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Published on 06/09/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos Council considers parking, traffic resulting from schools construction

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Potential parking and traffic issues from school construction projects have spilled over onto Los Altos city streets.

Los Altos City Council members, at their May 25 meeting, gave Los Altos High School a green light for more on-street parking during construction of a new library, quad and multipurpose room.

The council also responded to residents' concerns about increased neighborhood traffic during construction at the elementary schools.

The council OK'd diagonal striping for Jardin Drive, the street behind Los Altos High School, which will create 40 more parking places. They also approved parking on Almond Avenue in front of the high school.

"This means dumping a couple hundred cars on my street," said Dick Hasenpflug, who lives on Jardin Drive. "But I am supportive. It will be difficult for a year, but it needs to be done."

These changes will be in effect during the school year 1999-00 when the high school loses 139 parking places during construction, said Superintendent Rich Fischer.

"We've met with staff, with neighbors," Fischer said. "We hand-delivered 300 letters." Through this process the school district came up with the requests they brought to the council.

"We appreciate you've come up with a solution instead of a problem," said Mayor Lou Becker.

Concerns from parents of younger children have focused on additional traffic they fear will be diverted into their neighborhood streets during construction at the elementary schools.

"An obvious mitigation is busing," said Councilman King Lear.

He suggested that the Los Altos School District be put on notice "that maybe the impact of traffic at Blach and Egan (schools) will cause a significant impact in the local neighborhoods."

Superintendent Marge Gratiot, who was unable to attend the council meeting, sent a letter to the council regarding the concerns.

"To ensure safety and ease of ingress and egress at our sites, we will consult with our architect and traffic specialist regarding the layout of parking lots and drop-off lanes," she wrote.

She promised to "work closely" with the city regarding "the safety of children traveling to school."

Becker said he was "in favor of accommodating," but there's a need "to minimize the inconvenience and the impact" of the construction. "We want a good, cooperative effort with the school board."