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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 28 2013FINALPWC_Min_13-0128 copy.doc 3/11/15 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL Minutes of Meeting of Monday, January 28, 2013 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Acting Chairman Anne Duwe called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Weegie Caughlan, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Vic Hesterman, Breene Kerr, Sue Welch, Denise Williams Associate Member present: Bob Stutz Members absent: Eileen Gibbons, Joseph Kleitman, Rachelle Mirkin, Tim Warner Town Staff present: Richard Chiu, City Engineer, LAH Director of Public Works Members of public present: AnneMarie Rosengreen (Black Mountain Road) The agenda was approved with minor amendments in item order. 2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR New PWC member, Vic Hesterman was welcomed to the committee. 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties was reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 26560 Anacapa Road (Lands of Dayanov). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. The property is on the east side of Anacapa, which is a steeply sloped road with many curves. A IIB pathway in good condition exists on the adjacent property just uphill (to the south at 26550 Anacapa). Additional pathways to get pedestrians off the roadway would improve safety along this road. The property slopes down away from the road. A flat shoulder sufficient for a pathway exists from the top (south) of the property to just past the driveway (wooden posts have been placed in the road ROW there). The lower frontage of the property (north and downhill from the driveway) follows a curve to the right that has limited sight-distance and the shoulder slopes down steeply from the pavement here. A path along the roadside in this lower area would require a retaining wall unless the path is separated a short distance from the road (where the land flattens out). The road ROW along the curve appears to end approximately at the olive tree where the slope flattens out. Because this curve has poor sight-distance and because the LAH Pathway Element specifically notes that “pathways shall be separated from the roadway where ever possible”, the general consensus was that locating the path away from the roadside is preferred along this curve. Anne Duwe moved 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. Breen Kerr seconded. WC moved to amend the pending motion to include “an easement if necessary to allow for safety”. The proposed amendment was not seconded. The vote on the original motion was 6 in favor and 1 opposed (WC). B. 24380 Summerhill Avenue (Lands of Lee Chae Trustee, et al.). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developers were not present. The property is on the west side of Summerhill, which is a public road heavily used by walkers, bikes and autos. It has not been officially designated a “two-sided road” and is not required to have paths on both sides. The property is a flag lot with access from a drive on Summerhill. Roadside pathways have been constructed on the adjacent property on the same side to the south (24390 Summerhill) and on the property on the same side to the north on the opposite side of Casa Mia Way. However, there is a small strip of land along Summerhill between the drive to 24380 Summerhill and Casa Mia Way that does not have a pathway; this connection should be completed. Although ownership of this strip is not clear from maps or development plans, it appears to be part of the property under review. Nick Dunckel moved that the Town ask the owners of 24380 Summerhill Avenue to construct a IIB pathway along Summerhill Avenue connecting the existing paths on 24390 Summerhill to Casa Mia Way. If this strip of land is not part of 24380 Summerhill, the Town is to request a pathway in-lieu fee. Town staff should remind the owners that the part of their driveway that the path runs over should use a surface appropriate for horses. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. FINALPWC_Min_13-0128 copy.doc 3/11/15 2 C. 12882 Viscaino Road (Lands of Chiu). The reason for a pathway review is an addition. The developers were not present. The property is on the north side of Viscaino at the intersection of Viscaino and Canario Way and has frontage on both streets. Viscaino is a steep, busy road with poor sight-distance and a roadside path is needed here for safety. A roadside path of partially broken-up asphalt exists along the Viscaino frontage of the property. A narrow roadside path exists on the adjacent property to the east (uphill; 12874 Viscaino) and a wider roadside path (or parking area?) runs along this side of Viscaino from Canario to Purissima. Canario is a cul-de-sac with 12 houses; it has no off-road paths exiting from it. The consensus is that the preferred side for a roadside path on Canario is the side opposite this property. Weegie Caughlin moved that the Town ask the owners of 12882 Viscaino Road to remove the patchy asphalt in the roadside path along Viscaino and construct a IIB path along this frontage. The path should be finished all the to the street at Canario, avoiding the storm drain near this corner. No pathway is needed along the Canario frontage. Nick Dunckel seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. D. 12600 Mira Loma Way (Lands of Martina and Webber). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developers were not present. The property is on the south side of Mira Loma Way, which is a public cul-de-sac. An off-road pathway leading to Saint Nicholas School from the end of Mira Loma has been closed off. A culvert runs along the Mira Loma frontage of the property and a roadside path has been constructed on the side opposite this property. Breene Kerr moved that the Town ask the owners of 12600 Mira Loma Way to pay a pathway in-lieu fee. