MISSION VIEJO : Truck Ban Delayed a Year by Council

Plans to restrict truck traffic through Mission Viejo to four streets were put off for a year by the City Council last week.

Council members indicated that they wanted to see whether trucks will cause problems on two roads scheduled to open by this spring before making a decision.

The proposed ordinance would have established designated commercial truck routes along Oso Parkway, El Toro Road, Santa Margarita Parkway and Cabot Road.

Council members also heard from several concerned residents who live near Oso Parkway, one of the streets that would bear all truck traffic under the proposal. Residents pointed out that Oso Parkway has several school bus stops.

“I’m not concerned about property values or noise,” said Alice Blair, “but I am concerned about the amount of children in our neighborhood. The neighborhood is chock-full of kids. I can’t believe there isn’t a better route.”

Other property owners told the council that they are concerned about home values dropping and extra noise from the increased truck traffic.

Transportation officials recommended the ban on trucks to protect a recent $1-million investment in road improvements on Alicia Parkway, a major east-west artery in the city.

Limiting trucks to a few streets would also be safer than continuing to allow them to use all roads in the city, a recent city-commissioned report concluded.

Portions of both Alicia and Oso parkways near Rancho Santa Margarita are currently under construction. When completed, they will link Rancho Santa Margarita with Interstate 5.

Mayor Sharon Cody said she wants to see how many trucks use the newly opened roads before approving any truck routes.

“I feel real nervous about having signs that say, ‘Trucks, come on down through Oso (Parkway),” she said.