CC 2020-03-10_08c Temporary Closure of East Cherry Ave
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WHITNEY MCDONALD, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BILL ROBESON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ROBIN DICKERSON, CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF EAST CHERRY AVENUE FROM
TRAFFIC WAY TO PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY ON SUNDAY MARCH 22,
2020 OR SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020
DATE: MARCH 10, 2020
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
East Cherry Avenue from Traffic Way to Pacific Coast Railway will be temporarily closed
on March 22, 2020 or March 29, 2020.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
Except for minor staff time to help coordinate the closure, all expenses for the temporary
road closure will be borne by the developer, Wathen Castanos Homes.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing the temporary closure
of East Cherry Avenue from Traffic Way to Pacific Coast Railway requested by Wathen
Castanos Homes to slurry seal that section of road.
BACKGROUND:
Tract 3081 is a 54 lot subdivision consisting of 51 single family homes and a park site,
located on the south side of East Cherry Avenue near Pacific Coast Railway. The
developer, Wathen Castanos Homes (Wathen), is nearing the completion of construction
of the public improvements.
California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) authorizes municipalities to close any street
temporarily for celebrations or other local special events or other purposes when in the
opinion of the local authorities having jurisdiction such closing is necessary for the safety
and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary
closing and such closing must be adopted and provided for by resolution.
The City Council approved General Plan Amendment 15-001, Specific Plan 15-001,
Conditional Use Permit 15-004, and Vesting Tentative Tract Map 15-001 on January 10,
Item 8.c. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF EAST CHERRY AVENUE FROM TRAFFIC WAY TO
PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY ON SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2020 OR SUNDAY, MARCH 29,
2020
MARCH 10, 2020
PAGE 2
2017. As part of this approval process, Conditions of Approval were imposed on Tract
3081.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Condition No. 65 requires the developer to “Slurry seal (type2) any roads dedicated to the
City prior to acceptance by the City.” Improvement plans for Tract 3081 were prepared
and approved by the City on September 19, 2018, showing the slurry seal being
completed prior to acceptance of the public improvements by the City. Wathen has
scheduled the slurry seal on East Cherry Avenue for Sunday March 22, 2020, weather
permitting. Slurry seal applications require warm, dry weather (morning temperatures in
the 50+ range). The warmer the weather, the faster the drying time. The slurry seal will
be applied to the entire width (from lip of gutter to lip of gutter) of East Cherry Avenue
from Traffic Way to Pacific Coast Railway. The slurry seal itself will require some
inconvenience to the residents whether it be a full or partial closure. Full closure will have
the least impact as construction will be completed in one day. Partial closures will involve
two to three days. After reviewing all of their options, Wathen Castanos Homes selected
a Sunday slurry seal to support the request of the 5 Cities Swim Club to do the work on
Sunday when it would be least impactful to the users of the Swim Club.
The request for the temporary road closure accommodates the operating hours of the 5
Cities Swim Club located on the northeast corner of Traffic Way and East Cherry Avenue.
The Swim Club operates Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. The Swim Club
has a single parking lot which has two points of ingress and egress onto East Cherry
Avenue. Because of the close proximity of the two Swim Club parking lot entrances and
Traffic Way, there is no clear way to phase the slurry seal and leave one of the entrances
open. The Swim Club serves the elderly, some with physical impairments, and caregivers
with infant children making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to utilize the
swim club if the parking lot is not available.
