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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.3 OPEN SPACE ELEMENT INTRODUCTION This element focuses on open space and how its use meets the goals of the Town of Los Altos Hills' General Plan as set forth by the State of California. The principles of the Open Space Element are used by the other General Plan elements (Path and Trails, Recreation, Land Use, Scenic Roadways and Circulation) to achieve their goals. The use of land within the Town's boundaries affects both the Town and the entire Santa Clara Valley. The Town's geographic location and rugged terrain dictates the residential growth pattern, development and vistas. Its wooded mountains as well as rolling Oak studded and grass covered hills provide a tranquil backdrop for the densely urbanized Santa Clara Valley. DEFINITION Open space has many scales and forms. It can be a wooded hillside, rolling grass covered hills dotted with Oaks, streamside areas, a local park or scenic road, or the private areas of one's own backyard. The open space aspects of "air space" are significant as open vistas and add dimension and space to hillside and valley floor sites. The Government Code of the State of California defines open space as any area of land or water which is essentially unimproved and devoted to one or more types of open space uses(s), specifically including open space for: • preservation of natural resources such as wildlife habitat • managed production of resources such as prime soils, timber or minerals Open Space 1 1/30/95 • outdoor recreation such as historic areas and parks providing beach and river access and trails) • public health and safety (areas with geologic hazards such as landslides or active faults) DESCRIPTION Most lands within Los Altos Hills have some open space significance and should be preserved whenever possible. To catalogue the significant open space in the Town's planning area and adjacent areas, the open space within Los Altos Hills and its Sphere of Influence is divided into three types: large, intermediate and small scale (see Open Space inventory at the end of this element). The three types of open space have been broken down into the following categories: • Open Space Preserves are large areas of land which reserve natural resources, have outstanding scenic qualities and provide less active forms of outdoor recreation. • Open Space & Conservation Corridors are areas within a larger land unit which are established to protect steep canyons and hillsides, major creeks or their tributaries, ridgelines and heavily vegetated areas. Public welfare and visual amenities should be limited to low intensity recreational use. • Open Space Lands are primarily used for some form of active recreation. They may be either public or private, and are described in more detail in the Recreation Element. Open Space 2 1/30/95 GOALS: 1. Maintain the rural open space of the Town through the use of open space, guide development and enhance community identity. 2. Preserve and protect open space in the Town and adjoining areas as development occurs. 3. Preserve and protect open spaces vital for wildlife habitat or where necessary for protection of public health or safety. 4. Protect the natural setting and minimize disturbance of the terrain and vegetation. 5. Provide space for outdoor recreational areas. 6. Protect natural resources, sites of historic significance, and vistas within the Town and its Sphere of Influence. 7. Provide connections to adjoining regional and County open spaces. POLICIES: The implementation of the Open Space Element requires these policies to be followed: 1. Preserve the visual character of the planning area as the land is developed by linking open spaces both visually and physically to form a system of open space (e.g. path system and scenic roadways). 2. Planning for land use and structures shall concede to the general open space quality in the Los Altos Hills planning area. 3. Siting, scale, design and materials should be harmonious with the natural setting when building structures. 4. Development on private lands should be planned and designed to provide for preservation of open space. Open Space 3 1/30/95 5. Keep drainage courses in a natural condition as much as possible. 6. Encourage agricultural pursuits and the maintenance of adequate ground water supplies. 7. Keep unstable terrain, active fault traces, water channels, flood plains and any other hazardous areas in open space. 8. Provide recreational uses by linking open space lands with conservation, open space and landscape easements to conform with the path system. 9. Preserve historical landmarks which have open space value. 10. Maintain an open feeling and obtain open space through use of slope, open space and conservation easements, setbacks, rights-of way and pathway dedications. 11. Ordinances for the preservation of open space and to maintain the open feeling in the Town shall be adhered to at the time of subdivision and site development approval. STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE: 1. Review all development applications for impact on open space resources, and impose design conditions to preserve and protect open spaces. 