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Quotes for Survey Work for El Monte to Magdalena Connection. Richard Chiu, LAH Director of Public Works, presented quotes from two firms to survey this proposed path. Both firms have done work for the Town in the past and the work described was similar (staking the route and submitting a record of survey). Denise Williams moved that the PWC accept the lower bid ($4,000 from Giuliani and Kull) rather than the $4,600 bid from Lee and Braze Engineering. The vote was unanimously in favor. Mr. Chiu also requested that the PWC select a name for this pathway other than the “Nicholson pathway extension” for the grant application to the Bicycle Expenditure Plan. He suggested “Hale Creek Path” since this route crosses Hale Creek. After discussion, Denise Williams moved that the El Monte-Magdalena path be formally named the “Hale Creek Path”. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. Bike Curbs on Robleda, La Paloma, and O’Keefe. These need review and possibly modification. PWC will visit on the next pathway walk. C. Representatives to Joint Meeting with Traffic Safety and Open Space. Councilmember Gary Waldeck requested a joint meeting of representatives from Pathways, Traffic Safety, and Open Space Committees to discuss issues related to bikes on pathways. Eileen Gibbons and Breene Kerr volunteered to participate. D. LAH Horsemen’s Association Letter. The horsemen are proposing another joint hiking-equestrian event this spring. The PWC will participate; needs info on date and route suggestions. E. Earth Day Clean-Up. No volunteers expressed interest at this time. F. LAH Pathway Run. Parks and Recreation annual run in Byrne Preserve will be held May 11. PWC will help with registration. G. Pedestrian Path on Moody Road (Section Controlled by County). The south side of Moody Road on the between Canyon Road and Hidden Villa is under jurisdiction of Santa Clara County. The Town has no jurisdiction on this side of Moody, which is narrow and heavily traveled here. Not clear what is required from the PWC tonight. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Black Mountain Road to Elena Connection. AnneMarie Rosengren, a resident of Black Mountain Road, requested that that the PWC make efforts to re-establish the connection from the east end of Black Mountain Road (cul-de-sac) to Elena Road. Apparently this route was used by residents in the past but was blocked by fencing several years ago. As discussed at the Nov 26, 2012 meeting, the Town does not hold all the easements necessary to make this connection. It was suggested that the owners of 26880 Elena, which was reviewed in July, may prefer to construct a connecting path on the back side of their property rather than pay the pathway in-lieu fee recommended by the PWC. Chairman Gibbons will discuss with FINALPWC_Min_13-0128 copy.doc 3/11/15 3 Town staff. Breene Kerr moved that the Town write a letter to the owners of 26880 Elena Road to ask if they are willing to exchange the required pathway in-lieu fee for a pathway easement to connect the existing path at the end of Black Mountain Road to Elena (subject to staff and Council approval). Weegie Caughlin seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. Update on other Pathway Projects. Richard Chiu and Nick Dunckel provided updates on other projects. Robleda Road. Project is moving forward. RWQCB had some comments, but gave approval if a cantilever over the creek is used instead of culverting the creek. The cost is significantly higher than estimated (about $600,000) and the Town is waiting for funding. This is a high priority project. Page Mill Road at Paseo del Robles. Put on hold until the similar project on Robleda had received input from outside agencies that approve permits for work around creeks (DFG, RWQCB, and Army Corp of Engineers). Stairs on Moody at Chaparral. Moody Road residents complained about this structure to PWC and the Town. Also, the first step is too tall and needs to be adjusted for safety. Safe Routes to School Project on Fremont. This large project is progressing well and should be completed soon. Stanford Path along Arastradero Road. Work will begin in spring. C. West Loyola Subcommittee. Anne Duwe briefly summarized activities, which included writing a draft of a PowerPoint for an educational presentation: 1) cite first paragraph from the General Plan Pathway Element requiring pathways; 2) describe benefits of pathway system (emergency access, connectivity, safe routes to school, opportunities for recreation, and health); 3) the importance of pathways to the Town is reflected in the fact that the Town spends 10% of annual budget for pathways each year; 4) pathway system has been a valued component of the Town its incorporation, as described in the Green Sheets (a document describing the underlying principles on which the Town was incorporated); 5) description of how pathways are considered and planned for during the development process (i.e., during property reviews the needs of the Town and homeowner concerns are considered). The presentation will also include a contour map and the pathway map and a request for audience to propose potential routes for pathways in their area. D. Priorities. The Town has a new Finance Director and all committees will be asked to prioritize expenditures for the next five years. 6. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Open Space Committee. At request of the OSC, the Town has placed “Dogs Must Be on Leash” signs at the entrances to Byrne Preserve. A few extra signs are available for other pathways, if desired. The Packard Trail was suggested as a site. B. Byrne Preserve Path Maintenance Issue. Pathway across the eroded drainage swale in the grassland in Byrne Preserve gets very muddy and could benefit from improved drainage. Sue Welch will take this to Open Space Committee. 7. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM 8. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next Regular Meeting: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch February 22, 2013