Temporary road closures are part of standard construction practices for construction and
maintenance of roads. In 1995, the Council previously approved a temporary one-week
closure of Branch Mill Road for the installation of a water main. The developer has elected
to do the slurry seal on Sunday March 22, 2020 weather permitting. The road will be
closed from 8 am and reopened at 6 pm later the same day. This should allow a sufficient
time for the slurry seal to cure and harden before allowing traffic back onto the road. This
will also allow the slurry to be completed in one day and should have the least amount of
disturbance on the nineteen (19) residences along East Cherry Avenue. The developer
notified the residents by mail of the upcoming slurry seal. The letters were sent out on
March 5, 2020. At this time, no special accommodations have been identified. The
developer will also be making arrangements for the residents of Tract 3081, which
currently has five (5) homes with occupancy permits and will also make arrangements to
accommodate visitors to their sales office. The residents of this area will be required to
Item 8.c. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF EAST CHERRY AVENUE FROM TRAFFIC WAY TO
PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY ON SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2020 OR SUNDAY, MARCH 29,
2020
MARCH 10, 2020
PAGE 3
walk to and from their vehicles which will be parked outside of the construction area. The
City’s Engineering Inspector will be visiting with the residents during the week of March
9th to verify their understanding of the closure, what is expected, and to help identify any
special accommodations that may be required during the closure. The City will also be
using its website and social media accounts to notify Arroyo Grande citizens of the
proposed closure. Permanent striping and signage is anticipated to occur the week of
March 30th. The striping will not involve a full road closure. If weather is an issue on
March 22, 2020, the plan would be to move the slurry seal date to the following Sunday,
March 29, 2020.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council's consideration:
1. Approve staff’s recommendation;
2. Do not approve staff’s recommendation;
3. Modify as appropriate and approve staff’s recommendation; or
4. Provide direction to staff.
Item 8.c. - Page 3
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF EAST CHERRY AVENUE FROM TRAFFIC WAY TO
PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY ON SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2020 OR SUNDAY, MARCH 29,
2020
MARCH 10, 2020
PAGE 4
ADVANTAGES:
Approval of the temporary closure will allow the work to be done in one day. The 5 Cities
Swim Club will not have any inconvenience or loss of use of their parking lot.
DISADVANTAGES:
Inconvenience to the local residents for the day.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
A Final Environmental Impact Report for Tract 3081 was certified by the City Council on
January 10, 2017 in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
the CEQA Guidelines and the City of Arroyo Grande Rules and Procedures for
implementation of CEQA. No further CEQA action is required.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2. At the time of report publication, no comments have
been received.
Item 8.c. - Page 4
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO
GRANDE AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF EAST
CHERRY AVENUE FROM TRAFFIC WAY TO PACIFIC COAST
RAILWAY REQUESTED BY WATHEN CASTANOS HOMES TO SLURRY
SEAL THAT SECTION OF ROAD
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 21101 (e) authorizes municipalities to close
any street temporarily for celebrations or other local special events or other purposes
when in the opinion of the local authorities having jurisdiction such closing is necessary
for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during
the temporary closing and such closing must be adopted and provided for by resolution;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4471 approving General Plan
Amendment 15-001, Specific Plan Amendment 15-001, Conditional Use Permit 15-004,
and Vesting Tentative Tract Map 15-001(the “Project”) on January 10, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the project was conditioned to complete certain public improvements
pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 4771 adopted by the Arroyo Grande City Council
on January 10, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the developer, Wathen Castanos Homes has submitted plans to temporarily
close East Cherry Avenue from Traffic Way to Pacific Coast Railway for the purpose of
slurry sealing the street; and
WHEREAS, a detour plan has been provided for the temporary closure to allow traffic to
continue past the closed section of East Cherry Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works, the Police Department, and the Fire
Department have no objections provided that emergency vehicle access will be available
if needed during the temporary closure of the street.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Arroyo
Grande
1. Authorizes the temporary closure of East Cherry Street from Traffic Way to
Pacific Coast Railway on March 22, 2020 from 8 am to 6 pm.
2. Should inclement weather prevent the work from proceeding on March 22,
2020, the work may be performed on March 29, 2020 from 8 am to 6 pm.
3. Wathen Castanos Homes shall apply for and follow all provisions of a City
Encroachment permit.
4. Wathen Castanos Homes shall erect and maintain all signage as shown on the
proposed Traffic Control Plan.
Item 8.c. - Page 5
RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 2
5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall cause a
certified copy to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
On motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member , and
on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 10th day of March, 2020.
Item 8.c. - Page 6
RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 3
CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KELLY WETMORE, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
JAMES A. BERGMAN, CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
TIMOTHY J. CARMEL, CITY ATTORNEY
Item 8.c. - Page 7
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Item 8.c. - Page 8