Flea market traffic concerns outweigh benefits
The project itself isn’t a bad idea. It’s just the wrong
location. Robert Rodriguez’s proposal for a flea market at his 1370
Shore Road property should get a denial from supervisors when they
officially vote on the idea in the coming weeks, but only because
the traffic issue is too much to overcome at this point.
Flea market traffic concerns outweigh benefits
The project itself isn’t a bad idea. It’s just the wrong location. Robert Rodriguez’s proposal for a flea market at his 1370 Shore Road property should get a denial from supervisors when they officially vote on the idea in the coming weeks, but only because the traffic issue is too much to overcome at this point.
His proposal has stirred quite a debate in the past couple of months – between opponents who argue it would create problems with traffic safety, crime, noise and dust and supporters who contend it would provide an outlet for families, which they say is lacking in San Benito County.
Aside from the roads, the opposition’s other concerns are overstated and manageable, but the proposal inadequately addresses the relatively massive spike in traffic the events would attract on weekends.
Even with Rodriguez recently withdrawing the other half of his plan – an adjacent rodeo complex – there would be hundreds of additional vehicles slowing to a near stop, at times backed up, on a country thoroughfare where drivers are accustomed to hitting the gas pedal more often than not.
Rodriguez estimates 400 shoppers per day. It’s an imposing and reasonable enough number to require traffic improvements from the developer, which Rodriguez hasn’t committed to funding. Unless Rodriguez wants to propose funding the hefty traffic improvements necessary to make it safe, supervisors have no reason to risk creating a major problem on that road and they certainly have no business using tax dollars on such upgrades.
The area would need acceleration and deceleration lanes. There are no shoulders in the event a driver has to veer from danger. And the entrance driveway is a mere 20-feet wide, so imagine the line of vehicles backed up when ticket takers get a rush of customers.
Despite the fair-minded argument from supporters that it would offer families a positive outlet, the downside at this location – the creation of a safety hazard – should spur a rejection from supervisors.
