Driveway Solutions Pave Way For Strawberry Sales

Strawberry sales at two Livermore roadside stands are underway, thanks in part to the city’s discussion with the property owners at two separate locations.

Both locations are leased by Lee’s Strawberries. One on South Livermore Avenue near Concannon Boulevard opened more than one year ago. This site was the center of controversy last year. The city said it had to shut down because the driveway constructed by the property owner, who did not seek a permit, failed to meet city standards for safety, said city transportation manager Mohammad Pournia.

The city negotiated with the property owner. It turned out that an agreement the city had with the owner concerning a second driveway contained ambiguous language, about whether that, too, would be permitted.

The city decided to make a deal that removes the ambiguous language by agreement with the property owner, so that the city wouldn’t have any legal vulnerability in the future. The city also promised to pave the existing driveway to upgrade it. The city will wait until a paving crew to be hired for summer street work can be put on the job, which probably would start in July.

Pournia estimated it will cost $10,000, though it’s hard to tell the exact price now.

The other strawberry stand location is on East Avenue, between Mines Road and Vasco Road. Staff asked the property owner how people would access the property. The reply was that barriers would be removed on an emergency vehicle access right of way.

“That’s not a driveway, not a safe public entrance,” said Pournia. The property owner switched the entrance to an existing driveway to his home.