The Willow Glen Resident Developer, WG citizens' group both benefit from busy City Council schedule Stop sign and Radio Avenue development sail to approval By Cecily Barnes For Radio Avenue developer Bob Schwenke and the group Willow Glen Neighbors Interested in a Safer Willow Street, the Nov. 17 meeting of the San Jose City Council was the right place and the right time. With hundreds of people gathered to speak about a controversial "living wage" proposal--which was approved later that night--the City Council breezed through the first six items on the agenda, including requests for a site development permit on Radio Avenue, and a stop sign at Willow Street and Camino Ramon. "It would not be like this on any other night," whispered Michelle McGurk, aide to District 6 Councilmember Frank Fiscalini. In under 30 seconds, the council granted Schwenke a re-zoning approval for the construction of six single-family homes on Radio Avenue. The developer has battled for different versions of this project for more than six years, and finally found a project that jibed with the neighbors and the planning commission. "That got slam dunked so fast," Schwenke said when it was over. "I was so happy." Now Schwenke will seek approval of his architectural plans and then move forward with construction this spring. "Good luck with your project," Mayor Susan Hammer told the grinning developer. On another matter, at least 25 Willow Glen neighbors gathered in the packed chambers to request a stop sign on Willow Street at Camino Ramon. The request was approved with little discussion, even though nearly 30 residents gathered to speak on behalf of the stop sign. "I have all your cards, but you may be so happy with the decision that you don't even need to speak," said Mayor Hammer. Jim Helmer, the deputy director of the Department of Streets and Traffic, spoke first, explaining why the traffic volume and number of accidents at that site did not warrant a stop sign. Fiscalini spoke next, pledging his support of the stop sign despite the opposite recommendation of the Department of Streets and Traffic. "We just don't happen to agree," he told Helmer. "I just don't think we should wait for accidents to accumulate points to address a concern that the vast majority of people want. We support them in their endeavor." Although Mayor Hammer asked that not everyone who submitted cards speak, three sign proponents took turns at the microphone, including Juliet Nail, whose mother, Mary Nail, died after being struck by a car in the intersection. The stop sign was approved unanimously. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, November 25, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.