Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 22 2013Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee Minutes of Meeting of Monday, April 22, 2013 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Chairman Eileen Gibbons called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Weegie Caughlan, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Eileen Gibbons, Vic Hesterman, Breene Kerr, Joseph Kleitman, Sue Welch, Denise Williams Members absent: Rachelle Mirkin and Tim Warner (excused for travel) Associate Member present: Bob Stutz Council members present: Courtney Corrigan, John Radford Members of public present: Joe Rizzi Peter Baltay, Topos Architect for 26560 Anacapa Drive Dennis Wilkerson Sonia Chou Carol Gottlieb (Hilltop Drive) Kjell Karlsson (Traffic Safety Committee) The agenda was approved as written. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Minutes from the previous regular meeting and from the joint meeting with Environmental Initiatives Committee were approved with minor amendments. 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties was reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 26560 Anacapa Drive (Lands of Sunshine Hills LLC). PWC reviewed this property at the 28 Jan 2013 meeting. At that time the PWC recommended that the Town ask the owners of 26560 Anacapa Road to grant a pathway easement and construct a IIB path along Anacapa; the path along the curve below the driveway should be located at the bottom of the slope (i.e., separated from the roadside as prescribed in the Pathway Element) for safety in order to get walkers off the roadside at the curve. The homeowner is now requesting that the lower part of the path (below the driveway) be placed on fill so that the path is level with the road and in the road ROW. The architect for the project (Peter Baltay) was present and explained that dirt excavated from the basement will be placed in the area below the driveway to a maximum depth of 3 feet and the path can run along the roadside in the road ROW on this fill. No retaining wall will be needed; the olive tree will be removed. Concerns about drainage issues and stability of the raised path were raised, but the architect said he has discussed this proposal with Town staff, which agreed to it. Joe Kleitman moved that the PWC accept the homeowner’s proposed plan. Breene Kerr seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. 12615 Miraloma Drive (Lands of Rizzi). PWC previously reviewed this property at the June 2011 meeting. At that time the PWC recommended that the Town ask the owners of the merged parcel 12615 Miraloma Way 1) to install a standard IIB roadside path on the new parcel (12695 Miraloma) and 2) to upgrade the existing path on the original 12615 Miraloma to IIB standards unless the Town formally agreed to some other standard. The town has asked for the IIB path on the new parcel to be completed and routed around a drainage culvert and behind the fire hydrant. The homeowner (Joe Rizzi) was present. He believes the path at this location is not needed and is requesting that the PWC revise its recommendation. Miraloma is a quiet cul-de-sac; a former off-road pathway connecting to St. Nicholas School was been blocked off in 2005. The PWC discussed whether a pathway was needed in this location, possible alternative configurations, use of an on-road easement on this private road, and concerns about changing a recommendation made two years earlier. Joe Kleitman moved that the PWC direct staff to work with the applicant to reaffirm the previous recommendation made by the PWC in June 2011 and build the path as recommended. Eileen Gibbons seconded. The vote was 6 in favor; 1 abstention (SW) and 1 opposed (WC). C. 26304 Esperanza Drive (Lands of Wilkenson). The reason for pathway review is construction of a second unit. The homeowner was present. Esperanza is a public road and not a “two-sided” road requiring paths on both sides. The property is on the north side of Esperanza, at the corner where the “arm “of the street joins the “loop” and has street frontage on two sides. It adjoins the PHWD property on the east side. A roadside pathway exists on the opposite side (26307 Esperanza) and on some additional properties on the same side further around the loop. Off-road paths exit from the Esperanza loop at two locations, connecting to Ascencion and to Viscaino Road. There was considerable discussion about the need for paths on both frontages because of the proximity to Bullis School and in order to minimize street crossings. The Minutes April Final 3/10/15 1 homeowner noted that the south frontage on the “arm” of Esperanza slopes up steeply from the road and has trees and shrubs that would have to be removed if a path is installed. Weegie Coughlin moved that the Town ask the owners of 26304 to construct a IIB pathway in the road right-of-way along Esperanza on the west frontage. