Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 23 2013FinalPWC_Min_13-0923.doc 1/29/14 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee Final Minutes of Meeting of Monday, September 23, 2013 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Acting Chairman Eileen Gibbons called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Weegie Caughlan, Ann Duwe, Nick Dunckel, Eileen Gibbons, Vic Hesterman, Rachelle Mirkin, Tim Warner, Sue Welch, Denise Williams Members absent: Breene Kerr, Joseph Kleitman Council members present: Courtenay Corrigan Members of public present: Susan Goldman Craig Lytle ) Bonnie Pica Marsha Robertson Chaing Yang Michael Chacon Chiand Alan Chin Randy Salim Julie Zhou and Mike Sego The agenda was approved as written. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Minutes from the July and Aug meetings were approved with minor amendments. 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 24874 Olive Tree Drive (Lands of Davin and Saina Hadden). The reason for pathway review is an addition and remodel. The project architect, Michael Chacon, was present representing the homeowner. The property is a steep, irregularly shaped lot on the south side of Olive Tree Drive in a recently annexed part of Town. Olive Tree is a cul-de-sac and public road from Blandor Way to the bulb at 24743, and private road from there to the end. Frontage for this parcel is on the private section and consists of a driveway and a wooded bank sloping steeply down from the road edge. The roadway is narrow, steep, and winding and no on-road pathways have been built in this section. Although this area is close to San Antonio Open Space , no off-road paths exit from Olive Tree and none are planned. The PWC discussed the value to the neighborhood of providing public access on this road. AD moved that the Town task the owners of 24874 Olive Tree Drive to grant an easement conferring public access on the roadway in front of their property. SW seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. 26873 Moody Road (Lands of John Salim and Amanda Oakson). The reason for pathway review is a major remodel. The homeowner, Randy Salim was present and described the project (raising the roof over the kitchen). The PWC discussed whether this remodel met criteria for a pathway review and agreed to confer with staff. The parcel is on the north side of Moody Road; it is a flat, flag-shaped lot with the narrow “pole” extending to the west from the back of the property. The adjacent properties on both sides have roadside paths and a roadside path exists on the opposite side of the road adjacent to Hidden Villa. A roadside path on the LAH side would improve safety for walkers and horses along Moody, which is a narrow road heavily used by autos, bikes, walkers, and equestrians. The homeowner is amenable to constructing a roadside path, but prefers that it be along the road rather than separated from the road. AD moved that the PWC confirm with staff that the remodeling project at 26873 Moody Road meets criteria for a pathway review and if it does, to: 1) request a 10-foot pathway easement on the property along the Moody Road frontage; and 2) ask the homeowner to construct a native path in this easement. Nick Dunckel seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. C. 12555 Barley Hill Road (Lands of Henry and Mimi Chin). The reason for pathway review is construction of a secondary unit. The homeowner, Chiand Chin, was present. The property is at the end of Barley Hill Road (a public cul-de-sac serving more than 16 residences) between the end of the road and the I-280 ROW. An off-road path runs along the full-length of the western border of the property adjacent to I-280 and an off-road path exits from the end of Barley Hill (located on the adjacent property, 12804 Barley Hill). These paths provide connection to St. Nicholas School and El Monte Road to the north, and to Hilltop FinalPWC_Min_13-0923.doc 1/29/14 2 Road to the south. No roadside paths are needed along the Barley Hill frontage. Ann Duwe moved that the Town ask the owners of 12555 Barley Hill Road to restore the existing native path along the I-280 frontage following construction. Vic Hesterman seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. D. 25955 La Loma Drive (Lands of Vivek and Gauri Pendharkar). