The Napa City Council on Tuesday hit pause on a highly disputed roundabout planned for Napa’s east side, saving the home of an 84-year-old Napa man, for now.
The City Council voted 4-1 to delay approving an environmental impact report for the so-called Five-Way Intersection Project, a $27.15 million plan to replace a wonky intersection where five thoroughfares converge along Highway 121 with two single-lane roundabouts to reduce traffic and crashes.
According to the Napa Valley Transportation Authority, the intersection is a hot spot for collisions, with six recorded crashes since 2015, two resulting in severe injury. Napa officials, along with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, crafted the roundabout project to bring those numbers to zero and make the area more accessible for bikes and pedestrians.
The environmental impact report will return to the council for approval at a later date, said city staff. Even so, the City Council’s vote was a blow for some — the project has been over a decade in the making.
“To just say, ‘Well, let’s go redo it’ — it’s basically scrapping the project,” said frustrated Mayor Scott Sedgley, the sole dissenting vote Tuesday night.
But locals are happy with the council’s decision.
The project site is the meeting point of Silverado Trail, aka Highway 121, Third Street, Coombsville Road and East Avenue. The area is part of a historic working-class part of Napa, called “old Napa” by some.
But the dual-roundabout plan would require demolishing the lifelong home of Charlie Rossi, 84, which sits right near the middle of the intersection. The plan also says that construction could require taking portions of lots belonging to four small businesses — most of them minority-owned.
“The intersection is failing,” said Councilmember Mary Luros to a packed room on Tuesday. But, she said, “I don’t want to kick an 84-year-old man out of his home. I don’t think anyone does.”
According to the report, the Five-Way Intersection Project has “no significant impact on the human environment.” In several hours of public comment on Tuesday night, nearly 100 Napa residents disagreed.
“I have reported every member of City Council to Adult Protective Services,” said Napa resident Robin Rowe from the podium. “Because you are abusers of this elderly man.”
I don’t want to kick an 84-year-old man out of his home. I don’t think anyone does.
Councilmember Mary Luros
Rossi is popular around Napa. According to neighbors, Rossi, a gardener, was born and raised in the unique white basalt house, which sits near the center of the bustling intersection. The house, built in 1939, has for decades been a draw for Napans driving by to check out the dazzling Christmas decor he sets up each year.
According to Berkeley-based project manager Guy Preston, down the line, the city would negotiate payment with Rossi for the loss of his home.
“It breaks our hearts too,” said Preston. “There was no way of not impacting anybody.”
But until the environmental impact report is certified, no negotiations can take place.
“I would want to know definitively that there is no way to move forward without demolishing the house,” said Luros about approving the report.
While hitting pause doesn’t kill the project, Napa Public Works Director Jessica Lowe said, it’s not clear staff will be able to come up with an alternative.
“We have studied this extensively,” Lowe told the council. “There is not a way to shift the roundabout, preserve the work that’s happened on this EIR and save the house.”
Many are pleased with the council’s decision to place a hold on the project, but it’s not over.
The intersection is also home to several longstanding small businesses: El Rancho Grande Restaurant, Napa Tire & Wheels, Posh Motors and Napa Marble and Granite Works. The dual-roundabout plan could include a “minor” takeover of portions of each business’ lot, according to the environmental impact report.
“This is barely minimum operating size,” said Dimitri Marr, who owns Posh Motors, gesturing around the area where he and his wife sell cars. “The amount they’re trying to take off could potentially make this no longer viable as a dealership at all.”
All but one of the businesses at the intersection is minority-owned, he said, including his own.
Marr said he’s hopeful from talks with the city about ways around property loss — keeping a car dealership is already a tough business.
“It’s supposed to be representative of what the majority of the community wants,” he said. “That’s not always going be 100% unison. But I’m pretty sure the majority do not want this.”