BREA : City Council Backs Street Realignment

In a decision that angered several Brea residents, the City Council unanimously supported a developers’ proposal to realign Randolph Avenue near Brea Marketplace.

Residents are upset because a proposed retail center on the former Brea-Olinda High School site will require changes they say will create traffic problems on the avenue. Under the proposal, motorists driving south on Randolph will be prohibited from turning left onto Birch Street. A concrete median will be built along Birch as part of the overall plan for development in the area.

In addition to realigning Randolph, new traffic signals will be installed along Birch at Poplar Avenue, one block west of Randolph, and at the entrance to the planned shopping center.

Lowe Development Co. is expanding its Brea Marketplace at the Randolph Avenue and Birch Street intersection. Initially, the firm proposed a 300,000-square-foot office building on the school site.

Officials say that residents living north of the development who want to make a left turn on Birch Street will be able to do so at Poplar Avenue.

Residents say they fear there will be accidents caused by motorists who use Poplar Avenue to get to the new signal. Poplar, they say, has more curves and blind intersections than Randolph.

“It’s less safe. It’s unbelievable that they let this go through,” resident Don McBride said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, six residents complained about the realignment.

“Traffic will be impacted in our residential area by the proposal,” said Tim Scott. “It would increase traffic in our neighborhood by 30%.”

City Manager Frank Benest said installing a traffic light and a left-turn lane at the Poplar and Birch intersection will ease traffic.

A decision on the realignment will affect about 300 homes.