RANCHO PALOS VERDES : Restricted Access OKd for Island View Tract
Residents of the Island View housing tract have gained preliminary approval to restrict access to the public streets surrounding their homes.
Last week, the City Council voted 4 to 1 to begin proceedings to hand over a small part of Whitley Collins Street near Crest Road to the Island View Home Owners’ Assn.
The association plans to build a card-controlled gate that would restrict access to approved cars. Pedestrian access to the estimated 90 homes would not be restricted.
In an effort to curb crime, the association has asked to restrict access three times since 1992, according to a city report.
Because restricting access to public roadways may open the city to a lawsuit, the homeowners’ association must also pay the city’s legal fees if the arrangement wins final approval.
Mayor Steven Kuykendall, who voted against the measure, said he was worried about a lawsuit against the city. State law prohibits a city from restricting access to public streets.
But City Atty. Carol Lynch said such an action may be legal if part of the street is private.
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