AgdaPkt 2008-08-11 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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7A Page 1 RI!PORT To the Honorable 'ayor and City Oouncil From th, PI, .: M~n~ er August 11. 2008 INFORMA rlON ONLY SUBJECT Sequoia Union High School District Improvement Project - Neighborhood Concerns BACKGROUND The Sequoia Union High School District (District) plans a multiphase improvement project on the Sequoia High School site. The first phase includes modification and expansion of a parking lot located in the southwest section of the campus. (Pfease see attached aerial photo.) The originally proposed parking lot design Included driveways on both Elwood Street and James Avenue. Several of the residents adjacent to the school expressed concerns regarding the impact of the proposed improvements, specifically the traffic impact on Elwood Street. During the planning/design process in early spring of this year, the District acknowledged the need for and importance of engaging the community and stated to staff that they planned to conduct a "town meeting" to present/discuss the proposal to the neighborhood. On several occasions subsequent to this discussion, staff made inquiry regarding the status of the District's community outreach efforts. The District indicated that area residents had been made aware of the proposed changes and there were no neighborhood concerns. Prior to issuing a construction permit on June 19, 2008, for the work on public street right-of-ways. staff requested that the District provide a copy of some type of notification as verification of the outreach efforts. The District provided the city a copy of a typical c-ommunity meeting notice. Staff believed that the District was conducting the necessary community outreach efforts, and did not believe it was necessary, or appropriate, to become further involved in the process. Staff now concludes that the District did not adequately engage area residents given area resident's continued dissatisfaction with the outreach process and the plan/design. In an effort to remedy the situation, the District indicated a willingness to revise the pian/deSign as necessary to address the more critical neighborhood concerns. Staff will continue to assist the District and area residents to achieve this goal. The City requires that the District not make any changes to public property (i.e. street right-of-ways) unless there is majority consensus among area residents. As well, area residents are encouraged to recognize the importance of improving overall safety of the school site. Staff believes that a mutually acceptable plan/design can be achieved though additional discussion between the District and area residents. Status The District met with concerned residents twice in July, 2008, to discuss the proposed plan and to identify solutions that would address key concerns. As a result of these discussions, the District redesigned the parking lot and a number of driveways. The original plan that was submitted to the City proposed a new driveway (twerlane, exit only) on Elwood Street and two relocated driveways on James Avenue, one of which was to be an entrance only, and the other to be entrance/exit. (Please see attached "Initial Plan".) SUbsequent to the July meetings, the plan was revised to eliminate the proposed additional driveway on Elwood Street, and the parking lot was redesigned to allow cars to enter/exit from the existing driveway on Elwood Street. Additionally, the relocated exit-only driveway proposed on James was redesigned as an . entrance/exit driveway to. potentially reduce the number of cars exiting onto Elwood Street.