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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 28 2013FinalPWC_Min_13-1028.doc 1/27/14 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL APPPROVED MINUTES Minutes of Meeting of Monday, October 28, 2013 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Chairman Joe Kleitman called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Weegie Caughlan, Ann Duwe, Nick Dunckel, Eileen Gibbons, Breene Kerr, Joseph Kleitman, Rachelle Mirkin, Sue Welch, Denise Williams, and Bob Stutz (Associate Member) Members absent: Vic Hesterman, Tim Warner Members of public present: Curt Cline, Architect for Julie Zhou and Mike Sego, The agenda was approved as written. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Minutes from the September 23, 2013 meeting were approved with typos corrected. 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties was reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 26240 and 26238 Fremont Road (Lands of Red Orchid, LLC). The reason for pathway review is merging of the two lots and construction of a new residence. Neither the owner nor a representative was present. The parcels are on the south side of Fremont Road. The parcel at 26238 is adjacent to Fremont Road; 26240 is a flag lot south of 26238 with access to Fremont along a driveway on the western border. A IIB roadside path exists on the Fremont frontage of 26238, which was recently renovated as part of the Safe Routes to School project. The Master Path Plan does not show any off-road paths on or near the parcels. Sue Welch moved that the developer of 26240 and 26238 Fremont Road be asked to pay a pathway in lieu fee. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. 13140 Avila Court (Lands of Sego and Zhue). The owners of this parcel are requesting a re-review of their property. The PWC recommended at the May 2013 meeting that they grant a pathway easement along part of the western border of their property as shown on the Master Path Plan. The owners cited issues of privacy and possible confusion about the location of property line. The owners attended the September 2013 meeting to contest the recommendation. However, because the issue was not on the agenda, no action could be taken. At that meeting, Acting Chairman Gibbons told the owners they could either go directly to Planning Commission or return to the PWC to contest the recommendation. The owners and the architect have returned tonight to ask for a change in the recommendation. The PWC recommendation from May 22, 2013 was: The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer (Sego) was present. The property is at the end of Avila Court, a cul-de-sac off Elena Road that serves 5 parcels. The Master Path Plan includes an off-road pathway easement on the southern half of the western border of the parcel. This 10-foot wide pedestrian-equestrian easement provides a connection between Elena Road (via Maple Leaf Court) to the Page Mill Road area (by way of Via Feliz). Joe Kleitman moved that the Town ask the owners of 13140 Avila Court for the pathway easement as shown on the Master Path Plan (on the western border of the parcel up to 27801 Via Feliz); and ask the homeowner to build a native path there. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was 8 in favor, 1 opposed (WC; path redundant and obtrusive on this property). The homeowners again cited concerns about privacy and that the PWC may be confused about the location of the property line (Attachment 1). The PWC discussed the reasons for the request to reconsider the original recommendation and agreed that the location of the property line was clear and that no new information had been presented. Chairman Kleitman advised that a change in the committee's previous recommendation would require a motion to reconsider and that only a member who wished to change their vote on the original motion could make such a motion. No member introduced a motion to reconsider and therefore the previous recommendation stands. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Complaints about Native Paths In Byrne Preserve. SW reported that residents have complained to the Open Space Committee about paths in Byrne Preserve and OSC is seeking advice from PWC. 1. Paths are being made too wide. OSC has received multiple complaints that the paths are being made wider every year. PWC discussed the status of paths in the preserve, the value of wider paths, and the lack of formal standards for native paths. The committee will review these standards at the November FinalPWC_Min_13-1028.doc 1/27/14 2 meeting. Chairman Kleitman volunteered to then write to Town staff thanking them for their maintenance work and reminding them to adhere to the standards. 2. Shortcut Near Bridge. Several residents have complained to OSC about a shortcut down the bank near the bridge over Moody Creek in Byrne Preserve. Apparently walkers, horses, and bikes use this shortcut instead of the long and less steep switchback and are causing erosion problems. PWC discussed whether anything was needed and if so, what. Ann Duwe moved that the Town place long logs (e.g. like telephone poles) across the shortcut to discourage use of the shortcut. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was 5 in favor, 3 opposed (opponents did not consider this necessary). B. Informal Committee on Fremont Pathway. SW reported several members of the Water Conservation Committee and other residents plan to meet to discuss possible modifications to the newly completed Safe Routes to School pathway along Fremont Road. Their primary concern is reducing water use in the new landscape. EG asked to be added to the email list for this group. C. Private to Public Roads. The Town recently examined the private/public status of 130 streets in Town and determined that at least 19 streets previously thought to be private are totally or partially public. EG distributed a list with the status of all 130 streets they reviewed (Attachment 3). PWC will not need to request easements conferring public access on these public streets. D. Report from Sheriff on Crime on Town Paths. EG reported that she contacted the sheriff for this information and was told no such crime statistics are available. E. PWC Calendar for November and December. PWC discussed options for meeting dates in November and December and agreed to meet on the usual date in November (i.e., the third Monday, Nov 25), but not to hold a meeting in December. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Council Member Corrigan’s Recommendations. At the September 23, 2013 PWC meeting, Council Member Corrigan presented six recommendations for changing the guidelines the Town uses for updating the Master Path Plan and a method to make financial contributions to the pathway system more equitable among residents (Attachment 2). These changes would require a change in the Pathway Element of the Town’s General Plan. The PWC thanked Council Member Corrigan for her time and energy on this issue. No action was taken on this set of recommendations; the PWC will consider them as it develops its own recommendations. B. Annexation and Pathway Master Path Plan Updates. PWC discussed the ongoing update of the Pathway Element and the need for assuring regular updates of the Master Path Plan (MPP) maps, which the PWC relies on to guide their recommendations. In addition, a formal method is needed for adding newly annexed areas of the Town to the MPP. The PWC discussed the large task of updating the MPP and how best to move this forward. The need to develop a strategy to set priorities and focus resources on the most important routes was also discussed. Members were asked to be prepared to discuss this and to formulate strategies and specific recommendations at the November meeting. 6. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS A. City Council. Council held a study session on October 24, 2013 to discuss management of the Westwind Barn and maintenance of its equestrian programs. Further discussions are planned. B. Traffic Safety Committee. A left turn lane from Fremont Road into Pinewood School has been proposed. Because this will add an additional lane to the road, PWC should monitor the proposals to assure no encroachment on the pathways at this site. 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Removal of Barbed Wire Near Pathways. DW reported barbed wire along the pathway at several spots in Byrne Preserve along the Artemis Ginzton trail (near Moody Road) that should be removed. Because private property owners may have placed this wire along preserve boundaries, the Town is contacting owners to request permission to remove it. DW will keep the PWC informed. 8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM 9. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next Regular Meeting: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted by Sue Welch 11/18/13 Approved 11/25/13 FinalPWC_Min_13-1028.doc 1/27/14 3