The Sun Sunnyvale's Newspaper Heritage neighbors win fight to block street Residents may have to pay for traffic barrier on their street By Justin Berton Neighbors living in Sunnyvale's Heritage District persuaded councilmembers to approve maintaining a barrier that restricts traffic flow through the area--but they could be asked to pay for it themselves after opponents claimed the action would set a precedent for other neighborhoods. Seventeen residents and business owners from the downtown area near Taaffe and Frances streets attended the Oct. 6 meeting, with the majority speaking in favor of the barrier that restricts access to all but residents and emergency and commercial vehicles. Since the barriers were installed in January, traffic has dropped in the neighborhood by 25 to 35 percent, according to a city-conducted survey. Some residents are so satisfied with the barrier they said they would pay for its initial costs, which could range from $28,000 to $40,000. "I would be willing to pay up to $1,000," one supporter told the council. The city installed the barrier at the south end of Taaffe and Frances after neighbors complained commuters used the narrow, 32-foot-wide street as a quick route to El Camino Real. Most of the homes were built in Sunnyvale's early years, and the slim street reflects urban planning of the day. Now, a residential street in Sunnyvale must be at least 40 feet wide to accommodate two-way traffic and parked cars. Though the decrease in traffic has been welcomed by most, some living at the other end of the block complained the barriers were inconvenient. "It's taking away the street from my own house," said resident Eric Omuro, who voted against the barrier when the city conducted a survey of residents. "We bought a house here, too. We expected to use this road." Barry Merkin, owner of the nearby California Paint store, said his customers were inconvenienced by the barrier. Worse, Merkin said, as a taxpayer, he didn't want to pay for the project. "If I can't use it, why should I pay for it?" Merkin asked. "You're setting a very dangerous precedent here," he warned councilmembers. Merkin said other Sunnvyale neighborhoods with complaints would now approach the council expecting the same treatment. "I fear you are opening a Pandora's box," he said. Currently, neighbors living near Mathilda Avenue and Crawford Drive are using a similar barrier on a trial basis to cut down on traffic. Councilmembers will make a final decision on whether to keep the blockade in the coming weeks. But neighbors who support the barrier came prepared with ideas for solutions that impressed councilmembers. Resident Andy Maloney presented architectural drawings of what he envisioned as a "non-traditional cul-de-sac" that would feature a swinging barrier to allow access for select vehicles. "Something that says more than just a street closure--something that says we take pride in our street," Maloney said. With that pride, though, should come a neighborhood tax increase, one councilmember suggested. "The entire city would be paying for the benefit of one neighborhood," said Councilmember Jack Walker, who cast the lone dissenting vote in the 6-1 decision. "When you do an improvement to a neighborhood, they should bear the brunt of the costs." Now, residents will meet with city officials to determine the best design for the barrier and determine how it should be paid for. Councilmember Stan Kawczynski, who moved for the council to take the action, said, "I think it's time these neighbors got what they've been asking for." [ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.