A new 7-Eleven that’s being built will help reduce the potential for traffic accidents at Louise Avenue at North Main Street.
The Manteca Planning Commission — at the suggestion of chair Ron Lafranchi — added the requirement that the construction of the convenience store with six fueling pumps on the northeast corner of the intersection includes placing a raised concrete median to prevent left turns into and out of the 7-Eleven parking lot from Louise Avenue.
LaFranchi shared how confusing and dangerous Louise Avenue just east of Main Street can be with drivers turning left across Louise Avenue to access three driveways for commercial properties within 300 plus feet of the intersection.
The situation is made worse by the fact the two heaviest used driveways — accessing the center anchored by SaveMart and the other anchored by the now shuttered 24 Hour Fitness — are across from each other without being aligned. The intersection also had the highest daily vehicle count the last time Manteca conducted citywide traffic counts.
A similar problem on Louise Avenue immediately west of the intersection was addressed more than 15 years ago when a Shell station was torn down and replaced with a Walgreens drug store kitty corner from where the 7-Eleven is being built. That median eliminated left turns in and out of not just the Walgreens but also Jack in the Box and the now shuttered Orchard Supply Hardware store. In the case of Walgreen’s the chain was also required to extend the median on Main Street to prevent left turns at their driveway on Main Street as well.
It was pointed out to LaFranchi that the median on Louise Avenue had been suggested but staff opted not to make it a recommendation. The rest of the commission sharing LaFranchi’s concern opted to make it a requirement.
An ongoing issue with sidewalk maintenance was also addressed with the approval of the 7-Eleven building plan. Two existing trees in sidewalk wells will be taken out and the hole cemented other. At the same time 7-Eleven is being required to plant and maintain 24 trees behind the sidewalk.
The city has a backlog in the high six figures of work involving buckled sidewalks throughout Manteca that need to be removed. For issues in high traveled commercial areas they make such a work a priority such as when trees were removed and buckled sidewalk replaced along Main Street in front of Carter’s Pet Store.
The 3,010-square-foot 7-Eleven convenience store and fueling station with six pumps and a canopy will be built where Taqueria La Estrella operated a Mexican restaurant since 2011 in the converted former Long John Silver’s fast food restaurant before relocating to a site several blocks to the south near the Waffle Café.
It will be the fifth 7-Eleven in Manteca including one three quarters of a mile to the north on Main Street at Northgate Drive. A Southland Corporation representative said the Main and Northgate store will continue to operate.
The other three 7-Eleven stores are all located on Yosemite Avenue.
An additional 371 mini
storage units approved
The commission on Tuesday also approved plans by DeArcos Self Storage to expand its North Main Street location just north of Northgate Drive with 17 buildings containing 371 self-storage units.
The buildings are planned on 4.53 acres that once served as part of the right of way for the flyover onramp for Highway 99 that was removed five years ago when the new Lathrop Road-Highway 99 interchange was built.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
