MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Road safety, town beautification projects and a proposal for a Dollar General store were topics of discussion at the Middletown Area Town Hall this week.
MATH held its regular meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, at the Middletown Library on Thursday evening.
At the meeting's start, Chair Fletcher Thornton gave an update on safety issues on Big Canyon Road and Santa Clara Road, which had been a topic of discussion at the August meeting.
In August, community members attending the MATH meeting had raised issues with speeding, the safety of the roadways and concerns about the potential for accidents on the two roads.
Thornton himself had been particularly concerned about Big Canyon Road, which passes along the Middletown Unified School District campus. He surmised that people heading to nearby Harbin Hot Springs were partially responsible for the heavy volume of traffic.
At Thornton's request, the county of Lake began to monitor the areas, putting out traffic measuring strips for a two-week period on both streets. The Lake County Public Works Department then provided Thornton with reports generated by that study.
In giving the group a synopsis, Thornton said speeds on Big Canyon Road averaged 33 miles per hour, with peak speeds of 55 miles per hour recorded in front of the school on a Friday. He said Sunday nights also were bad times based on speeds.
He reiterated his belief that Harbin visitors may be the cause of the traffic, but added of the study's conclusion, “It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.”
As for Santa Clara Road, which runs alongside the Middletown Central Park Association's arena, speeds on that road averaged between 28 and 44 miles per hour, with peaks of 55 miles per hour, he said.
Margaret Greenley, who lives on Santa Clara, pointed out that the traffic study strips on the street were placed in such a way that they didn't record some of the traffic in key areas, such as coming off of Lake Street.
Thornton said that as for solutions, what happens on Big Canyon Road largely will be determined by what the school district can do, adding he hopes the district will put up a sign to urge drivers to slow down.
In other business, Marlene Elder, who helped organize the effort to begin holding monthly free family movies in Middletown Square Park during the summer, updated the group on the next movie, “Bark Ranger,” to be held on Saturday evening. It's the last movie of the summer season.
Elder also brought to the group new projects to consider, including the installation of decorative arches for Middletown Square Park's entrances, which she said can be used for seasonal and event decorations; a marquee to announce events at the park, as well as the nearby library and senior center; and the introduction of a once-a-month summertime game night in the park.
MATH members supported moving forward on exploring the three proposals, and Elder said she was willing to do the legwork to see what community groups – including churches – might be interested in taking turns hosting the game night events starting next year.
“I absolutely refuse to say it won't work,” Thornton said of the game night proposal.
He said Elder has proven him wrong too many times, with one of those times being the establishment of the monthly summer movie night, which he lauded during the meeting.
Thornton said he also had run the game night idea by the local charter school, which was interested in participating.
“I think it's worthwhile,” he said of the idea.
Dollar General considerations
The remainder of the meeting was spent largely on an update and a discussion about a proposal to locate a Dollar General store in Middletown.
Texas-based Cross Development, which builds stores for the Tennessee-based “small box” retailer, wants to construct a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store at 20900 S. Highway 29.
Cross Development also submitted an application for a store on Main Street in Kelseyville, which the Lake County Planning Commission denied.
The Board of Supervisors late last month turned down Cross Development's appeal of the planning commission decision regarding the Kelseyville store proposal, with key issues revolving around design aesthetics and safety concerning traffic volumes in the area, which is near a school.
Thornton said he attended the Board of Supervisors meeting on the appeal, noting, “There was the normal emotional response, 'I don't like Dollar General, no matter what.'”
However, beyond that, he said other people brought up real issues about location and products the store sells, including alcohol and cigarette sales.
In June, MATH members voted to form a committee to study the Dollar General proposal, with Monica Rosenthal chairing the group.
On Thursday night, Rosenthal gave a synopsis of the Board of Supervisors' hearing on the Kelseyville store appeal, noting the Kelseyville community was very organized and prepared, and had a clear voice.
She said the committee hasn't met since the August MATH meeting took place, but has reached consensus via email discussions to suggest that the MATH Board respond to a request from the Community Development Department to give input on the project proposal to date, which as far as Rosenthal knew on Thursday didn't include a completed application to county planners.
Rosenthal said the committee recommends a negative declaration rather than an environmental impact report be completed, and that the project comply with the Middletown Area Plan.
At the August meeting, Thornton stated that he believed that a plan for MATH to take a vote on whether or not to endorse the project may be premature, and he raised that concern again on Thursday.
He said he believed MATH should decide whether or not they want something in their down, adding, “The question is, are we ready to do that?”
Thornton said he believed doing so was premature because Cross Development hasn't submitted final project plans yet. “I don't know what they want to do.”
Joe Sullivan, a MATH member and Lake County planning commissioner, said he had spoken to Community Development Director Rick Coel, who indicated that Cross Development intended to move forward with submitting an application.
One attendee at the Thursday meeting, Gregg Van Oss, said he believed that some people who support bringing Dollar General to town aren't being represented because they don't attend the meetings. He said many people don't have time to participate.
Thornton said he has passed fliers around the town and worked on outreach, and doesn't buy the argument that people don't have time to attend community meetings. “If it's important, you make time.”
Another MATH Board member, Ken Gonzales, said MATH Board members' phone numbers are on the widely circulated agendas, and none of them have received phone calls from people who want the store.
Rosenthal pointed out that Middletown differs from Kelseyville in a key aspect when it comes to the Dollar General proposal. “We have two different voices on this particular project.”
She said Middletown isn't going to come together as neatly as Kelseyville did. However, “We as a community, we need to take a look at what we want this town to look at.”
If it isn't Dollar General, it could be another project down the line that poses similar issues, she said.
Thornton said he's not been happy with the proposal's design or location so far, adding his big concern is that the town will end up with something that will detract from its look.
Gonzales said he was in Santa Fe for a visit two weeks ago. While that city has malls with stores like Dollar General, he said such stores are kept out of the city's historic downtown. He suggested Middletown could take a similar approach.
Thornton asked the group if they should take a vote on the proposal, and members agreed they weren't yet ready to do so.
At one point, Van Oss said he wanted MATH to decide not to take a stand on the project. Thornton said they were not going to do that.
Rosenthal said both the Lake County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors want community input, but valid arguments are needed in addressing the project. Thornton said that's why he formed the committee – so MATH would know what valid arguments existed.
Elder asked if the group would get to see the plans. Thornton said yes; once plans are final and submitted, MATH will meet to discuss them so it can give the planning commission its input.
Sullivan emphasized that the entire process is transparent and open to the public.
Rosenthal noted that MATH has some power, “And it's up to us if we decide to use it or not.”
As the meeting wrapped up, Thornton informed members that new Middletown Unified School District Superintendent Catherine Stone will attend the October MATH meeting, with Sen. Mike McGuire scheduled to be the special guest at the meeting in November.
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