Woodsiders say cars, crime plague their cul-de-sac Woodsiders say cars, crime plague their cul-de-sac (August 04, 2004)

** Raymundo residents hope parking ban will ease problems.

By Andrea Gemmet
Almanac Staff Writer

Long, narrow and winding, Raymundo Drive dead-ends in a tiny cul-de-sac after meandering up hill and down. It's the sort of road you can't imagine people driving on unless they live there or have gotten hopelessly lost. And if not for the small trail entrance leading into Huddart Park, that would probably be the case.

Instead, residents said over the past few years, they've faced nightmarish problems from crowds of people who use the street to avoid paying the park's $5 parking fee, or to sneak in after hours.

A dead body was dumped on her property two years ago, and just a week ago someone dumped what looked like the remains of a torn-down house, including chunks of concrete and termite-infested wood, said Raymundo Drive resident Melinda Fitch.

She's found people using her swimming pool who refused to leave, and an ex-convict in her garage trying to a load a gun, she told the Woodside Town Council at the July 24 meeting.

Other residents complained of trespassers in their yards, marijuana growers tending their crops, and suspected drug dealers making sales from their cars. Residents get trapped by cars blocking their driveways and cars parked along the street make it virtually impassable, they said.

Janet Estep said she and her husband have come across marijuana crops a half dozen times, and reported the people they suspect are cultivating the plants to the Sheriff's Office, to no avail.

"It sounds like a horror story," said Mayor Paul Goeld sympathetically. "I wish we'd known about this sooner."

Council members agreed to the residents' request to ban parking on the street and post no parking/tow-away zone signs. The vote was 4-0, with Joe Putnam, Pete Sinclair and Deborah Gordon absent.

Town Manager Susan George said she was working with the Sheriff's Office to increase its patrols on Raymundo Drive.

"I think enforcement is key to this," said Mr. Goeld.

Residents said they weren't sure why the problems have gotten so much worse in recent years, but said problems increased around the time sheriff's deputies stopped ticketing cars. The neighborhood posted several "ad hoc" no-parking signs, but Woodside has no law on the books restricting parking on the street, said Ms. George.

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