07-14-2009 CC RPT 01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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P09- 0205/P09 -0206 • Page 3 • The proposal will not significantly impact other existing arterial roadways (e.g. La Sierra Avenue, McAllister Parkway, Indiana Avenue and Magnolia Avenue) with respect to existing traffic loads, capacity, and circulation nor will it substantially impair the rendering of emergency and public services. A minimum of four adequate alternate routes exist to accommodate the redistributed traffic coming into and leaving the City of Riverside (these routes are described in detail below). Furthermore, a minimum of four alternate routes exist to allow for the safe and efficient evacuation of the neighboring County subdivisions in the case of a regional emergency, such as a large wildland brush fire in the Lake Hills area. • Emergency access to the County subdivisions in proximity to the street closure area will not be impacted, as the County of Riverside provides first and second response to this area and emergency routes to the County subdivisions (i.e. primary arterial roads such as La Sierra Avenue and McAllister Parkway and not narrow greenbelt streets) will not be changed as a result of this closure. Even if County dispatchers request mutual aid from the City, the first three stations to respond would access the area via La Sierra Avenue, not through the Greenbelt. Nevertheless, to further address potential concerns for adequate access during an emergency, a vehicle swing gate will be required at both ends of the closed portion of Dufferin Avenue to allow access to emergency vehicles, if necessary; and • In conjunction with the approval for two County Tract Maps (TM -30295 and TM- 30337), those most recently completed County subdivisions in closest proximity to the proposed closure site, the County of Riverside Board of Supervisors required that the portion of Dufferin Avenue between McAllister Parkway and Stewart Street be closed prior to recordation of these maps. However, the two residential subdivisions have been completed and residences have been occupied without vacating Dufferin Avenue as required by per the County adopted conditions of approval. During the City Planning Commission hearing, approximately 20 persons spoke in opposition to the proposal while approximately 10 persons spoke in favor of the proposal. The majority of those who spoke against the proposal raised concerns over two primary issues: Issue 1: The lack of adequate egress from the area in case of an emergency Response: The County of Riverside serves and would continue to serve as the first and second responders to emergency situations in the unincorporated area north of Lake Mathews. First response to this area would be provided from the Lake Hills Fire facility located on Lakepointe Drive, approximately 2.7 miles westerly of the street closure site. According to information provided by the Fire Department, the average response time to this location is approximately 4 minutes. The street routes utilized to the area in question ( Lakepointe, Lakeknoll, La Sierra, McAllister) would not be altered as a result of the proposed roadway closure. There are at least three other County operated Fire facilities within a 10 mile radius of the subject area that could also provide backup to the Lake Hills station in a larger scale event. If the County responders call the City for mutual aid, the City would respond if units were available. In the unusual event of a fire emergency resulting in a mutual aid call, the City's first responder would be dispatched from Fire Station #12, located at 10692 1 -3