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Rossmore board asks county to evaluate optional red‑curb driveway clearances on Hedwig and Foster Roads
Summary
After a resident survey and two committee meetings, the Rossmore board voted 4‑0 to request Orange County Public Works evaluate voluntary red‑curb driveway clearance aprons for properties opposite Rossmore Park to improve visibility when backing from driveways.
The Rossmore board voted unanimously July 14 to ask Orange County Public Works to evaluate installing optional driveway clearance red curbs for residents on the north side of Hedwig Road and on Foster Road opposite Rossmore Park.
The parks and traffic committee conducted a survey of the 16 properties immediately adjacent to the park corridor (three on Foster, 13 on Hedwig); county traffic staff said ten respondents reported visibility or safety concerns when backing out of driveways. Orange County senior traffic engineer Wei Zhu told the board the primary issue is frequent parking and a high daytime traffic flow on Hedwig that can make sightlines poor for residents pulling out of driveways.
Committee members and staff presented two primary mitigation options: painted parking stalls (20‑foot standard spacing) and red‑curb driveway clearance aprons adjacent to each driveway. The committee recommended offering the red‑curb apron as an optional measure residents could request; final apron width, placement and enforcement would be determined by OC Public Works using accepted traffic engineering practice. The committee and county staff noted that marked parking stalls would not increase total parking capacity and that a red curb typically carries more perceived enforcement weight.
Motion and vote: The board moved to ask Orange County Public Works to evaluate optional driveway‑clearance red curbs for interested residents on Hedwig and Foster roads and to leave participation voluntary; the motion passed by roll call, 4‑0.
Quote from county traffic engineer Wei Zhu: "When vehicles are heavily parked along the street ... residents, when they are backing out of their driveway, have difficulty seeing oncoming traffic," she said.
Ending: County staff said they will provide the district with official technical information and design guidance; the board asked staff to coordinate next steps with Orange County Public Works.
