The Sunnyvale Sun

News

Construction project stalled, concerns remain

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

While the initial concern of a major construction project being performed without their knowledge seems to have passed, neighbors around Challenger School's Sunnyvale location are still worried about the implications of a new road that could be built by the end of the month.

Clay Stringham, director of development for Challenger School, said construction on the road--planned to wind around the school off Hollenbeck Avenue to bring traffic off the main road--has stopped while officials meet with the community.

Neighbors were first concerned in mid-August when construction equipment showed up in their neighborhood and workers told them of the plan. Even though Stringham said Challenger had been planning the project for almost three years, no public contact was made because none was required.

The land--owned by the school district and used on a limited basis by the city in exchange for maintenance work--falls under state jurisdiction, and so no local city hearings were held.

"Without real information, your mind races through every possibility, positive or negative," Stringham said.

Once neighbors found out, they flooded the Aug. 22 Sunnyvale City Council meeting, calling for a work stoppage and community meetings. So far, two have been held, one with any concerned residents and a second "work group" meeting held with a smaller group.

There will also be a chance for residents to voice their concerns on Sept. 13 at the Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Commission at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. A third work group meeting will likely be held Sept. 19 or 20.

"We got over the initial concerns as soon as they got us involved in the project," said Hollenbeck Avenue resident Stephanie Edelman, whose driveway feeds directly into where the proposed road would empty. "Our concern now is how they're going to build this road. We all support the school doing something."

Edelman says the concern now is more in line with the typical concerns residents have with any nearby project, including traffic impact, open space loss and construction complications.

She said it's already a challenge in the morning to pull her car out amid the flood of parents dropping off their children.

"This would just further my nightmare," Edelman said.

Edelman said she is also concerned that while the traffic will be moved off of a part of Hollenbeck Avenue and Torrington Drive, the load of cars will still have to go somewhere, so the project could just be moving traffic rather than helping solve the problem.

One suggestion--put forward on stopchallenger.blogspot.com, a web page managed by two residents--is to work with Challenger to encourage busing, biking and other alternative forms of transportation.

"We realize that they aren't going to solve every problem, but we at least want them to speak to the issues," she said.

According to an email sent by Stringham to residents Aug. 8, the school and district are addressing a number of resident concerns, including child safety, driveway placement and traffic violations.

Also in the email was a study of how many cars back up onto nearby streets at peak traffic times. According to the figures, 91 cars were counted one day, and a maximum of 62 vehicles would fit on the new driveway.

To contact the Sunnyvale School District, call deputy superintendent Ben Picard at 408.522.8200x208. To contact the school, call director of development for Challenger Schools Clay Stringham at 801.558.8018. To view the neighbors' blog, visit stopchallenger.blogspot.com. To give your input on the project, email svldriveway@yahoo.com.