborhood residents, he determined that there are, in fact, a greater number of Fountain Springs Road residents who do not want the "No Left Turn" sign at the shopping center driveway. Earl Cox disagreed with methods and definition used in the neighborhood traffic survey. He does not believe a "Right Turn Only" at the shopping center driveway would be a legitimate alternative to the "No Left Turn" sign. He favors retention of the red curbing on the west side of Fountain Springs Road north of Diamond Bar Boulevard. Mr. Lee responded to Mr. Cox that the neighborhood traffic study reference to cut -through traffic and local traffic is the "Residential Street Design and Traffic Control Manual" published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Mr. Lee stated that a "Right Turn Only" APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 11 T&T COMMISSION ingress/egress shopping center driveway would force vehicles to turn right onto Fountain Springs Road, right onto Diamond Bar Boulevard and right turn back into the neighborhood which would create cut -through traffic on Cold Springs Lane. Dr. Cho asked the City for its consideration of the business community as well as the residential community. DDPW/Liu stated he will place the compliance issue regarding Dr. Cho's building on the May 8, 1997 meeting agenda as an Informational Item. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Istick and Chair/Leonard that Part II of the Neighborhood Traffic Study improvements includes a recommendation for the right turn in/right turn out driveway configuration at the Country Hills Town Center in the event that Part I improvements are deemed to be inadequate. Staff recommended implementation of Part I only. The Traffic and Transportation Commission recommended implementation of Part I and Part II. City Council voted to implement Part I only. VC/Virginkar moved, Chair/Leonard seconded, to concur with staff's recommendation to remove the "No Left Turn" sign at the Country Hills Towne Center driveway on Fountain Springs Road. The motion failed with the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Virginkar, Chair/ Leonard NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Istik, Nice ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None VC/Virginkar moved, Chair/Leonard seconded, to concur with staff's recommendation to remove 170 feet of red curb and retain 160 feet red curb along Fountain Springs Road between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Crooked Creek Drive. The motion failed with the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Virginkar, Chair/ Leonard NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Istik, Nice APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 12 T&T COMMISSION ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None C/Nice moved, C/Istik seconded, to remove the "No Left Turn" sign at the Country Hills Towne Center driveway on Fountain Springs Road between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Crooked Creek Drive contingent upon DKS Associates reporting back to the Traffic and Transportation Commission with alternatives to address the traffic volumes on Fountain Springs Road relative to changes to the Ingress/Egress configuration at the shopping center driveway. DDPW/Liu responded to Chair/Leonard that a request to have DKS Associates follow up with alternatives to address traffic volumes on Fountain Springs Road relative to changes to the Ingress/Egress configuration at the shopping center driveway is not within their Scope of Work. C/Istik suggested the Commission request the.City Council to implement Phase II of the plan. Chair/Leonard stated she feels it is inappropriate to implement Phase II when Phase I is mitigating the neighborhood traffic concerns address in the Neighborhood Traffic Study. The motion failed with the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Nice, Istik NOES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Virginkar, Chair/ Leonard ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None VC/Virginkar asked that the following Neighborhood Traffic Study items be forwarded to Foust & Associates for incorporation in the School Traffic Circulation Study: Page 18, Paragraph 2, regarding no student dropoff lane on Pathfinder Road, Page 18, last paragraph, "DKS staff observed the parents vehicles cue from the parking lot onto j Evergreen Springs Drive causing a virtual gridlock when school ends in the afternoon, and Mrs. Beard's comments regarding school traffic in her neighborhood. Li APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 13 T&T COMMISSION DDPW/Liu indicated staff will forward its recommendation to the City Council. He stated that the City Council was very clear in its direction that this item was to be discussed by the Traffic and Transportation Commission with a recommendation back to the Council. The Commission concurred to continue discussion of the Neighborhood Traffic Study