2. Review all applications for subdivision and condition them to ensure preservation of open space for health and safety, reduction of hazards and protection of streams. 3. Review all applications for building and grading permits to ensure compliance with the open space policies. 4. Maintain adequate setbacks from streams, drainage courses and other natural features through the placement of conservation easements. Buildings should not be placed immediately adjacent to conservation easements. Open Space 4 1/30/95 • 5. When reviewing proposals for development or subdivision, require dedication of open space or conservation easements where appropriate. 6. Review and revise zoning or site development ordinance provisions to codify open space standards and requirements. 7. When reviewing development applications, give special attention to open space conservation. Open Space 5 1/30/95 Inventory of Open Space Large Scale Open Space is land of 31 acres or more which fits into one or more of the State categories. Areas of large scale open space in and adjacent to the Town include the following: • Open Space Preserves 1. Town owned Byrne Preserve, Altamont Road, is a rolling grassy area of more than 50 acres. Oak trees dot the landscape and a stream runs through the lower end. Pedestrian and equestrian paths through the preserve link to Hidden Villa and Westwind Barn. • Open Space Lands 1. Privately held, undesignated a. Lands of Sisters of Charity, Altamont Road b. Lands of Packard, Taaffe & Altamont Roads c. Lands of Fenwick, Elena Road 2. Adjacent Lands a. Privately held: - Hidden Villa - Lands of Stanford Lower Neary Quarry b. Publicly held: Foothills Park (City of Palo Alto) Arastra Open Space Preserve (City of Palo Alto) - Rancho San Antonio Open Space and other Mid- Peninsula Regional Open Space District lands Open Space 6 1/30/95 • Open Space & Conservation Corridors a. Matadero Creek b. Purissima Creek c. Adobe Creek d. Hale Creek e. Permanente Creek and tributaries • Open Space Lands a. The Town's pathway system and rights-of-way easements (see the Path & Trail and Scenic Roadways Elements): these two systems are linked by easements held on individual parcels of land. They provide continuous open space through the hills and link the Town to adjacent communities. Intermediate Scale Open Space • Open Space Preserves 1. Town owned a. Juan Prado Mesa Preserve, a 16 acre site located between Stonebrook and Dawson Drives. b. Rhus Ridge Area between Francemont Drive, Moody Road and Summit (6.26 acres). c. Lands of O'Keefe, eight acres located between Interstate 280 and O'Keefe Lane. d. Town Hall, Fremont and Concepcion Roads. e. Westwind Barn, Altamont Road f. Lands above Murietta Lane is 14 acres bordering the Mid- Peninsula Regional Open Space District to the south and Open Space 7 1/30/95 connecting to large open space and conservation easements on two properties to the north. 2. Privately owned a. Lands of Poor Clares, Natoma and Elena b. Lands of Silver c. Lands of Oliver, La Paloma Road d. Lands of Morrison, Robleda Road 3. Adjacent Lands a. Esther Clark Park (City of Palo Alto) b. Shoup Park (City of Los Altos) c. Lincoln Park (City of Los Altos) • Open Space & Conservation Corridors numerous areas throughout the Town • Open Space Lands 1. Town owned • a. Little League Fields, Purissima; b. Town Ring c. Westwind Barn 2. Privately held a. Fremont Hills Country Club b. Full House Farm 3. Publicly held by other governing units a. Bullis Purissima School b. Pinewood School Small Scale Open Space • Open Space Preserves Open Space 8 1/30/95 1. Town owned a. Bicentennial Park, West Edith at Fremont Road (1.0 acres) b. Saddle Mountain Swale (3.15 acres) c. Moody Road/Old Snakey (1.17 acres) d. -Purissima/Elena Roads (1.54 acres) e. Page Mill/Baleri Ranch Roads (.5 acres) f. Page Mill Road/Story Hill Lane (1.80 acres) g. Byrne Park Lane (2.04 acres) • Open Space & Conservation Corridors Usually on individual parcels of land for view, vegetation and slope protection as well as pathway use. • Open Space Lands Private recreation within land parcels. • Historical Sites Sites where preservation or recognition will enhance the character and sense of openness associated with the community (see Addendum II for listing). Open Space 9 1/30/95 • 11, 3 Scenic Roadways Element Introduction Our roads play an important part in the environment. They contribute to the design of the community and are important in the maintenance of the rural character of Los Altos Hills. With the rugged and often steep natural terrain of Los Altos Hills landscape, all roads within the community have scenic qualities. The scenic corridor, defined as "the view from the road," is important because of scenic features both near and far. Open rolling hillsides, steep stream canyons, wooded passages, grassy meadows - all wildlife habitats - establish the character of the Town for local residents and travelers alike. Roads serve many purposes in our community. They convey automobiles, bicycles, equestrians, joggers and walkers and provide places for native plants and small animals to live. Roads also