Item 8 Staff Report Accept Report on Bicknell Road/More Avenue Stop Sign RequestDATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 09/18/00
ITEM NO.
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
MAYOR AND TOWN ' O _ CIL
TOWN MAN
ACCEPT REPORT ON BICKNELL ROAD/MORE AVENUE STOP SIGN REQUEST
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report on request for stop sign installation at Bicknell Road/More Ave. intersection.
BACKGROUND:
Mr. Sam Zullo addressed the Town Council at the August 28 Study Session and requested the installation of stop signs
at the intersection of Bicknell Rd. and More Ave. The Council directed staff to evaluate the request and report back on
a recommended process for determining whether the stop signs should be installed.
DISCUSSION:
The subject intersection is a three-way "Tee" intersection with Bicknell Road constituting the major street running in
an east -west direction, and More Avenue constituting the minor street running in a north -south direction. The
intersection is in an area of medium to low density residential development with moderate topography. The speed limit
on both streets is the prima -facie 25 mph speed limit for residential streets. One complicating factor is that the
intersection is under joint control of the Town of Los Gatos and the City of Monte Sereno. The centerline of Bicknell
Road represents the boundary between the two jurisdictions resulting in the Town controlling two of the three approaches
(More Ave., and westbound Bicknell Rd.), while the City controls the eastbound Bicknell Rd. approach. As such, the
City and the Town will both need to agree to install stop signs on Bicknell Road.
Stop signs are evaluated against an established set of criteria (warrants) to determine whether or not they are justified
from a traffic engineering perspective. This is not to say however that stop signs cannot or should not be installed in
those instances when applicable warrants are not satisfied. The ultimate decision to install stop signs rests with the local
legislative authority having jurisdiction over the intersection, in this case the Town and the City. Nevertheless it is
recommended that a warrant study be performed before making any such decisions.
In addition to Mr. Zullo, staff has recently been contacted by other residents in the vicinity of the intersection to consider
the installation of stop signs. There are improvements occurring along Bicknell Road as part of a development project
underway which the residents believe will exacerbate a speeding problem on Bicknell Road. However, stop signs are
generally discouraged as a speed control device since they oftentimes prove ineffective in this capacity and result in other
problems (noise, air quality, etc.) for property owners in the vicinity of the intersection. Thus it is generally better to
identify solutions aimed at curbing the speeding problem rather than pursuing a quick -fix approach such as stop signs.
PREPARED BY: Larry I. Perli
Director of Par
SASTOPSIGN
lic Works
Reviewed by: Olt Attorney
Revised: 9/13/00 5:10 pm
Reformatted: 7/14/99
•
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: BICKNELL ROAD/MORE AVE. STOP SIGN REQUEST
SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
CONCLUSION:
Since there are a fairly limited number of residents who live east of the intersection and who could be contributing to
a speeding problem on Bicknell Road, it would appear that some sort of outreach/enforcement effort targeted at these
residents might be one way to resolve the problem short of installing stop signs. In the meantime, a warrant study of the
intersection should be conducted to support the installation of stop signs and the City of Monte Sereno should be
consulted to determine their willingness to install stop signs and to participate in the cost of doing so. These actions
could be undertaken by staff over the next two months and the results brought back for further Council review at that
time.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None at this time.
Attachment: Vicinity map
Distribution: Sam Zullo - 806 Bicknell Road, Los Gatos, CA 95030
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 15, 2000
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN C
FROM: TOWN MAN
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 9/18/00
ITEM NO. 8
ADDENDUM
ON BICKNELL ROAD/MORE AVENUE STOP SIGN REQUEST
DISCUSSION:
The attached e-mail was received today and is being forwarded for your information.
Attachment: 9/15/00 e-mail from George Aheam
PREPARED BY: LES WHITE
Acting Town Manager
LW:pg
MGR175 A:\cnclr ts1STOPSIGN.DSK.wpd
Reviewed by: �i'Attorney
Revised: 9/15/00 2:32 pm
Reformatted: 7/14/99
,IPatsy Garcia xtRe: Contact/Feedback
From: Patsy Garcia
To: "gahearn@home.com".GWIA.TOWN_DO
Subject: Re: Contact/Feedback
n
Thank you for your e-mail. Council will be considering report regarding this issue at their Monday,
September 18 Council meeting. Your e-mail will be forwarded to Council for their information.
»> <gahearn@home.com> 09/15/00 01:35PM »>
A contact/feedback form has been processed for the Town of Los Gatos and forwarded courtesy of
Boardwalk Internet Corporation. The information provide follows:
Name: George Ahearn
Address: 123 Verona Court
City: Los Gatos
State: California
Zip Code: 95030
Telephone: 408 395 0528
Facsimile:
Email: gahearn@home.com
Info: General Comment
Comments: My neighbors are writing to ask support for stop signs on Bicknell at More and
via Lomita. I don't want any more stop signs, what I want is enforcement of the
existing stop signs on More Ave. Every time I ride that Avenue I notice drivers
ignoring any and all of the stop signs on that street.
Please pass this along to the LGPD and urge them to enforce the law !
Processed: September 15, 2000 (Friday)
Town Council Minutes
Redevelopment Agency
PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED
September 18, 2000
Los Gatos, California
SHANNON ROAD 14411/HORSE STABLE & ARENA/CONT.
Speakers continued:
Steve Lyon, 450 Santa Rosa Drive, there are absolutely no code problems associated with this
development at all and he supports its approval.
Michael Kokihos, 14075 Arnerich Road, spoke of existing stables that are now holding shows up until
9:00 p.m. These stables are in the same area and haven't presented a problem to the neighbors before.
He is very much in favor of the proposed project
Priscilla Albright, 14550 Shannon Road, spoke against the commercial venture operating in a
residential area.
Sharon Goodrich, 24331 Loma Prieta Road, was supportive of the proposal and excited to have a
training facility available to the community and associated with Los Gatos.
Karen Trolan, 14677 Shannon Road, spoke of health, safety and the commercial enterprise, and
reiterated her reasons for opposing this project.
Sandra & Bill Sweitzer, 14151 Woodview Lane, restated their adherence to all zoning codes and
mitigation requests from staff and community, and their desire to continue working on the use permit
to meet everyone's needs.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue
Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Pirzynski, to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously.
Council comments:
Los Gatos as a community has a need to maintain its open hills and rural atmosphere and the activities
that have been historically associated with its rural ambiance. The preservation of open space, the
s
granted easement for an equestrian trail, and the preservation of the existing agricultural
glt cel use
Los Goals
and directives of the newly adopted General Plan. This proposal is offering a se
residents in maintaining an equestrian use during a time when stables are closing, and property is being
developed with large homes that have no sympathy with the surrounding rural atmosphere.
Motion by Mr. Hutchins, seconded by Mr. Attaway, to uphold the Planning Commission and grant
the appeal in part by adding the following conditions to the Conditional use Permit:
There will be a maximum of 17 horses boarded on the property.
Times of operation will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays; • 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Blanton voted no due to the large intensification of use in a residential
area.
STOP SIGNS ON BICKNELL AND MOORE (08.41)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, to place stop signs at Bicknell and Moore.
Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mrs. Lubeck voted no.
9
TC: D 11: MM091800