Target report shows increased traffic in Scotts Valley

The amount of traffic in Scotts Valley will likely be debated throughout the coming month as people have a chance to weigh in on what a proposed Target store in Scotts Valley would mean for the city.
The 143,000-square-foot store is planned for La Madrona Drive next to the Hilton hotel and Silverwood Drive, the entrance to the Monte Fiore housing community.
Last week, the city of Scotts Valley released the required draft supplemental environmental impact report and an economic impact report detailing the Target project.
Each member of the Scotts Valley City Council has begun analyzing the comprehensive report.
“I think the council is going to be open to what the public has to say and at the same time will rely heavily on the EIR and rely heavily on the experts and put it all together and make a decision,” Councilman Dene Bustichi said.
A 45-day comment period began Sept. 18 and ends Nov. 4. Comments in writing can be sent to senior planner Taylor Bateman at tb******@sc**********.org, or mailed to city of Scotts Valley, One Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley 95066.
Fervent Target opponent Paul Bach, the head of the Responsible Local Development Political Action Committee, thinks the report seals the deal on the project being approved.
“It’s very clear that the City Council will approve this, and it will come down to a lawsuit,” Bach said.
Traffic
According to the traffic study performed by Fehr and Peers as found in the EIR, Target would generate 7,366 new car trips each day. However, the major impact would be felt at peak traffic times at specific intersections in the city.
*Between 4 and 6 p.m. weekdays at the intersection of Mt. Hermon Road and Scotts Valley Drive, the wait time at the stoplight would increase from 45.6 seconds to 49.8 seconds after a new turn lane is added on Mt. Hermon Road and Whispering Pines Drive is restriped.
*Between 4 and 6 p.m. weekdays at the intersection of Mt. Hermon Road, La Madrona Drive and the Highway 17 southbound off-ramp, the wait time would increase from 23.9 seconds to 31.7 seconds with a new turn lane on Mt. Hermon Road. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, the wait would increase from 20 seconds to 31.6 seconds.
*Residents of Altenitas Road would face significant waits to turn onto La Madrona Drive: an extra nine seconds on weekday mornings, 29 seconds during the evening and 88 seconds at midday Saturday. The increased wait times at Altenitas were deemed unavoidable.
*Five other intersections in Scotts Valley were analyzed in the report, and no others showed increases of more than three seconds. Even traffic off Highway 17 should see little change in wait time.
The study also looks at cumulative traffic by the year 2018 and finds that wait times will be significantly longer based on growth in the city at that time.
The study concluded that 57 percent of traffic would come from the communities west of the development through the San Lorenzo Valley, 30 percent from Santa Cruz via Highway 17 and 10 percent from Highway 17 southbound.
Parking
A 517-space parking lot was deemed sufficient, except during the winter holiday season. During December, before Christmas, the study concludes that there will be a 213-parking space shortage.
“Some shoppers would not be able to find a space on the site during the peak holiday shopping period,” according to the report.
Target must therefore prepare a parking plan for employees to park elsewhere during the holiday rush, which might require a temporary shuttle service or an agreement with nearby property owners.
Bicycle parking for 26 cycles was also suggested.
Biological resources
Plants, trees and animals were studied as part of the environmental review. The report concluded that while the development would reduce open space for plant and animal species in Scotts Valley, it would not result in a substantial reduction of open space or wildlife habitat.
Storm water runoff
About 10.5 acres of open land would be covered with concrete or other impervious surfaces if Target were built, which would increase the flow of storm water into drains. However, the review concludes that with mitigation using screens, grease separators and various other solutions, the level of pollution flowing into storm drains would be acceptable.
In terms of groundwater recharge, granite bedrock below the property already limits access to underground aquifers, making the loss of recharge capacity insignificant.
Fire protection and emergency services
Both Scotts Valley Police Department and Scotts Valley Fire Protection District indicated that they would be able to provide adequate coverage for the estimated 50 to 70 employees per shift at the Target store.
See the full environmental and economic reviews of Target’s proposal at www.scottsvalley.org.