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What’s happening with the reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks in our neighborhood? To find out, come to a SOFNA-sponsored neighborhood meeting to hear the City’s plan first-hand and to ask your questions after reading this article.
DATE: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
PLACE: Central Library
Here is an overview of the plan.
Sidewalk Design. City staff have selected a standard sidewalk design for our neighborhood after evaluating various options using the following criteria: 1) safety, 2) driveway access, 3) ADA requirements, and 4) conformity with existing private and public improvements, e.g. location of existing fences, water meters, utilities, etc. The curb is vertical instead of rolled for increased pedestrian safety — the vertical curb is the Modified City standard. The slope of the driveway access is approximately 15% to minimize scraping by cars. The width of the sidewalk is 5 ½ feet to help meet ADA guidelines. The width of the streets is narrowed by two feet, one foot on each side, to facilitate conformance with the ADA and existing improvements.
Impacts. Reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks will have many impacts, most important being safe streets and sidewalks for all. Other impacts include lack of car access to your home during construction and the potential removal of existing fences, structures, landscape, walkways, and/or driveways in order to construct and conform the sidewalks to the new streets.
Phase 1 construction will begin in June 2009. Dorcich and Cecil (between N. Henry Ave. and Winchester Blvd.) have been selected for this phase because of the need to replace a water main, a project that has been deferred from prior years. The next phases of the 5-year project have not been determined.
Background. Following two years of SOFNA petitioning and requesting the City to bring the SOFNA streets and sidewalks up to City standards, on June 10, 2008, the City Council approved $3.2 million in the 2008-09 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget for the first phase of the SOFNA street improvements. These are the first funds allocated for a 5-year project, which was approved on June 5, 2007: "100% City funding of the South of Forest Neighborhood street improvements in the Five Year Financial Plan 2008-09 through 2012-13 through pay as you go, bonding, or other funding measures not including the general fund."
On November 12, 2008, the City of Santa Clara hosted the first of three City- sponsored traffic calming meetings for our neighborhood. The South of Forest Neighborhood (SOFNA) is participating in the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program in conjunction with the development of a master plan for the reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks. Developer funds from the Westfield Valley Fair expansion are being used to pay for the traffic study. Visit santaclaraca.gov/pub_works/pw_eng_dept.html for a description of the program.)
At the November meeting, the City’s consultant, Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants, solicited information about traffic volume, traffic speed, and sight lines in the SOFNA from south and north of Forest Avenue residents following a review of typical traffic calming measures. (See www.trafficcalming.org, a site developed by Fehr & Peers, for general information on traffic calming.) The 30+ residents in attendance generated a long list. Please plan on attending the second meeting where the City will share the results from the traffic meters and review a preliminary master plan for traffic calming in the SOFNA.
DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 2008
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
PLACE: Santa Clara Central Library
At a third meeting, date to be determined, the City will review a final traffic-calming plan for the neighborhood.
This article provides an overview of the proposed changes to Winchester Boulevard traffic signals between Pruneridge Ave. and Stevens Creek Blvd. The changes are a result of development in Santa Clara, Santa Clara Gardens and Westfield Valley Fair. The traffic signals are maintained and operated by San Jose. The North of Forest Organization (NOF0) opposes removal of the west Forest Avenue signal. For information on their activities in San Jose, please visit http://www.NorthOfForest.org. Please contact Santa Clara city staff and/or council members if you would like to address the proposed changes with the City of Santa Clara.
The Environment Impact Report (EIR) for the Valley Fair Expansion project recommends removal of the traffic signal at the intersection of Winchester and Dorcich. The traffic signal will be replaced with a median island along Winchester, the only movements allowed in and out of Dorcich will be eastbound right turns from Dorcich onto Winchester, southbound right turns from Winchester onto Dorcich, and north-bound left turns from Winchester onto Dorcich. In addition, a new traffic signal will be installed on Winchester north of Dorcich aligning with a new driveway accessing the Nordstrom parking structure. These improvements will occur with construction of the Valley Fair Expansion project.
East Forest at Winchester intersection. The EIR for the Santa Clara Gardens development identifies redesigning the traffic signal to accommodate the new roadway access point to Santa Clara Gardens. The new signal will allow access to Forest Avenue (east of Winchester) and to Worthington Circle (access street to Santa Clara Gardens). Installation of the traffic signal will coincide with development of the site.
West Forest at Winchester intersection. The EIR for the Santa Clara Gardens development identifies removing the existing traffic signal and replacing it with a triangular pork-chop island. The new island will limit access to Forest (west of Winchester) to right turns in and out. Construction will coincide with the development of Santa Clara Gardens.
