HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 24 2016
FINAL_PWC_Min_16-1024.doc 11/29/16 1
Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL
Minutes of Regular Meeting of Monday, October 24, 2016
1. ADMINISTRATIVE
A. Call to Order. Chairman Ann Duwe called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM
B. Members/Associates present: Alisa Bredo, Weegie Caughlan, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Eileen
Gibbons, Rachelle Mirkin, Bridget Morgan, Sue Welch
Members/Associates absent: Vic Hesterman, Breene Kerr, Denise Williams (Members); Bob Stutz
(Associate)
Council Liaison present: John Radford (left 8:30 pm)
Members of public present: Rosy Ko (Stirling Top Elegant Investment, LLC subdivision)
Jeff Peterson (Stirling Top Elegant Investment, LLC subdivision)
Linda Swan (Burke Road)
Kjell Karlsson (LAH Finance Committee)
C. Approval of Agenda. The agenda was approved after amending at Council Liaison’s request to move
Item 3A (discussion of Master Path Plan update) to before New Business; and to remove Item 3B (CIP
Projects Update). EG moved, RM seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, WC, ND, AD,
EG, RM, BM, SW).
D. Approval of Minutes. The minutes from the PWC meetings of September 26, 2016 were approved with
minor amendments. EG moved, ND seconded, and the vote was 6 in favor (AB, WC, ND, AD, EG,
RM) with 2 abstaining (BM, SW).
E. Ex Parte communications. AD reported meeting with Scott Vanderlip (LAH Parks and Rec Committee)
to discuss publication of information on pathway loops.
2. NEW BUSINESS
A. Properties for Review. The following property was reviewed for pathway recommendations:
i. 13875 Mir Mirou Drive (Lands of XX; APN 182-32-029; file #364-16-ZP-SD-GD). The reason for
PWC review is construction of a new residence. The parcel is a flag lot off the end of Mir Mirou
Drive, a private cul-de-sac (TR#6604) serving 11 lots. The only frontage on the road is the driveway.
No pathway easements on the parcel or off-road paths in the vicinity were found in a brief search of
Town records. EG moved that the PWC recommend the Town to require the developers of
13875 Mir Mirou Drive to pay a pathway in-lieu fee, if staff confirms no fee was paid at the
time of subdivision. ND seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, WC, ND, AD,
EG, RM, BM, SW).
B. Pathway Naming Request. The request has been withdrawn.
C. Pathway Study for Mora and West Loyola Drive. PWC reviewed and discussed the TrailPeople study
(Study of Pedestrian Path along W. Loyola and Mora Drives, Town of Los Altos Hills; Attachment A).
The objective was to detail the requirements and feasibility/reasonableness of constructing a pedestrian
path along these streets. The study proposed only paths built along the roadside within one foot of the
“fogline” near the edge of the pavement, regardless of the topography of the site (i.e., flat or sloped).
This configuration would require expensive retaining walls in many locations. Several members pointed
out that both the Pathways Element and Municipal Code require paths to be separated from the roadside
where possible and that in many locations in Town (e.g., Fremont, Natoma, Black Mountain) paths are
built on banks above the sloped roadsides, separated from the pavement. This provides safer paths and
avoids the need for expensive retaining walls. One member complained observed the TrailPeople made
only one site visit and underestimated obstacles along the edge of the pavement (e.g., trees, fences,
mailboxes).
D. Maintenance and enforcement issues. AB reported a branch down on the Stegner path. No action
appears to have been taken to address the fence installed in the road right-of-way within 6 inches of the
pavement on Summit Wood Drive.
E. Pathways information on Town web site. AD suggested PWC add a section to the Town web site that
provides factual information about Town pathways and the pathway system. She distributed a draft
example (Attachment B) and asked members to submit additional ideas.
3. OLD BUSINESS
A. Report from Master Path Plan Map (MPP) Update Subcommittee. Council Liaison John Radford
requested information on the next steps for the MPP update. AD reported the Planning Commission will
FINAL_PWC_Min_16-1024.doc 11/29/16 2
hold a Study Session on Oct 26, 2016 to review the PWC recommendations. Notices were sent to all
LAH addresses. The agenda also includes a request to remove the off-road pathway on 26105 Elena
Road (Lands of Waller) from the MPP map. PWC reviewed this request at the Aug 2016 meeting and
recommended against it.
EG showed the MPP map recommended by the PWC that will be discussed at the Planning Commission
study session (available on the Town web site). Changes are shown in red; streets with access over the
pavement are shown in purple; routes outside Town borders are approximate. She reported the
subcommittee is working on documenting new easements and paths built since the last MPP update.
B. CIP projects and budget update. Deferred.
C. Stirling (Top Elegant Investment, LLC) Subdivision. Rosy Ko (developers rep) and Jeff Peterson
(Project Engineer) presented a summary of recent modifications to the project since last PWC review
(Attachment C). The developers have proposed a 15-ft wide open space easement (OSE) for wildlife
movement along the eastern border and plan to revise the storm water run-off plan to avoid impacts to
Matadero Creek. They also proposed a “tree protection easement” (not a standard open space easement)
on Lots 1 and 2.
