Full Slate of Issues for Los Altos City Council on Tuesday Night

A bevy of issues are on the Los Altos City Council’s agenda Tuesday night, including a debated use permit for a preschool and elementary school at Union Presbyterian Church and a new parking garage at First and Main streets.

Adding to the full slate of issues, the city’s Collector Traffic Calming Master Plan is the subject of the council’s study session at 5:30 p.m., prior to the regular 7 p.m. meeting in the Council Chamber at 1 N. San Antonio Rd. 

At the study session, the council will hear a report from consultants with RBF Consulting who have been , after previous input from the council and the Traffic Commission.

Some of the consultants’ suggestions include constructing roundabouts on major streets as a way to slow traffic, most notably on Fremont Avenue between Grant Road and Highway 85, and adding "bulbouts," or curb extensions, and medians on Springer Avenue.

Total cost of all the traffic calming suggestions could total as much as $9 million.

After collecting feedback from the council and the public during the study session Tuesday, the consultants will prepare a final draft for approval in the future.

During the regular meeting, a public hearing will decide whether Union Presbyterian Church can increase enrollment at two schools operating on church grounds at 858 University Ave.

During a March 8 council meeting, neighbors and the schools’ proponents squared off on whether the school could increase enrollment up to 120 students, with 60 percent of the students attending the elementary school, Heritage Academy, and 40 percent attending the preschool, University Child Development Center.

That number was decreased to 100 students during the council meeting, after an unsuccessful attempt to cap the enrollment at the current 90 students.

Some neighbors said they feared increased traffic congestion, despite a traffic report that said University Avenue and its intersection with El Monte Road would not be negatively affected. They also said noise from the church grounds is an issue and that having the schools in a residential neighborhood would bring down home values.

Not all neighbors have been critical of the church’s expansion plans; several neighbors have written letters of support, saying they never even knew the two schools already existed. They said church leaders are good neighbors, in part because they allow local families to enjoy the campus’ large lawn and play structures.

Another issue on the council’s agenda is how to proceed with an underground parking garage for the corner of First and Main streets. The city is developing a mixed-use retail and commercial center at the corner, which will include the parking structure.

A neighboring property owner wants to join with the city on parking, and there was some hope for partnership with the nearby Safeway store on First. Safeway officials have continued to say they have no interest in that, according to a staff report. They instead want to push forward with store renovation plans that include rooftop parking.

Other topics on the agenda:

• Approval of a scope of work for an independent consultant to study effects of the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Quarry on surrounding cities, including Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
• Granting permanent status to the Senior Committee, which started in 2010 as a one-year test pilot. The committee is a joint effort between Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
• Deciding what issues should go on the agenda for a May 17 Joint City-Schools Sub-Committee meeting.