A special thank you to Steve and Debbie Benovitz who once again opened their beautiful backyard for the Annual SOFNA Ice Cream Social. The Benovitz’s have graciously hosted this event for a number of years. Their warm hospitality has helped neighbors get aquainted and build community. Guests enjoyed visiting and indulging in several flavors of ice cream and delicious toppings. A wonderful event -- Thank you Steve and Debbie, hosts with the most!
Ruth Norris and John Shores
Do you know anyone who has been to all seven continents? Meet Ruth Norris! Do you know anyone who has lived in Latin America and worked in more than 40 countries? Meet her husband, John Shores!
John and Ruth have been active SOFNA residents since 2001 when they purchased their home on Tyler and discovered the wonderful neighbors. What drew them to this house? Of course, the garden with an abundance of fruit trees! John and Ruth readily share their bounty with friends and are grateful to “Papa Joe” Cisi, the original owner, who planted and grafted the fruit trees.
John hails from Washington, DC and Ruth from Minnesota. John has degrees in natural resource management from The University of Michigan. Ruth received degrees in Political Science and Journalism She wrote for a number of magazines including Audubon. John served for almost 6 years in the Peace Corps in Latin America. His first assignment was Los Nevados National Park in the Central Andes. Later he worked with the national parks in the Dominican Republic. He continued with Peace Corps as part of the headquarters office in Washington DC, assisting Volunteers and staff worldwide with environmental issues. He continues to do consulting work in this ield, mostly project monitoring, assessments, and evaluations.
Ruth currently does executive coaching and mentoring, assisting environmental non-proits from one end of California to the other. Most of her “clients” are local land trusts, helping to maintain natural habitat and open space.
Both John and Ruth are environmentalists. They met in Washington, DC in 1987 when they both worked for The Nature Conservancy on environmental projects in Latin America. Both laugh and smile as they tell about their travel and work adventures.
Beyond their interesting careers, John can be seen riding his bike around the neighborhood, running errands and picking up groceries. Ruth rides her bike as far as 11 miles to Los Altos for meetings. They are both living their environmental ideals. John enjoys cooking on a solar “hot pot” in his driveway and is willing to demonstrate his collection of solar cookers for interested neighbors.
John and Ruth are founding members and continuing contributors to SOFNA. They can be seen helping at all the events. John has been SOFNA Board treasurer since its inception. He is our webmaster and the SOFNA list moderator, assisting neighbors in getting on the yahoo group and distributing relevant information to the neighborhood. As a Block Captain, he can be seen delivering the SOFNA Newsletter. Ruth is the coordinator of all the Block Captains and is the Chairperson for the Neighborhood Watch program. John and Ruth give back in many ways to the community that they love. Our neighborhood is fortunate to have these two interesting and helpful neighbors.
Mike O’Halloran has retired from the SOFNA Board after serving since its formation. As President, Mike led neighborhood causes and interacted with the City staff in a professional and positive manner. His relentless devotion to our neighborhood and community ultimately led to the City Council’s approval for improving our streets and sidewalks. Thank you, Mike, for the numerous hours you devoted to SOFNA. We are grateful for your leadership and dedication!
If you notice a new example of graffiti in the neighborhood (on the sidewalk, on traffic signs, even on business buildings), please report it to the Santa Clara Street Department at 615-3080. The City’s response in the past has been within a week. But they can only react when they receive notification of a tag. So take pride in your neighborhood and call. Be sure to give an exact address. If you see someone in the act of defacing property, do not confront the person. Instead, call the Graffiti Hotline at 241-9495, 24 hours a day. Provide specific information as to location, date, and time. For more information, visit the City’s website at www.santaclaraca.gov and search for "Graffiti Eradication Program."
January
11 -- Free Disposal Day; Mission Trail Waste Transfer Station, 1313 Memorex Drive-Call 727-5365 for appointment.
14 at 6:30 p.m. -- Traffic Calming Meeting
at Central Library
20 at 6:30 p.m. -- Streets and Sidewalks Design
Meeting at Central Library
28 at 7:00 p.m. -- SOFNA Board Meeting on Westridge - Contact Joanne Anderson if you would like to attend
31 -- Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off; Call 299-7300 for appointment
March
8 -- Daylight Savings Time begins; Replace smoke detector batteries
28 -- Set out materials for Spring Clean-up
Joanne Anderson
Debra Bowman
Royanna Gazlay
Joey Goschy
Joy Haas
Tracie Johnson
Marcella Miranda
Arline Norsworthy
Michelle Purviance
John Shores
e-mail for SOFNA: sofna.info@gmail.com