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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 14 2015 FINAL_PWC_Min_15-1214.doc 1/26/16 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday, December 14, 2015 1. ADMINISTRATIVE A. Call to Order. Chairman Ann Duwe called the meeting to order at 7:05PM B. Members/Associates present: Alisa Bredo, Jim Basiji, Weegie Caughlan, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Vic Hesterman, Bridget Morgan, Sue Welch, Denise Williams Members/Associates absent: Eileen Gibbons, Breene Kerr, (Members) Bob Stutz, Rachelle Mirkin, and Tim Warner (Associates) Council Liaison absent: John Radford Members of public present: Don Mattson (13697 La Paloma Road) Judy Mattson Nagy (13697 La Paloma Road) Kjell Karlsson (Traffic Safety Committee) C. Approval of Agenda. The agenda was approved moving Item 2A and 2C to follow New Business. AD moved, WC seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, JB, WC, ND, AD, VH, BM, SW, DW). D. Approval of Minutes. Minutes from the November 23, 2015 meeting were approved with minor amendments. WC moved, ND seconded, and the vote was eight in favor (AB, JB, WC, ND, AD, VH, BM, DW) with SW abstaining. E. Ex Parte communications. None declared. 2. PROPERTIES FOR REVIEW The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 13697 La Paloma Road (Lands of Mattson Nagy; APN 175-35-023; file #424-15-ZP-SD-GD). Reason for pathway review is construction of a second unit. The owners, Don Mattson and Judy Mattson Nagy, were present and spoke. La Paloma is a public road designated to have paths on both sides. The parcel is a flag lot behind 13685 La Paloma on the west side of the street. Access is via a private shared 32-foot wide right-of-way that has a public access easement (CR-124-93; Nov 93). The development plans show a 10-foot wide pathway easement on the northern border of the lot. This easement was dedicated by Council Resolution (CR-124-93 in Nov 93). The owners said they are aware of the pathway easement but thought it may have been abandoned in 2002 and do not want a path constructed. Owners reported that in recent years the easement routinely floods with drainage from new development uphill from their parcel. They provided a photo of water rushing though the easement (Attachment A). The Master Path Plan approved by Council in 2005 shows an off-road path connecting La Paloma to Corte Madera via easements along the northern border of this parcel and on adjacent parcels (12650 Corte Madera and 12660 Corte Matadero; Attachment B). The Town holds all easement for this off-road connection and PWC put it on the 2015 CIP list. PWC discussed the drainage challenges and options for constructing this route. AD will consult with the Public Works Department and investigate construction as a CIP project. AD moved that WC moved that the Town thank the homeowners for contribution of their pathway easement. PWC recommends that the Engineering Department investigate the feasibility of constructing a path as a CIP project continuing to Corte Madera, considering the drainage problems. The PWC recommends that owners of 13697 La Paloma need not pay a pathway in-lieu fee or construct a path on the existing easement on their property at this time. JB seconded and the vote was 8 in favor (JB, WC, ND, AD, VH, BM, SW, DW) with AB abstaining. B. 11475 Summitwood Road (Lands of Farahyar; APN 336-32-043; 246-15-ZP-SD-GD). Reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. PWC reviewed this parcel on July 27, 2015 and Aug 24, 2015 (address then was 25225 La Loma Drive and maps indicate this lot as 25031 La Loma). Recommendation at that time was to ask developer to grant pathway easements as necessary and construct a IIB roadside path along the La Loma frontage continuing along the Summitwood frontage around the hairpin turn on the top of the bank and terminating at the planned driveway. Planning Dept has asked for another review based on changes to plan. PWC compared the development plans and discussed roadside path options. Because of the multiple different addresses, some members had been unable to find the site. A suggestion was made to extend the path on the bank above Summitwood past the driveway all the way to the southern border of the parcel. There was not agreement whether the topography in that location is suitable for a path, and some members wanted to re-visit the site. WC moved that the PWC reaffirm its previous recommendation. The vote was 4 in favor (JB, WC, BM, SW) with five abstentions (AB, AD, ND, VH, DW). The motion was recorded as failing. After further discussion, ND moved that the PWC defer a decision until next month because there was confusion about the address and the topography of the site. AD seconded and the vote was 8 in favor (AB, JB, WC, ND, AD, VH, SW, DW) with BM abstaining. C. 14407 Kingsley Way (Lands of Bibl; APN;). Reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. The parcel is on the west side of Kingsley (comprised of a number of merged small “picnic lots”). An off-road path ran along the rear (west) part of the property in the past but is not shown on the development plans and may have been vacated. AD moved that the PWC defer recommendation until the next meeting after PWC determines whether or not the easement on the west border was vacated and whether FINAL_PWC_Min_15-1214.doc 1/26/16 2 the developer has made a prior contribution to the pathway system. WC seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, JB, WC, ND, AD, VH, BM, SW, DW). 