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. The property is on the west side of La Loma Drive between Prospect and La Loma Court. A IIB path in good condition exists on the side of the street opposite this parcel. La Loma is not a “two-sided street” requiring paths on both sides. Nick Dunckel moved that the Town ask the owners of 25955 La Loma Drive to pay a pathway in-lieu fee. Rachelle Mirkin seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Kate Drive Pathway Maintenance. Several residents have complained to the PWC that they are unable to use the pathway that runs along the former ROW of Stonebrook Drive between Teresa Way and Laurel Court (behind the homes on Kate Drive). This route was open in the past but is now overgrown with weeds. Residents of the area apparently believe it is no longer a pathway easement and have been resistant to clearing it. Eileen Gibbons consulted Town staff who said that this is indeed a pathway easement held by the Town and requested a recommendation from PWC on how to proceed. Neighbors were sent notices and invited to the PWC meeting to discuss the issue. Five residents of Kate Drive and Laura Court attended and voiced their concerns. They said the path is not needed because walkers can use the alternative on-road pathway along Kate Drive. They also reported frequent nuisance activity near the west entrance to the easement. They said groups of young people in cars congregate there, "smoking, drinking and selling and using drugs". Groups also gather at the end of Kate Drive closer to the lake. Residents reported they call the sheriff frequently and sometimes pick up “cigarette butts and used needles and condoms" in the area. They are concerned that opening the pathway will provide an even more attractive place for these groups. After lengthy discussion, Tim Warner moved that 1) The Town inform the neighbors that a pathway easement does exist along the old Stonebrook road ROW that could be cleared for use at some time in the future; 2) To avoid any possibility of exacerbating the nuisance activities, the PWC recommends that the pathway not be cleared at this time. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was 8 in favor, 1 opposed (ND who favored clearing). B. Removal of Barbed Wire Near Pathways. Denise Williams reported barbed wire along the pathway at several spots on the Artemis Ginzton trail near Moody Road that should be removed. Because this wire may have been placed along preserve boundaries by private property owners, owners should be contacted before it is removed. Denise Williams moved that the PWC ask town staff to contact property owners along the Artemis Ginzton trail and request permission to remove the old barbed wire. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Subcommittee Recommendations on Annexation and Pathway Master Path Plan Updates. At the Aug 15, 2013 City Council meeting, Councilmember Courtney Corrigan presented six recommendations for updating pathway maps in annexed areas of Town that were developed at a Council Subcommittee meeting attended by Councilmember John Radford, PWC members Joe Kleitman and Weegie Coughlin, and LAH residents. Councilmember Corrigan presented these recommendations (Attachment A) for discussion at the PWC meeting. The proposed changes would replace the current Pathway Policy 1.1, which requires a “direct access adjacent to or across the street from their residence to a pathway or pathways…” with a Council-approved Master Path Plan for all on-road and off-road pathways. This MPP would serve as a foundation for decisions for maintaining or constructing additional paths throughout the Town. A method to make financial contributions to the pathway system more equitable among residents was also suggested. PWC members were asked to review these recommendations and be prepared to discuss in detail at the October meeting. 6. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS A. City Council. Results from Nicholson path map update. The City Council approved the changes requested by the PWC to the status of the easements on and near the west end of the Nicholson property. The Town holds all the necessary off-road easements to complete the route along the freeway connecting the to Oak Park Court, but some easements had been removed from the Master Path Plan map. Council approved re- activating these easements on the MPP, which will allow the connecting path to be completed. Questions FinalPWC_Min_13-0923.doc 1/29/14 3 remain about how to improve the pathway access at the Magdalena end of the Nicholson paths (i.e., at the I-280 off-ramp). 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. 13140 Avila Court. The owners of this parcel are requesting a re-review of their property. The PWC recommended 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 property line. Chairman Gibbons suggested they either go directly to Planning Commission or return to the PWC to contest the recommendation. B. Byrne Preserve Pathway. Sue Welch reported that a resident complained to the Open Space Committee 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. OSC is seeking input from PWC. This item will be added to the October agenda. 8. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM 9. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next Regular Meeting: Monday, October 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch 10/22/13 Approved 11/27/13