facilitate drainage. It is essential that all roads within the Town be planned and developed and protected as part of the community's scenic road system. All Town roads are discussed generally or specifically in this element of the General Plan. Some roads stand out as special scenic routes and provide circulation through identifiable scenic corridors. This is due to the range of visible topography and vegetation, duration of visibility and character of the exposure to distant scenic views, and consistent open character of immediately adjacent landscape. Interstate 280, Page Mill Road and Moody Road are recognized on State or County plans as having such special scenic qualities. Scenic Roadways_ 1 1/30/95 Three categories describe the Town's system of scenic routes: 1. Town Scenic Roads 2. Intracommunity Scenic Roads 3. State Scenic Highways The following sections of this Element presents goals, policies and descriptions for the preservation and enhancement of the Town's scenic road system. Goals The following goals are guidelines for any road improvement or conservation project: 1. Preserve, protect, and enhance the scenic beauty of all roads and highways within the Town as seen by the motorist, equestrian, pedestrian, jogger and residents whose homes are located along the roadway. 2. Protect the adjacent corridors, which are endowed with special scenic qualities. 3. Provide a comprehensive scenic pathway system. 4. Protect properties adjacent to highways and roadways from adverse impact from roadway development, traffic movement, noise and pollution. Policies 1. Maintain spacious rights-of-way of sufficient width to permit trees and shrubs to provide a substantial buffer between the roadway and pathways and between the pathways and adjoining Scenic Roadways_ 2 1/30/95 properties, and to provide a pleasing and safe corridor for both vehicular and non-vehicular travel. 2. Maintain the rural quality of the roadway by imposing sensitive engineering design standards and by restricting the width of the paved portion to the minimum consistent with safety. 3. Acquire conservation easements and slope easements where necessary to ensure preservation of scenic areas immediately adjacent to roads. 4. Reduce the number of driveway cuts and keep the width of the cuts to a safe minimum. 5. Keep grading to a minimum when constructing roadways or making roadway improvements. 6. Establish a program for erosion control including landscaping to cover cut and fill scars. 7. Encourage residents to provide landscaping to buffer views of private land uses such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and parking areas. 8. Encourage the interspersed plantings of trees and shrubs that will not block views and safe passage throughout the town and will add to the rural ambiance. Descriptions Town Scenic Roads, Intercommunity Scenic Roads, and State Scenic Highways are indicated on the following diagram. ("Scenic Roads & Highways"). When development is proposed within a scenic corridor an • analysis of corridor characteristics may be required. Scenic Roadways_ 3 1/30/95 MAP of Scenic Roads & Highways Scenic Roadways_ 4 1/30/95 1. Town Scenic Roads are interior roads which serve as collectors and provide direct access in and out of the residential areas of the community. All roads in Los Altos Hills are deemed to have special scenic qualities. The preservation and enhancement of their scenic qualities is necessary to ensure residents and their guests the opportunity to experience the rural and open character of the Town while they move to and from homes within the Town. In general, adjacent lands are residentially developed. It is important to retain and enhance their scenic qualities. Some of the Town scenic roads are: a. Altamont Road j. Natoma Road b. Black Mountain Road k. Purissima Road c. Briones Way 1. Ravensbury Ave. d. Concepcion Road m. Robleda Road e. Elena Road n. Summerhill Ave. f. La Cresta Drive o. Stonebrook Drive g. La Paloma Road p. Taaffe Road h. Manuella Road q. Via Ventana Way i. Miranda Road r. Viscaino Road 2. Intracommunity Scenic Roads generally provide for intercommunity traffic and more importantly are major routes of entry to the town. These routes are for recreational travel: bicyclists, equestrians, and pedestrians. They have extraordinary scenic value and provide access to areas of historic interest. Scenic Roadways_ 5 1/30/95 a. Page Mill Road is a narrow, winding, scenic route that provides primary residential access, serves Palo Alto's Foothill Park, and provides access between the Mid- p peninsula and Santa Cruz Mountains. Regulation of (� development within the scenic corridor of this P community "entrance way" is essential to maintaining the scenic quality of the area. b. El Monte/Moody Road is also a scenic, narrow winding road. The rugged topography adjacent to this road, and the view of the natural creek alignments in the Adobe Creek Basin have outstanding scenic value. This route, in its lower reaches provides primary residential access, however, the rugged and winding character of its upper reaches limits its use as a through road. It does connect to Page Mill Road, providing