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Removal of Railroad Ties on Fremont. Richard Chiu told AD that Public Works has no immediate plans to remove the ties. PWC discussed pros and cons (e.g., they keep parking off landscaping in front of Bullis School but are dangerous to cyclists). Apparently Council has committed to removing them. No action taken. B. Improving Signage for Paths. i) Crosswalk. VH requested PWC consider installation of crosswalk markings at the intersection of Concepcion and Fremont to clarify where cars must stop for pedestrians. Because this was not on the agenda, no action was taken. This would improve safety for all pedestrians, including children walking to nearby Gardner Bullis School. AD suggested taking this to Traffic Safety Committee. ii) Bob Stutz Path. PWC discussed signage for entrance to Bob Stutz path (e.g., post at entrance on Stonebrook; small arrows at three intersections guide users). AD waiting for feedback from R. Chiu. iii) Elena-Robleda Off-Road Path. Pathway post is needed on Elena to mark entrance to off-road path that was just cleared behind 26105 and 26101 Elena and connects to Robleda. iv) Deer Springs Fire Road. Path post is installed in middle of route, not near entrance to this off-road path. v) Story Hill Road. Need path marker at entrance on Page Mill. 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Report from Map Update Subcommittee. AD reported that neighborhood meetings to gather input from residents are scheduled for late January through early March. Postcards announcing meeting dates will be mailed to residents two weeks before each meeting. Meetings will be held in the Parks and Rec building on a midweek evening and will be followed by a group walk through the relevant neighborhood(s) on the following Saturday. Council has been kept informed and has been supportive in the organizing this information-gathering process. AD will bring a PowerPoint presentation to PWC for review at January meeting. B. Path Across the Front of Gardner Bullis School (GBS). Nothing new to report. C. Connection Fremont Road to Redwood Grove (City of Los Altos). AD continues to work with LAH staff to clarify the ownership of lands in this area. She has also contacted Wes Brinsfield, a member of the Los Altos Pathways Committee. The Los Altos Traffic and Safety Committee will review the proposal. BK spoke with Los Altos Council Member Jean Mordo (former LAH Council Member) to about this pathway connection. D. Stirling Subdivision. AD reported that after the last PWC meeting, staff met with developers and made Charles Avenue a private road. The developer plans to use special (pervious) concrete and the Town does not want to take responsibility for maintaining it. All PWC recommendations from prior meetings still stand (i.e., off-road path on eastern and northern border connected to road by path off bulb end of road) but were based on Charles being public. PWC must ask for public access along Charles Ave. BM moved that the PWC recommend the Town to ask developer to provide public access along the new section of Charles Ave from the property line closets closest to Natoma to the end of the cul-de-sac. AD seconded and the vote was eight in favor (AB, JB, WC, AD, ND, VH, BM, DW). SW recused herself from discussion and vote. AB took minutes. E. Update on Encroachment Permit for Bob Stutz Path. AD reported that Richard Chiu is continuing to work with CalWater to obtain the additional easement needed to allow construction of the segment along the Magdalena off- ramp. 5. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS. None. 6. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION AND PATHWAY REPRESENTATION REQUESTS. A. Memorial Bench. A homeowner on Taaffe reported to AD that the bench at the entrance to the Packard trail was stolen and they wish to replace it with a memorial bench and plaque. PWC discussed options. The general consensus was discussion included concerns that a bench would be welcome but Town policy may not allow a memorial plaque. AD will refer this to the City Clerk. 8. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS. Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 9:00 AM at Town Hall Next Regular Meeting: Monday, January 25, 2016 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall 9. TOPICS FOR NEXT AGENDA. 10. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm. Attachment A: Flooding in pathway easement on 13697 La Paloma Road Attachment B: Master Path Plan Map (approved by Council 2005) showing off-road connection between La Paloma Road and Corte Madera Final minutes approved as amended (red text) at the Regular PWC meeting of Jan 25, 2016.