The Sunnyvale Sun

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Challenger School driveway plan is on hold

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

Just as Councilman Chris Moylan anticipated on Sept. 26, the Challenge School driveway project has been delayed by the council's decision that went against the Sunnyvale Elementary School District board of directors' wishes.

At the Sept. 26 meeting, the council approved a plan to build a driveway around the Challenger School on Hollenbeck Road but reduced the two-lane driveway to a single lane to minimize the impact on adjacent open space.

The school's original plan was to build a two-lane drive beginning at the northwest corner of the campus on Torrington Drive and Quince Avenue, winding around the south part of the school and exiting onto Hollenbeck Road. The two-lane driveway would allow at least five dozen cars to queue on the school's property during pick up and drop-off times, rather than lining up on Hollenbeck.

But the driveway has to cut through a patch of open space west of the school that many residents use for recreation. The majority of the open space, which is south of the school, is often used by organized sports leagues. The property is owned by the school but used by the city for free in exchange for maintenance.

"I think that reducing it to one lane and trying to minimize the impact is the way to go in this case," said Councilman Dean Chu when the council was discussing the motion.

The plan, which did not need approval by the city council, met with strong opposition from neighbors because many were unaware of it.

In addition to suddenness of construction that left a large path of dirt through the grass on the west side of the school before being halted,, residents were concerned about further traffic problems and loss of open space.

Both the school and school district have said the real issue is safety, both for the students and the people who live nearby.

"I think that had we done a better job with outreach we could have conveyed that better," said deputy superintendent Ben Picard.

More than 15 concerned residents were at the September council meeting to oppose the plan, and in trying to compromise, the council actually may have effectively stopped the project.

With the delay, construction--if it occurs--will not be completed before the rainy season begins, and the original goal of finishing close to the beginning of the school year has been lost.

"The council, yet again, has chosen to placate the outspoken few," said board member Jeff Arnett.

On Oct. 19, the school board rejected the plan.

The private school has been told by the school district to find a way to reduce the traffic impact on the surrounding community in the mornings and afternoons, where as many as 90 cars waiting for children can fill nearby streets.

The issue may come up for discussion at the school board's next meeting on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the district office at 819 W. Iowa. For more information, visit www.sesd.org, call 408.522.8200, ext. 203, or email supt@sesd.org.