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was 6 in favor, 3 opposed (AD, ND, BK favored paths on both street frontages). D. 26390 Anacapa Drive (Lands of Sunshine Hills LLC). The reason for pathway review is construction of an addition. The developer (Sonia Chou) was present. The developer requested a change in the location of the driveway and was told to consult the Planning Department for that issue. The property is located at the intersection of Anacapa Drive and Ascencion and has frontage on both streets (both streets are public). The Ascencion frontage has a wide flat area adjacent to the road that appears to be used for pedestrians and parking along most of its length. Most of the Anacapa frontage above the driveway is also relatively flat and could accommodate a pathway. However, the property is vegetated and slopes up steeply from the road at the intersection and construction of a path off the road surface would require a retaining wall. The road is quite wide here and could be marked with a stripe to improve safety for pedestrians. The exact location of the road right of way is not known; the garage is within the setback (i.e., it is a legal non-conforming structure). A roadside path exists on the adjacent property on Anacapa and on other properties further up that street. Ann Duwe moved that the Town require the developers of 26390 Anacapa Drive to construct a IIB pathway around all street frontages on Anacapa and Ascencion in the road ROW. At the corner where the property slopes up steeply and would require a retaining wall and where the pavement is very wide, allow the path to run on the pavement, if possible, rather than cut into the hillside. Breene Kerr seconded. The vote was 7 in favor, 2 opposed (JK and WC). E. 14085 Seven Acres Lane (Lands of Ramgopal Trust). The reason for pathway review is an addition and remodel. The developer was not present. The property is on the east side of Seven Acres Lane at the intersection with Fremont Road and has frontage on both streets. Seven Acres is a cul-de-sac that serves five homes; no off-road paths exit from it. The path on the Fremont frontage was recently upgraded as part of the Safe Routes to School project. Breene Kerr moved that the Town request a pathway in-lieu free from the owners of 14085 Seven Acres Lane. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was 8 in favor and 1 abstention (ND, because he did not see the site). F. 25765 Bassett Lane (Lands of Nieh). The reason for pathway review is construction of an addition. The homeowner was not present. The property is on the west side of Bassett Lane, which is a private cul-de-sac off Rhus Ridge Road that serves three homes. Off-road pathways exit from Bassett on the east side of 25700 Rhus Ridge Road and the east side of 11511 Bassett. The road, although narrow, has reasonable sight distance and little traffic and a roadside path is probably not needed. Breene Kerr moved that the Town ask for a pedestrian easement to confer public access in the road on Bassett Lane in front of this property. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. G. 12401 Hilltop Drive (Lands of 12401 Hilltop Drive LLC). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. The property is a vacant lot on the north side of Hilltop Drive, which is a heavily traveled public road. A pathway exists on the opposite side of the road further up Hilltop. Breene Kerr moved that the Town ask the developer of 12401 Hilltop Drive to construct a IIB path along Hilltop frontage in the road right-of-way. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. H. 26478 Ascencion Drive (Lands of Munshi). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. The property is a vacant lot on the east side of Ascencion, between Anacapa and Viscaino, This is a heavily traveled public road. Pathways exist on the adjacent properties on both sides of this lot. An off-road pathway runs along a public utility easement along the southeast border of the adjacent parcel (26450 Ascencion) and this path may cross the southeast corner of the property under review. Breene Kerr moved that the Town ask the developer s of 26478 Ascencion Drive to construct a IIB path along the Ascencion frontage and to give an easement including the public utility easement in the southeast corner of the property so it can continue to be used for the existing off-road pathway. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Update Hale Creek Area on General Plan Map. The part of the route adjacent to the freeway was removed from the Master Path Plan map and needs to be put back. The Town holds all the necessary easements. The PWC formally approved this revision and Chair Eileen Gibbons will request that the Planning Commission Minutes April Final 3/10/15 2 accept them. Eileen Gibbons moved that the Master Path Plan map be corrected to re-establish the off-road routes along the freeway in and adjacent to the Nicholson subdivision. Nick Dunckel seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. B Review of Updated of General Plan Circulation Element. A joint meeting with Environmental Initiatives Committee to discuss the proposed text of the Circulation element of the LAH General Plan was held April 3, 2013. The EIC did not have a quorum and the PWC members requested that the issues be formally reviewed at the regular PWC meeting tonight. The PWC recommended the following changes: Page C-4. Policy 1.1. Remove "to motor vehicles" and replace with "vehicular through traffic". Page C-7. 117. Remove last sentence and add "and equestrians" to the penultimate sentence (i.e., " This includes bicyclists, children, motorists, pedestrians, users of public transportation, seniors, AND EQUESTRIANS. Page C-11. 