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Publication Date: Friday, March 02, 2001

City OKs land purchase to widen Bernal at Vineyard

The City Council approved paying $1 million for the corner lot on Bernal and Vineyard Avenue in order to widen the bridge and the stretch of road between the bridge and the stop sign, at its meeting last week.

Some neighbors expressed fears that road improvements in the area would mean increased vehicles, complete with noise and traffic jams.

"Pretend you live there," Dana Conte urged council members. Conte said she represented residents of the 80 condominiums of Smoketree Commons, on Vineyard and Bernal. "Maybe you can give us dual-paned windows."

Public Works Director Randy Lum said the improvements will include rubberized asphalt on both Bernal and Vineyard, which will lower the noise level by 4 or 5 decibels. "The level of the increased noise from this project is estimated to be about 3 decibels, so rubberized asphalt could neutralize the impact," he said.

Lum told the council that the widening is necessary to handle peak-hour traffic, and that with the fire station being built on Del Valle Parkway there will be an additional public safety concern.

The council unanimously OK'd the purchase of the corner lot, 3421 Vineyard Ave., which is just under 1 acre and is currently the site of two homes and two businesses, a water truck business and a sweeper truck business. The city agreed to pay $1,050,000 to the owner, Gary Cedoline, for the property, and a relocation payment of $50,000 to Cedoline and Michael Cedoline, a tenant in the second home at the rear of the property.

City Councilman Matt Campbell questioned paying the relocation expenses in addition to the $1 million purchase price. City Attorney Michael Roush responded, "Under state law we have to compensate for the property and the relocation expenses and the loss of good will. It is all part of the package."

Mayor Tom Pico asked whether the bridge expansion would have any impact on the trails system.

"This project is not dealing with the trails per se but it's not impeding it," said Lum. "I think this project fully accommodates future projects but doesn't do anything to further it."

"My personal sense is this project could be a catalyst (to start the trails project)," Pico said.

"There is a Zone 7 access road beneath the bridge on the north side of the arroyo that in our trails master plan for the city shows eventually to be developed into a public use trail," Lum explained this week. "In theory, this one would run on the ultimate master plan along Arroyo del Valle and connect with the Alamo Canal trail."

Council requested an update on the city's trails, which Lum said city staff will present in the near future.

Councilwoman Becky Dennis noted that the project has not yet been designed so now is the time for residents to suggest features for the bridge.

The cost of the widening projects is estimated at $4.3 million, including property acquisition, design and construction, said Lum, and is funded by traffic development fees and Ruby Hill developer contributions. Construction is scheduled to begin in April-May 2002 and be completed by the following winter. <@$p>

In other action City Council members unanimously approved developing a 17,545-foot two-story office building on Sunol Boulevard and Sycamore Road, with the following conditions: ¥ A berm will be installed, as will trees and a wrought iron fence, to separate the building from neighbors. ¥ The builder will investigate options to include a photovoltaic or other alternative energy system. ¥ The upgraded fence will be paid for by the applicant, and lowered from 6 to 4 feet. Councilman Matt Campbell and Councilwoman Becky Dennis voted against this motion. Campbell said he thought the city should pay half the cost of the fence, as the applicant proposed, because the applicant was already planting 58 trees to improve the site.