a secondary access to homes and recreation areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains. c. ont Road links Palo Alto to Los Altos from north to south a . - • a residential area and serves as an entrance to the Town. Fre .nt Road traverses lands that are residentially developed. ,e nature of its development sets a rural flavor, with homes set •: from the roadway and natural landscaping along the corridors which should be maintained. d. • Arastradero Road serves a an important easterly entrance route, endowed with special s nic qualities due to the Scenic Roadways_ 6 1/30/95 character of adjacent pography. Portions of Arastradero Road are adjacent to Inte tate Highway 280. e. Magdalena Avenue is an entrance to the southeast portion of Los Altos Hills. Scenic views of the hills and glimpses of the Bay area and the night lights of Santa Clara County are vistas to preserve. Magdalena turns into a narrow winding road which provides an important trail link into the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve. 3. State Scenic Highways: Within Los Altos Hills and its planning area only Interstate 280 falls into the category of an official State Scenic Highway. Maintaining the scenic character of this route is of critical importance to the community. Interstate 280 affords valuable views of distant scenic hillsides, and in certain locations opens to views of the San Francisco Bay. More importantly, views immediately adjacent to the route set the character of the Town for a large portion of the traveling public. STANDARDS FOR SCENIC PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT 1. Preservation of the rural character of the Town is considered • during review of subdivisions and site development permits. The Town design guidelines and the Site Development Ordinance include requirements to minimize disturbance to natural terrain and vegetation. They also place limitations on development of lands adjacent to the freeway, and require landscape mitigation and preservation. Scenic Roadways_ 7 1/30/95 2. Protection of properties adjacent to the freeway will be provided by mitigation measures such as buffering, earth berms, landscaping, etc. when needed to minimize the impact of noise, lights and traffic movements. 3. Roads should fit the natural contours of the land and result in minimal grading. Slopes shall be naturally contoured where possible, and in locations where major grading is necessary, ground cover or seeding shall be provided to soften and beautify areas of construction and for erosion control. Where cut and fill scars are unavoidable, native plants which coincide with the natural surroundings will be mandatory. 4. Provision shall be made to accommodate trails, pathways and bikeways. 5. Conservation and slope easements shall be made conditions of subdivision and site development permits when necessary to insure preservation of scenic areas immediately adjacent to roads. Steep slopes, natural drainage courses, significant trees or natural features are all areas where conservation easements shall be required. 6. As development occurs, studies may be needed to determine specific visual qualities of the scenic roadways. These studies should include provisions for the protection and enhancement of each corridor. 7. The. preservation of the rural character of the Town will be considered during subdivision and site development planning. Visual design elements will provide for a minimal disturbance Scenic Roadways_ 8 1/30/95 of natural terrain and vegetation, limitation of development on hilltops adjacent to the freeway and landscaping requirements. PROCEDURES FOR SCENIC PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT 1. When reviewing development proposals on properties within scenic corridors, analysis of the proposal should be done to determine that the project is in compliance with the characteristics of the corridor. 2. Corridor Studies for each intracommunity scenic roads shall be initiated. These studies will assist in subdivision review within each corridor and will provide a basis for public improvement programs. They will also define critical qualities or specific areas immediately adjacent to the roadway that should be preserved or enhanced. 3. A Corridor Protection Program will be developed for the specific intracommunity roads once the corridor studies are completed. Necessary land use and other regulations will be developed as part of the program. Such regulation would include provisions such as increased building setbacks, height limitations, grading controls, landscaping requirements and limits on number of driveway access roads. New homes shall fit the design, color and size of their structures to the rural quality of the specific lot being developed. • The Corridor Protection Program shall be coordinated with proposals within the Open Space Element, particularly those Scenic Roadways_ 9 1/30/95 • pertaining to open space conservation areas along Page Mill and Moody Roads. Pathways or historic sites within a corridor shall be given special scenic consideration and shall be consistent with the Pathways Element goals and policies. Scenic Roadways_ 10 1/30/95