Buena Park : Stop Signs Approved in Move to Curb Speeding

Residents who complained that employees of a car dealership are playing “Russian Roulette” by driving too often and too fast through their neighborhood won a small victory last week.

The city’s Transportation and Traffic Committee agreed during a meeting attended by about 30 residents to place five stop signs on streets near Campbell Motors Inc., 6750 Manchester Blvd.

“We’re really happy. It’s a step in the right direction,” said Joyce Vrooman, a resident of Montana Avenue. But while parking problems around the dealership have eased, Vrooman said, “the speeding has continued and the test drives have continued.”

Vrooman said she and other residents have turned to the Buena Park police to alleviate the speeding they said is creating a dangerous situation.

Buena Park Police Lt. Steve Staveley said police have been “especially watchful of that area.”

Bruce Swanbom, general manager of Campbell Porsche/Audi Volkswagen, said he gave his 62 employees orders “to not drive down there. But it’s a public street. I can’t be out there every moment, checking it out.”

To alleviate parking congestion on Idaho, Montana and 10th Street, the car dealership has leased an extra lot for employees to use as a parking lot, Swanbom said. Swanbom said the company is paying $300 a month on the lot after spending about $3,000 to grade and fence it.