Campo planners, packed house, hear traffic update

By Derek Shaw
The Alpine Sun

     CAMPO — The monthly meeting of the Campo/Lake Morena Planning Group saw a lively discussion among board members, guest speakers and a packed house. The crowd asked numerous questions and sparked vigorous dialogue.
The meeting began with an announcement that four seats on the planning group will be on the ballot in November. The deadline to to file candidate papers is Aug. 11. All registered voters living in the Campo/Lake Morena community are eligible for the open seats. Candidate statements cost $110.
     The next item on the agenda was the controversial update of the county’s sea-going container ordinance. The San Diego County Planning Commission has moved the date of its hearing on the ordinance change from July 28 up to July 14 at 9 a.m. They will be taking into consideration any public opinion received, but they prefer to get comments by July 7 so that commissioners have time to review them.
     Sea-going containers will become illegal in the Back Country unless the public shows more opposition, according to Chairwoman Bev Esry. This law would affect many families and the only way to keep a sea-going container will be to match its exterior to that of ones home, Esry said. In other words, a container beside a stucco house would have to be stucco, as well. The airtight, weather- and critter-proof metal containers have proven useful for storing supplies and animal feed in harsh rural conditions.
     The CLMPG Groundwater Subcommittee is working with local and federal agencies to promote a comprehensive study of Back Country groundwater supplies. Subcommittee Chariman Larry Johnson reported that models have been conducted in Lee Valley and Pine Valley to good results, which are comparable with monitor wells in the area. For more information on the work in progress, one may visit the subcommittee’s website at www.campogroundwater.org.

Traffic
     The most animated debate of the evening was sparked by a presentation given by Tom Parry of the Traffic Advisory Committee and CHP officer Brian Pennings. It began when Parry began outlining the formulas used by the TAC to establish speed limits. The basic speed law means that drivers may not exceed a speed that is reasonable in light of weather, visibility, traffic and surface area.
     Each state establishes its own speed limits on public roads. Engineering surveys determine prima facie speed laws by considering prevailing speeds (85 percent of the speed of the average driver), accident evaluation, roadway conditions, residential density, pedestrians, bicycles and equestrian traffic. The TAC then collects that data, finds the prevailing speed and determines a safe speed limit.
     The discussion became heated when the focus turned to traffic within the community. Parry dealt with concerns from audience members and those previously submitted to the TAC for analysis.
     He announced that the request for light reflectors down the middle of Buckman Springs Road would not be fulfilled. The problem is that raised markers are often scraped off by snowplows. As the area occasionally receives snow, the markers would get stripped and replaced several times a year. Such a practice would be far too costly to maintain.
     In dealing with the many curves winding through the Back Country, the TAC reevaluated the region’s infrastructure and decided to lower the speed limit around certain windy bends and add signs to denote curvy roads ahead.
     The TAC received numerous requests to create designated bus pull-outs, but schools control these stop areas, and the district works with the CHP to erect signs. Still, the TAC is getting involved by instituting an experimental program with an energy-efficient lighting system. Starting next year, Buckman Springs and Potrero will be exclusive test sites, and select schools will receive flashing lights outside of campus.
     Many community members complained about speeding and reckless driving along Buckman Springs Road, pointing to the five deaths that have occurred there. Many locals wondered why the speed limit is not 25 miles per hour as automatically designated in residential and business districts. The answer is that Buckman Springs does not qualify as a residential district as defined by housing density requirements in the vehicle code.
     According to attendees, the precarious Y-shaped intersection currently joining Oak Drive and Buckman Springs is “unanimously dangerous.” The TAC agreed and replaced yield signs with stop signs. A plan is in place to reconfigure the roads into a safer T-shaped intersection.
     The Pine Valley Bridge has long been of concern in the community, and many people want speed limits and “narrow bridge” signs posted. However, the TAC can only use such notices if the structure itself is deteriorating or threatened and, since the bridge is to be reconstructed, starting in 2009, no changes are being made. Parry mentioned they are considering replacing “slippery when wet” signs with “bridge ices before road.”
     The La Posta railroad crossing recently received temporary stop signs, thanks to the TAC, and Parry said he is trying to convince the Public Utilities Commission to establish better speed controls and permanent stop signs.
     Finally, the issue of turnouts was discussed to flaring tempers. This is a serious capital improvement project that requires CHP approval, but key areas have already been identified for turnouts, and the TAC is reviewing the best options.
     One factor that makes the effort more challenging is that the turnouts must be made of asphalt, thus providing a transition to and from the freeway.
     Audience members argued that big trucks, which cause the biggest traffic slow downs, would not take advantage of the turnouts. Many people prefer to create passing lanes, but the cost to widen roads and accommodate the added traffic would be immense, Parry said.
 

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