The developers do not want a pathway easement along the eastern border; they believe it would interfere
with wildlife movement and encourage property owners to install fences. They proposed instead the
pathways/easements shown on their development plans:
• Roadside path within the ROW of Charles Avenue running from the subdivision entrance to the end
of the cul-de-sac;
• Off-road path along the northern border in a pathway easement that is 20-feet wide from the NE
corner to the eastern border of the OSE and widening to 140 feet wide within the OSE. PWC had
recommended the pathway easement be contiguous OSE of lots 5 and 6 to provide a buffer from
Neighbors and allow switchbacks to follow the contour of the land. Connection from NE corner
across creek is an important connector that has been missing for some time.
• Off-road path in a 20-ft wide pathway easement connecting the end of the cul-de-sac to the off-road
path along the northern border.
Developer asked clarification of what is meant by “all weather access trail”. Similar example might be
Taaffe path, where some segments are 2B with header boards, water boards, and compressed granite,
while other parts are just a dirt footpath. PWC discussed slopes for native paths; native paths in Town
such as the Taaffe path have slopes up to 25%. Developers must build the paths as part of subdivision
and make sure the paths are cleared and passable during future construction. Developers must stake
proposed off-road path routes for PWC review. BM moved that the PWC accept the developers’
proposal as presented on maps and text. WC seconded. The vote was 4 in favor (WC, EG, BM,
RM) and 3 opposed (AB, AD, ND).
4. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS.
A. Senior Pathways Walk. The first in a planned series of pathway walks for seniors was held on Sept 26,
2016. The route started and ended at Town Hall (Parks and Rec Bldg) and followed a 3-mile loop over
roadside and off-road paths north of Town Hall.
B. City Council Meeting. At the Oct 20, 2016 City Council meeting, four private streets were designated as
public (Almaden Court, Adobe Lane, Atherton Court, and Carado Court Lane). These streets will no
longer require easements conferring public access.
5. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
A. PWC Membership. Terms end in November for four members (WC, AD, ND, EG). City Clerk will
advertise the vacancies and appointments will be made at the Nov Council meeting.
6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 9:00 am at Town Hall
Next PWC Meeting: Regular Meeting; Monday, September 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall
7. REQUEST FOR TOPICS FOR NEXT AGENDA
8. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting was adjourned at 9:37 pm.
Attachment A: Pathway Study for Mora and West Loyola Drive (Available from City Clerk)
Attachment B: Sample “Dispatches from the Chair” for Town web site
Attachment C: Presentation from developers of Stirling (Top Elegant Investment, LLC) Subdivision (not
provided)
Final minutes were approved as amended at the regular Pathways Committee meeting of Nov 28, 2016
ATTACHMENT B: Pathways Committee Meeting Oct 24, 2016
Sample "Dispatches from the Chair"
September 30, 2016
"Dispatches from the Chair" are occasional observations on subjects of interest to
Los Altos Hills residents. They are written by the chairmen of volunteer committees
and approved for the Town website by a majority of the committee whose chairman
submits the dispatch.
During this election season, two issues seem to generate enormous anxiety among
residents‐‐‐pathways and substandard lots. As chairman of the Pathways
Committee, I would like to alleviate the stress by making the fundamentals of our
pathway system clear to all residents.
We have two kinds of paths‐‐‐roadside paths and off‐road paths. Roadside paths,
whether immediately adjacent to the pavement, separated by a foot or two from the
pavement or separated from the pavement by a bank or culvert of many feet, are
located adjacent to the Town's roads. While roadside paths can require easements
from homeowners, these paths are frequently located within the road right‐of‐way.
Off‐road paths go between properties, generally along property lines, and help
connect neighborhoods.
If you live on a public road, the road right‐of‐way is generally 30 feet toward your
property from the road's centerline. This is the standard required by the Town and
applies to annexed areas as well as older neighborhoods. If you live on a street
considerably narrower or where ownership extends to the centerline, nothing
happens until you submit plans for a major addition, second unit or new home
(some exceptions apply.) As a requirement for your building project, you will be
asked to dedicate an easement that in the future gives the Town jurisdiction over
the 30' from the centerline.
The requirement to bring the public road up to standard often creates space for a
roadside path. Even if there were no Town ordinances, no Pathways Committee and
no tradition of pathways, the property owner cannot build, plant or in any way
obstruct the 30‐foot road right‐of‐way (again, some exceptions apply.)
Why not use this legally set‐aside land to create safe passage for us to walk, walk
our dogs, run, ride our bikes or horses or in various ways get safely out of our cars
and off the pavement?
Ann Duwe, Chair
Pathways Committee