HomeMy WebLinkAbout500 Howard Avenue - ResolutionW'i iti. `�i L � � � V
MEMO 'OCT; 21 i981 � October 21, 1981
T0: P1 anni ng Department CITV OF BURLINGAME
PLANNING OEPT.
FROM: Engineering Division
Re: Fence Exception - 500 Howard Avenue
Staff has reviewed this application. The fence in question is currently under
construction with an issued Building Permit. The permit was issued for a 3'
high fence with 4' high column supports.
In review of the site, it is apparent that if a smaller vehicle is legally
stopped on Dwight Road at the existing stop bar, the proposed column supports
at 4' height would block all but less than 1' of view sight at second column
from Dwight Road and none further down. The vertical wrought iron fencing, when
viewed at such a flat angle, would all but block out a few inches of view area.
This arrangement would cause stopped vehicles to pull directly across the stop
bar at least five or six feet minimum before there is visibility around the
fence. The other option is for the driver to stop before the stop bar for
proper sight. This would be unexpected by any motorist to the rear of the
stopping vehicle. Both these conditions are in staff consideration, undesirable
and would present an increased accident potential at this location.
The argument has been placed that since this is now a four-way stop, sight dis-
tances should not be a concern. While it is true that the vehicular sight dis-
tance is not as needed at a four-way stop location, the stopped motorist on
Dwight Road should be provided with adequate sight distances to determine if the
approaching traffic has noticed the stop sign and is in fact, starting to de-
accelerate sufficiently to stop at the intersection. Also, it may be the City's
desire at some future date to eliminate the stop sign on Howard Avenue, leaving
the fence in its over height condition.
Staff has reviewed this site applying standard traffic engineering criteria, finds
no necessity for this increased height and recommends that this fence exception
be denied. Furthermore, if denied, the Engineering Department will reauire that
the corner column and one column on each side of the corner be reduced in height
to a three foot (3') maximum height and that required three foot (3') high fence
will be enforced to third column from the corner (approximately 15') on each street.
Should the Commission approve this request, staff suggests the following changes in
fence design and also conditions of approval:
1. That the top one foot (1'), from 3 feet to 4 feet above sidewalk grade,
have only pole supports, not brick columns and that the fence rungs be
horizontal at about six inch spacing with maximum of three interior
supports.
2. That should the City remove the stop sign on Howard Avenue, that the
fence be reduced to a total height of three feet (3').
FCE:mg
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� Frank C. Erbacher
City Engineer