Minutes 1987-09-01 SP
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MINUTES
STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESOAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1987
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANOE, CALIFORNIA
The City Council met at 10:00 A.M. for a Study Session on Rancho
Grande Shopping Center Criteria, with Mayor Howard Mankins presiding. Present
were Council Members Dorace Johnson, Mark M. Millis, Gene Moots and D.
G. Porter.
Mayor Mankins opened the meeting by saying there was a request for
an emergency agenda item, a letter from County Administrator William E.
Briam asking for City input on where the prison population in the County
should be housed. The Mayor said the emergency item was necessary because
the information was needed by the County before September 4, 1987.
Moved by Millis/Johnson (5-0-0) to discuss an emergency agenda item
on the basis of the time factor.
Police Chief James Clark said he served on the County Special Advisory
Committee which studied locating County jail facilities at the County
Operational Center on Highway 1.
After Council discussion, it was moved by Johnson/Moots (5-0-0) to
advise Mr. Briam that the City of Arroyo Grande agrees with the County
Special Advisory Committee that any future jail facilities should be located
at the County Operational Center.
The subject of Rancho Grande Shopping Center criteria was opened.
Mayor Mankins said there is disagreement between the City and Terranomics
as to whether increased traffic problems caused by the new development
would be solved when the Oak Park Interchange improvements are completed.
Mayor Mankins said a Highway 101 overcrossing to channel traffic away from
West Branch Street will be needed. He also said that improvement plans
for the Oak Park Interchange are being held up at this time.
Attorney Pete Miller, who represents Ottse, Inc., developers of Rancho
Grande, introduced Lindley Miller of Terranomics, who described the proposed
Shopping Center, which he said would be regional in nature and would make
a good sales and real estate tax base for the City of Arroyo Grande. He
said the problems of increased traffic and any harm to local merchants ,
,
by shopping center stores would have to be considered.
Neal Liddicott of Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc., traffic engineers,
said that current and future traffic conditions have been studied and major
improvements relate to the Oak Park Interchange. He said other mitigations
to the project are only minor if the Oak Park Interchange is fixed.
Council Member Millis pointed out numerical errors in Mr. Miller's
report, and said that the total number of housing units in the area will
approach 1,000.
Mayor Mankins said Los Angeles standards for congestion are not acceptable
in Arroyo Grande.
There was discussion of the hook loop design for on and off ramps
at Highway 101. City Manager Robert Mack explained the problems Arroyo
Grande, Pismo Beach, Grover City and Caltrans have had in coming to an
interchange design agreement for the Oak Park Interchange. He said the
Corps of Engineers now have not approved the plan finally agreed on by
the entities. Public Works Director Paul Karp explained how the hook loop
ramps work. Mayor Mankins said he wants the developers to understand the
problems connected with the Oak Park Interchange. He said 12 agencies
are involved.
Council Member Millis and Mayor Mankins said hook loop ramps could
be located inside the City on the freeway and would get shoppers on and
off the freeway before they come into contact with Oak Park. The Mayor
and Council Member Moots said a street overcrossing is vital to get people
to and from the Rancho Grande project.
CITY COUNCIL
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
There was discussion by the Council and developers about costs of
an overcrossing and improving Brisco Road underpass.
Chief Building Inspector John Richardson said another traffic factor
to be considered will be the impact of shoppers from the east and north
of Highway 101.
Fire Chief Douglas Hamp said another overpass would be needed in
case of an emergency. He said if a hazardous materials incident took place,
use of Branch Street and Highway 101 could be lost.
Ed Selsky to 281 James Way spoke to the Council and said City developments
are too large, parcels are too small, and grading looks like a strip mine.
Council Member Porter said getting in and out of the shopping center
is important, and a system of roads is needed. Council Member Johnson said
developers should want to create a good access situation. She said this
would be the best money spent in the development.
There were Council questions about the design and size of the shopping
center. Mr. Lindley Miller said the project will cover 40 acres. He displayed
the plan on the wall and named prospective stores.
Mayor Mankins said a bridge overcrossing the freeway in connection
with this project is vital, and there is no need to study alternatives.
The Mayor said the Council would meet with the developers at any
time, and said they should feel free to talk with City Staff also.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 A.M.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK