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Wandzia Grycz 2 10/01/96 2. Maintain the sliding vehicle gate which allows vehicle exit only. 3. Require removal of the spikes from the Harold Avenue vehicle driveway, in order to comply with Fire Department requirements. 4. Work with the neighbors to study the feasibility of speed bumps on Harold Avenue 5. Study the feasibility of limiting the hours of accessibility for the pedestrian and vehicle gate. (Assuming that the pedestrian gate functions properly so that it requires key access from Harold Avenue.) 6. Keep the pedestrian gate open. The City Council may leave the permit as it is, modify or revoke the permit. BACKGROUND On February 28, 1996, the City of San Leandro received a petition, signed by 59 neighbors of the St. Moritz Apartments, asking the City to consider requiring the closure of the exit from the St. Moritz Apartment building to Harold Avenue. The petition cites problems related to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, on -street parking, noise, litter and associated problems on Harold Avenue and near the apartment building exit. Due to the controversial nature of the matter, the permit was taken to the Planning Commission so that the Planning Commission could review the issues and make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council has the authority to make the final determination to leave the permit as it is, modify or revoke the permit. DISCUSSION The Harold Avenue neighbors have expressed concern regarding increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Harold Avenue, noise, litter, increased on -street parking and associated problems. The neighbors assert that the addition of the pedestrian gate, encourages apartment tenants to park on Harold Avenue and enter the complex through the pedestrian gate. At the July 11, 1996 public hearing, the St. Moritz tenants testified as to their desire to keep the pedestrian and vehicle gates open. The tenants cited safety concerns related to attempting to exit onto Washington Avenue, the safety and convenience of being able to use the pedestrian gate and walk on Harold Avenue instead of Washington Avenue, and their general right to use Harold Avenue, a public street. In addition, the St. Moritz tenants expressed their belief that the problems are not as great as those alleged by the neighborhood. The neighborhood concerns regarding the impact of the gate on the neighborhood are difficult for staff to verify. However, it can be assumed that the opening of the access between the St. Moritz Apartment building and Harold Avenue increased the pedestrian and vehicle traffic on Harold Avenue. The Traffic Engineer concurs with an extensive traffic study which was conducted in 1977. Both studies determined that due to the high volume of traffic on Washington Avenue, it is preferable for Rpo