MEETING DATE: 10/9/2018
DEPARTMENT: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: John Guertin
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: John Guertin
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 105
SUBJECT:
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY - J. GUERTIN
Update Board on Bonnie View Road discussion from Intergovernmental meeting on October 4, 2018; and requesting direction from the board.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 105
AGENDA SECTION:
REGULAR AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
BACKGROUND
Bonnie View Road was brought before the Board on the August 21, 2018 Board Meeting, the Board directed staff to address Bonnie View Rd, at the next intergovernmental Board meeting. Staff to provide an update of discussion from the intergovernmental meeting on October 4, 2018.
Board of Supervisors Meeting August 21, 2018 below:
On January 28, 2016 the Hollister Planning Commission approved a 21 unit subdivision (Kostielney/Del Curto) north of the existing north terminus of El Cerro Drive and Bonnie View Road. One of the conditions of approval for the development indicated that El Cerro Drive and Bonnie View Road “shall connect and shall be improved across the frontage of the project with curb, gutter, and sidewalks, street paving, lighting and landscaping with irrigation.” In early 2018 construction of the subdivision began including the required roads and connections to El Cerro Drive and Bonnie View Road.
In response to requests from County residents on Bonnie View Road, the District 1 Supervisor requested that an item be presented to the Board for consideration of the installation of a barrier or gate to effect a permanent, partial closure of Bonnie View Road at the County and City line approximately 0.29 miles north of the intersection with Sunnyslope Road.
ANALYSIS
California Vehicle Code section 21101, reads in part: "Local authorities, for those highways under their jurisdiction, may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution on the following matters:
(a) Closing any highway to vehicular traffic when, in the opinion of the legislative body having jurisdiction, the highway is either of the following:
(1) No longer needed for vehicular traffic… (option #2 applies only to counties with a population of at least 6,000,000)
(f) Prohibiting entry to, or exit from, or both, from any street by means of islands, curbs, traffic barriers, or other roadway design features to implement the circulation element of a general plan adopted pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 65350) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. The rules and regulations authorized by this subdivision shall be consistent with the responsibility of local government to provide for the health and safety of its citizens.
Given that Bonnie View Road is needed for access to the residences on this road and the connection will improve traffic flow and public safety, staff can find no reasonable justification to support a determination that Bonnie View Road is no longer needed for vehicular traffic. In fact, such a determination would contradict the findings in the City’s environmental impact review under CEQA as well as the findings in the project traffic study. As part of the project application, a traffic study was prepared (Attachment A) analyzing the potential traffic impacts of the Kostielney/Del Curto project as well as for the potential development of the approximately 4.78 acres to the north identified as the Kutz property and the potential development of the approximately 9 acres to the east identified as the Brigantino property.
The trip generation analysis shows 190 potential daily trips coming in and out of the Kostielney/Del Curto subdivision of which 15 will be at the morning peak hour and 20 at the evening peak hour. Of these vehicle trips, it is anticipated that few will use the existing Bonnie View Road as El Toro Drive and Clearview Road are in better condition and are more direct routes to Sunnyslope and Hillcrest. If all vehicle trips were from 6am to 10pm, this would mean that the project would generate approximately 12 vehicle trips (190 / 16 hours = 11.875) per hour and, again, most would not head southbound on Bonnie View Road. However, residents who live on Bonnie View Road are now able to drive northbound with the extension of Bonnie View Road.
With regard to VC section 21101 (f), the County’s Circulation Element of the General Plan has no policies that encourage or require the closure of County roads to prevent connections to City roads. In fact, the proposed Bonnie View Road closure would be in contradiction with the General Plan; specifically, Section C 1.11 Discourage Cul-de Sacs “Ways to Improve Street Connectivity” and Section C1.15 Street Networks that Enhance Neighborhood Character, “The County shall encourage traditional interconnected street networks that provide alternate routes between neighborhoods and other measures that slow neighborhood traffic and enhance neighborhood character, such as those associated with Complete Streets.” In addition, the connectivity of subdivisions is a policy of the City’s General Plan and the project site is consistent with the City of Hollister General Plan Land Use Policy 4.4 Streets, Paths and Bikeways.
As mentioned above, the current configuration of the roads including the short extension of Bonnie View Road have undergone environmental and traffic review and analysis that were performed for the subdivision and were approved by the City. Should the Board wish to install a barrier to close Bonnie View Road at the County line, the project will require a new CEQA analysis and traffic study to close the road pursuant to VC section 21101 (a) (1). To close the road pursuant to VC section 21101 (f) would require an update to the Circulation Element of the General Plan in addition to the studies.
BUDGETED:
No