The Town Council has told the La Strada Condominium HOA that it can leave a gate open at the rear of the property to allow residents to leave the neighborhood via Mountainside Drive.

La Strada has a single street bisecting the complex between Fountain Hills Boulevard and Mountainside Drive. When the development received final plat approval in 2002 there was a restriction on the use of the Mountainside gate. It was to be only used for trash collection and emergency egress.

Since that time the residents have found the narrow street is difficult to navigate with a one-way in and one-way out onto Fountain Hills Boulevard, across the street and just south of the Safeway shopping center.

The HOA formally asked the council to lift the restriction to allow residents to use Mountainside as an exit only from the complex.

Town Engineer Randy Harrel did a preliminary evaluation of the situation and found that with the exception of line of sight issues caused by vegetation and signage, he found no reason not to allow exit onto Mountainside.

The HOA has agreed to have an official traffic study done as well as take care of any stipulations related to safety issues.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh said that besides the removal of landscape material she wants the town to prohibit parking on Mountainside Drive. She said it is a narrow street and parking there creates congestion and poses a traffic hazard.

Vice Mayor Dennis Brown asked Development Services Director Bob Rodgers why the stipulation to keep the gate closed was included in the plat.

Rodgers said he had been unable to find a reason with his research of the project documents.

The vote to approve the removal of the restriction was 7-0. The gate will be opened for neighborhood egress only once all of the studies and safety mitigation measures are addressed.