124. The last two sentences referring to pathways not bikeways should be moved to a different location. Page C-12. JK asked that the definition of Sharrows be removed because we don't want them. Page C-13. Program 6.1 (For committee discussion). PWC objects to marking bikeways unless we know exactly what is meant. It is not clear what the wording, "clearly signed bike designations" means. Suggest as an alternative placing signs at major entrances to Town that say, "Share the Road". Page C-13. Program 6.4 (For committee discussion). PWC unanimously objects to placement of sharrows because of the cost; because roads are generally more narrow than recommended for sharrows (14 f); and because they are not consistent with the rural character of Town roads. Page C-15. Policy 8.3 Add text addressing problems with parking on Town roadways, such as use of Tepa as a parking lot for users of open space Page C-17. Changes to Bikeways Map (Map C-5) ---Remove multipurpose connecting routes (off-road path from O'Keefe to Robleda and route up Central/Sherlock to Moody Court). These routes include easements on private property and in some cases Town does not even hold the easements to allow public access. Off-road paths on private property are primarily for use of local residents and should not be shown as bikeways. --- Add the bike path on Foothill College campus ---Remove the "bikeway” at the north end of Elena. The route to the left is an off-road path and is shown as a "major bikeway". ---Change designation of Paseo del Roble from "major bikeway" to "local bikeway" ---Show Old Page Mill Road 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Consider Eliminating Roadside Pathways Map from General Plan Pathway Element. On May 9, 2013, Chair Eileen Gibbons will ask the Planning Commission to remove from the Pathways Element the requirement for a map of the roadside pathways and instead rely on Policy 2.1 as a guide. The off-road pathway map will be retained. The PWC reviewed Policies 2.1 and 4.1 and discussed the value of such maps (e.g., predictability in planning, guidance for PWC and staff), past problems with updating the maps at reasonable intervals. The general consensus was that routine updates and better support from City Council would help address some of the problems. Policy 2.1. Roadside paths shall be located within or immediately adjacent to the right-of-way of Town streets and on separate pathway easements adjacent to or over private streets. Roadside paths shall be separated from the roadway pavement by landscape buffering and shall meander, where possible. Policy 4.1 A book of street maps of the Town showing the side of each street on which a roadside path is planned. Determination of which side of a street the path should be located and type of construction shall be made by the Planning Commission, with the advice of the Pathways Committee and the City Engineer, at the time of subdivision approval or site development approval. The book of street maps shall also show the status of roadside paths for cul-de-sacs and private streets, in accordance with Policies 2.4 and 2.5. B Report from Tim Warner on ZIP Bikes. Postponed until next meeting. Chair gibbons reported that Tim presented his proposal to the Youth Commission, which was very supportive. C. Pathway Run. PWC members were encouraged to support this annual event to be held at West Wind Barn on May 11. Several members will help with registration. D. Paths Needing Repairs. Repairs requested to the Mary Stutz path have been completed. The path up to Central Drive in Byrne Preserve was repaired for the Pathways Run. The bridge near the riding arena that is Minutes April Final 3/10/15 3 covered with mud and may be rotting and the path on hill near erosion channel still need attention. Sue Welch will ask OSC for advice on repair methods for the hill route. The path at Golden Hill Court off Robleda is very steep and gravelly and needs to be stepped. E. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Stanford Arastradero Path. The ceremony will be held April 26, 2013 at 9 AM at the site on Arastradero Road. PWC members are invited. F. Change Date for Next PWC Meeting. Because the regular date for the May PWC meeting falls on Memorial Day, the PWC voted to change the date. Chair Gibbons proposed May 20 as an alternative date. G. Property Review Process and Brown Act. At a recent City Council meeting, CC, at the advice of the City Attorney, requested that the PWC no longer review properties at site visits as a single group larger than a quorum in order to avoid violating the Brown Act. The PWC discussed alternatives (i.e., have each member visit sites individually; visit in groups of 5 or fewer members; make these site visits public meetings and notice the public). The majority of members preferred the option of visiting properties in smaller groups. 6. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS A. City Council. Direct of Public Works, Richard Chiu, requested $10K to develop a concept plan for the south end of the Hale Creek Pathway that can be used to solicit funds from outside agencies to design and construct the path at the Magdalena end of the route (adjacent to the I-280 exit ramp). B. Traffic Safety Committee. Kjell Karlsson reported that CalTrans plans to modify the interchange at Page Mill Road and I-280. The site meets criteria to receive additional money to pay for signals (i.e., has had at least five accidents in a single year). 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Pathway Obstruction. Carol Gottlieb (Hilltop Drive) reported that pillars have been installed in the pathway at 12222 Hilltop and that the surface of this driveway does not meet Town standards and needs to be roughened to be safe for horses. Chair Eileen Gibbons will ask staff to review this. B. Byrne Preserve Stewardship Proposal. Sue Welch reported that the Open Space Committee will ask the Town to contract with the non-profit, Acterra, to help maintain Byrne Preserve and other open space lands in Town. The goal of the agreement is to manage the natural resources in these lands (especially invasive weeds) and to enhance public awareness and participation in care of these Town assets. Formal support from the PWC will be requested at the next meeting. 8. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM 9. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next Regular Meeting: Monday, May 20, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch May 20, 2013 Minutes April Final 3/10/15 4