YORBA LINDA : Survey Planned on Imperial Hwy. Project

At the request of city residents, the City Council agreed this week to conduct a survey regarding tentative plans for expanding Imperial Highway through Yorba Linda.

The survey, to be written by a committee of council members and residents in the next few months, will ask whether the city should accept county money to increase Imperial Highway from one lane in both directions to two or three lanes in some locations. The questionnaire will be sent out with April trash bills.

A number of residents has expressed concerns that the project would increase traffic in the city and would require the construction of an unsightly sound wall. Eight opponents of the plan asked council members at Tuesday night’s meeting to include the issue as a measure on the March ballot.

“It’s time to turn the decision over to the citizens of this community whether we wish to have this project or not,” George Mendoza said.

But because the deadline for adding ballot measures was Wednesday, the council voted for the mail survey instead.

“There is no reason to cram [a plan] down anyone’s throat,” Mayor John M. Gullixson said. He said that the highway would not become a major freeway with eight lanes and 16-foot sound walls, the fear expressed by some residents. Such plans have been and would be “fully rejected by this council,” Gullixson said.

Residents at the meeting expressed dismay, however, after the council voted 4 to 1, with Mark Schwing dissenting, to use $150,000 of Orange County Transportation Authority money to buy a 31,240-square-foot parcel of land beside Imperial Highway that might be used for widening the road.

Schwing argued that the council was reneging on a decision last month to forgo OCTA funds and said that accepting the money might force the city to comply with county conditions.

Gullixson countered that city officials could and would return the money if they did not agree with county requirements.

For information about serving on the survey committee, call City Clerk Carolyn Wallace at (714) 961-7150.