Council poised to revisit street choices for Tivoli

By ADAM ASHTON
aashton@modbee.com

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Worries about how Modesto's next subdivisions would affect a residential street nearly derailed a proposal to build 3,200 homes north of Sylvan Avenue at a Planning Commission meeting last month.

The Modesto City Council on Tuesday is expected to see the plans for the Tivoli development with two options to protect McReynolds Avenue.

Tivoli's original plans call for extending McReynolds to other roads within the subdivisions, but residents of the street want it sealed off from the rest of the development.

Modesto's planners recommend that the council stick with the original proposal to extend McReynolds because the other choices could direct too many cars to neighboring roads.

But the planners did look at possible adjustments -- making the road a cul-de-sac or shifting it to steer more traffic to Roselle Avenue. The council can choose either of those options or keep the first plan.

The Planning Commission approved the original plan by a 4-3 vote Jan. 28.

Most City Council members have followed Tivoli's progress through City Hall for several years. It's been in the works since 2001, before Mayor Jim Ridenour won his first election, and before Brad Hawn, Garrad Marsh and Kristin Olsen won their council seats in 2003 and 2005.

"It's been a lot of hard work, and we're excited to have it before the council," said Dave Romano, an engineer who has represented Tivoli's builders for most of this decade.

Since the Planning Commission meeting, the city has looked at questions from residents about whether a commercial shopping center should be built near Oakdale Road and Mable Avenue.

Resident Russell Harrison suggested that it would make more sense to place a development closer to Riverbank's Crossroads shopping center at Oakdale and Claribel roads. He further wrote that Tivoli's plans have changed excessively since voters approved sewer extensions for a 2,400-home project in that area in 2001.

The city's consultant replied that one of the goals for the project is to provide commercial outlets for northeast Modesto, an objective that would be delayed at least three years if the site were moved.

The Modesto City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.

Bee staff writer Adam Ashton can be reached at aashton@modbee.com or 578-2366.