to the June 12, 1997 Traffic and Transportation Commission agenda for discussion regarding the completeness of the study and effectiveness of the implemented mitigation measures, and to forward its findings and recommendations to the City Council. B. Multi -way Stop Sign Warrant Analysis at the intersection of Mountain Laurel Way and Pecan Grove Drive. DDPW/Liu presented the staff report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission concur with staff's recommendation that a multi -way stop sign is not warranted on Mountain Laurel Way at Pecan Grove Drive, and to install W7A side road warning signs on Mountain Laurel Way in the vicinity of Pecan Grove Drive. Chair/Leonard opened public testimony. Jeff Ross, 22724 White Fir Lane, stated he favors staff's recommendations. Robert Martin, 1508 S. Pecan Grove Drive, said the vehicle speeding problems are caused by neighborhood residents. He does not believe stop signs should be installed and feels the warning signs would serve no purpose. Visitors to the neighborhood abide by the law and posted speed. He recommended speed bumps be installed on Mountain Laurel Way in the vicinity of Pecan Grove Drive instead of warning signs. C/Istik responded to Mr. Martin that the City has a "No Speed Hump" policy. John Mayerski, 22756 White Fir Lane, concurred wholeheartedly with staff's recommendation not to APRIL 10, 1997 VI. PAGE 14 T&T COMMISSION install a multi -way stop sign on Mountain Laurel Way at Pecan Grove Drive. Dorrie Gartzke, 1525 Pecan Grove Drive (the corner of Pecan Grove Drive at Mountain Laurel Drive) stated she concurs with all previous comments. She indicated she is unable to leave her driveway for a twenty minute time periods during the morning and afternoon when school traffic and buses are present. C/Istik moved, VC/Virginkar seconded, to concur with staff's recommendation that a multi -way stop sign is not warranted on Mountain Laurel Way at Pecan Grove Drive and to install W7A, side road warning signs on Mountain Laurel Way in the vicinity of Pecan Grove Drive. The motion was approved with the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Istik, VC/Virginkar, Nice and Chair/ Leonard NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None DDPW/Liu responded to VC/Virginkar that this item will be addressed in the School Traffic Circulation Study. NEW BUSINESS — None VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DDPW/Liu presented an update on the Brea Canyon Road parkway improvements. DDPW/Liu stated that on April 3, 1997, staff and consultant Joe Foust met with available school principals and Walnut Valley Unified School District and Pomona Unified School District staff to kickoff the Diamond Bar City-wide School Safety Study requested by the Traffic and Transportation Commission. All participants were informed that individual meetings will be held with each school principals to collect traffic conditions information (parking, pickup/dropoff points, circulation, etc.) along with followup meetings to discuss possible cooperative mitigation measures APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 15 T&T COMMISSION between the City and the schools. The Walnut Sheriff's Department will be an integral part of the entire process. School traffic conditions will be video taped. The consultant is preparing a schedule of site visits. Scheduling and study results information will be presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission as it becomes available. Chair/Leonard suggested information packets be distributed to parents prior to community workshops. DDPW/Liu responded that any individuals and groups may participate in the process. Mr. Foust expects to complete data collection prior to the summer break. VC/Virginkar suggested public meetings be held at the schools. DDPW/Liu referred the Commissioners to DPW/Wentz's memorandum regarding Sunset Crossing Road Cul-de-sac. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Istik that the Sunset Crossing Road Cul-de-sac area has been identified as a future possible park site within the City's Parks Master Plan. Therefore, no additional engineering action will be taken at this time. Chair/Leonard asked that the Sunset Crossing Road cul- de-sac be placed on the May 8, 1997 agenda. VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS - None IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF*. A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement update: March, 1997. Deputy Clark presented the March Traffic Enforcement Update. The March Enforcement Index was 26.5. H. Future Agenda Items: Included in Commissioner packets X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: APRIL 10, 1997 PAGE 16 T&T COMMISSION XI. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, C/Istik moved, C/Nice seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 4-0. Chair/Leonard adjourned the meeting at 11:15 p.m. to May 8, 1997. Respectfully, "j-aviu G. Liu Secretary Attest: