While residents in Rossmoor recently rejected a costly study prepared by the Orange County Department of Public Works, a lone resident appeared before the Board of Directors in June saying he could not in good conscious not speak out before someone gets hurt.
Kevin Boylan suggested that while the residents rejected the recent traffic study, so many kids are getting in and out of cars along Montecito suggests someone, probably a child, is eventually going to be hurt.
“I would like to address at least one concern that I do have. It has to do with the safety of the young people that we have in the community, particularly those in adjacent to Rossmoor (Elementary) School,” said Boylan.
“I live on Montecito and have a bird’s eye view of what goes on every single day,” he said.”Rossmoor School is a seven-day-a-week activity during the school year, he added.
“Whar I think that isn’t so great is I think there are the hazards that a lot of those people are being exposed to because of this factor. Young people are entering and exiting vehicles,” he said, suggesting someone eventually is going to be hurt.
“When that happens, said Boylan,” we’re going to be responsible for that. And I just can’t, in good conscience, stand up here and say tha.s the right thing to do.”
Director Tony Demarco, First Vice President, and head of the Board’s traffic committee reminded Boylan that Rossmoor overwhelmingly rejected a proposal recently put forth by OC Public Works to make changes to the traffic flows throughout the community.
“The vast majority of the people who came to that meeting did not want any change,” said Demarco. “So it’s just very difficult to get change, even if it’s safety change,” he said.
Boylan said despite the recent rejection, “Sometimes you need to push against the resistance to change.”
Demarco told Boyland that he’s still open to exploring traffic changes.
” I’m still open to discussing this. I know the county spent a bunch of money on all these studies,” said Demarco.
Boylan said it was a “head scratcher” as to why the developer of Rossmoor allowed a four-lane high through a residential highway.
Regarding the recent traffic study, Boylan said there were some, of what he termed, “poison pills” in the OC Public Works study. “There was a lot to dislike in the study,” he offered, “nevertheless we’re trying to move toward a safer environment.”
Demarco then asked Boylan about his neighbors.
“What about your neighbors,” Demarco asked Boylan, “what do they think?”
In short, Demarco asked Boylan to reach out to his neighbors, and if they agree that safety changes were needed, he should put together a coalition of neighbors that live along Montecito and Bostonian, where he lives, to try to create some isolated change.
Boylan said he was not opposed to reaching out to his neighbors but wondered aloud what the board’s disposition might be for a real change.
Demarco repeatedly expressed his openness to listen and board president Michael Maynard said “you have my ear.”
Maynard said the item was not on the agenda and it was impossible to discuss a hypothetical solution without a proposal but encouraged Boylan to press forward.
“I’ve always been a proponent of slower speeds and a little bit more careful consideration, especially around schools,” said Maynard. He suggested areas around schools need “hybrid” safety solutions.
“There is a process, and I can tell you anything that makes Rossmoor safer, safer, especially speeding near schools, you have my ear,” said Maynard.
The OC Public Works transportation planning staff put together a plan that called for a mini-traffic circle near each of the four elementary schools within Rossmoor to slow traffic, but voters overwhelmingly rejected it in a community-wide survey.
“It’s crazy for people crossing the street and I’ve personally seen what you see,” Maynard told Boylan.
”I just see too many people getting in and out of their cars and a lot of double parking occurring, particularly on the school side of Montecito where the fields are as people are entering and exiting and waiting for a parking place,” Boylan told Maynard.
“Let me start by saying my wife is clairvoyant,” said Boylan. “She said if I came here and made a presentation I would get an assignment. I don’t mind knocking on doors,” he told the board, suggesting he would be back before them at some point in the future.
