09/13/1971 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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.... e ~J'/ 9/13/71 I Hale Thompson, 1600 Skyline, said he was a member of the Board of Cascade Manor, and that he was speaking for the Board. He was not completely against the proposal, but parts of it, in his opinion, should not be implemented. He said there were thirty residents of the Manor at the meeting, and the Board of Directors had asked him to speak for them. Residents of the Manor were very much in favor of the barricade at the south end of Portland. They felt the diverter, as proposed, would block any access to the Manor from Willamette on 30th for visitors or service traffic. He pointed out the dangers of a car making a left turn meeting a car turning east. He did not feel there was sufficient clearance on the curve created by the diverter. Fire trucks responding to calls would lose precious minutes getting to the Manor. He felt perhaps barricades could be erected for Friday and Saturday night. An alternate solution suggested by the Manor would be creation of a 4-way stop at 30th and Portland, and even better, to station a policeman at that intersection on Friday and Saturday nights. Mr. R. Reese, resident of Cascade Manor, asked if Councilmen had been over this route, and e knew exactly what they were up against. He felt the proposed solution was bad from a safety standpoint, and suggested that a 4-way stop, as suggested, be tested for a short time. Mr. Gene Klink, 1073 Coburg, said he was an official of the Post Office Department, and that they were primarily concerned with the south exit of the branch post office. The proposed diverter would cause the Post Office to have trucks turn around in the parking lot and exit on 29th Avenue. This would be an extreme inconvenience. -I Harold Wald, 2973 Portland, felt that, according to the 1990 Plan, this proposal was the key to multiple housing development, and residents are unalterably opposed to any closure. He felt full attention should be given to noise abatement through stricter enforcement. Dick Crakes, 65 West 30th, said he lives at Cascade Manor, and that he agreed with previous speakers against the proposal. Erection of the diverter would merely divert the noise, not cause it to cease. Councilman McDonald remarked that, at the neighborhood meeting'held a short time ago, representatives of the Manor had said there was no noise problem. He asked Mr. Thompson if there was not an elevator at Cascade Manor, and therefore, cars parking in the basement would not be required to also stop at the front entrance. Mr. Thompson said there was, but that deliveries were not normally made through use of the elevator. In answer to a Question posed by Mr. McDonald, the Traffic Engineer said that he could not say how much inconvenience would be created by closure of Portland. Ci ty Manager asked the Traffic Engineer about the capacity of the intersection of 30th and Portland to handle the traffic, and whether the proposed diverter,would in fact create a traffic hazard if traffic from both directions met at that spot. Traffic Engineer said that, with the slight offset of the intersection to the west, there I would be adequate room to stripe for two lanes on an interim basis. He agreed the turning radius would be tight. Manager asked if the diverter became permanent the curbs would be cut to provide sufficient clearance. Traffic Engineer agreed this would be the case. In answer to Mrs. Beal, Traffic Engineer said a 4-way stop at 30th and Portland had been one of the alternatives proposed. In his judgment a 4-way stop would not materially change the traffic flow created by the A & W stand. The stop would only be a minor e annoyance and would give youngsters a chance to show off their pipes. In answer to the City Manager's further questioning, the Traffic Engineer said barricading of Portland at Crest and at 29th was one of the alternatives which had been considered, and that this would merely alter the loop for return to Willamette. Councilman McDonald asked if it would be legal to construct bumpers to alleviate the problem. Manager said he had been advised that, to knowingly put an obstruction in a street which could create hazardous situations, would be unwise because of the liability which the city would assume if an accident occurred as a result of barricades of this nature. Councilman Williams said he was against removal of use of streets for the reason that traffic created excessive noise. He felt the noise question should be dealt with. Staff should be directed to proceed with experimentation, as proposed, but should consider other alternatives before trying the barricade or cuI de sac proposal. I Mrs. Beal felt the problem was primarily a weekend problem, and suggested that portable barricades be erected on the weekend and removed during the week. Traffic Engineer said the point was well taken, especially for a test period, since observation could be made whether this did, in fact, s~op circling in both directions. Mrs. Campbell said she had noticed ground being broken for a rumored Planned Unit Development, and that this would add considerably to Portland Street traffic. She asked e if staff had any information how many units would be going in there. Traffic Engineer I - -- " 9/13/71 - 2 ....