CALABASAS : Street Barrier Issue Remains Unresolved

The Calabasas City Council’s decision to leave in place a temporary street barrier has kept alive an issue that caused a painful rift between residents of two halves of a housing tract, the city’s transportation chairman said Monday.

“It bothered me that the council didn’t do anything at the last meeting to make a decision either to construct a permanent barrier or eliminate it entirely,” Peter Eason, chairman of the city’s Traffic and Transportation Committee, said.

“They’re waiting for a clear signal of agreement among residents of the neighborhood, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said.

Despite stalled talks between angry neighbors, the council last month urged residents to keep trying to compromise on the barrier.

Plastic cones were placed at the top of lower Parkmor Road to protect children and parked cars on the residential street from through traffic, but forcing disgruntled residents of upper Parkmor Road to take a longer route.

Mayor Marvin Lopata said the council wanted more time to explore other options before building a permanent barrier.

One would be to demand that residents of the unincorporated Mountain View Estates use the front entrance to their gated community, instead of driving through the area near Parkmor Road, he said.

Eason said other options, including speed bumps and traffic signs, might be preferable to the barrier.

“I’m concerned about the precedent that (the barrier) sets,” Eason said. “Once you have a barrier at this location, there are going to be people in other parts of the city who are going to start wanting their own barriers.”

Several residents reportedly are trying to bring representatives of both sides together for more talks, but no meeting has been scheduled.