HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes July 26DraftMPWC_Regular_Min11‐0726 9/9/11 1
Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee DRAFT-M
Minutes of Meeting of Tuesday, July 26, 2011 (meeting continued from meeting of July 25, 2011)
1. ADMINISTRATIVE
Chairman Eileen Gibbons called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM
Members present: Courtenay Corrigan, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Eileen Gibbons, Bob
Stutz, Tim Warner, Sue Welch, Denise Williams
Members absent: Breene Kerr
LAH Council Members present: Mayor Ginger Summitt
Members of the public present: None
The meeting on Monday, July 25, 2011 had been adjourned at 11:00 PM after long discussion of plans for
the Fremont Bike Path. Tonight’s meeting continued with the agenda approved on July 25, 2011.
2. Communications from the floor.
None
3. Property Reviews. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations:
1. 13310 La Paloma Road (Lands of Milner). The reason for pathway review is construction of a
second unit. The property (referred to as “the Evershine property” prior to its sale to Yuri) is on
the east side of La Paloma Road. The previous owner installed a native path running up the slope
from La Paloma and along the southern border of the property to the border with 12933 Atherton
Court. A pathway connection to Atherton Court or Robleda is planned (and is on the Master Path
Plan). The Town holds the necessary easements, but the path not been constructed yet. A
proposed route along the creek to Robleda would be very expensive and an alternate route via
Atherton Court has been opposed by neighbors. It was noted that the existing native path was
poorly constructed; it is too narrow for horses and is already eroding in places. Adding low
retaining walls on the steep slope would provide a wider, more stable path for horses and
placing water bars would help prevent erosion. This 25,000 ft house received considerable public
attention at the time it was sold and a proposal to close the existing native pathway until the
connection to Robleda has been completed in order to protect the owner’s privacy was discussed.
The majority of the committee, however, considered it is consistent with Town standards to keep
the path open. Anne Duwe moved that in accord with Town rules the owners of 13310 La
Paloma Road be asked to restore and improve the existing native path to make it more
equestrian friendly, including broadening the steps on the slope and at the entrance and
installing low retaining walls to prevent erosion. In addition, a sign reading ‘No Outlet” is to
be placed at the entrance to the path on La Paloma. The vote was 5 in favor, 2 opposed.
4. Old Business
a) Report from Planning Commission. Denise Williams attended the Planning Commission
meeting on July 7, 2011 at which the proposal to amend the Master Path Plan (MPP) to include an
off-road path from La Loma Drive to Rhus Ridge was discussed. Staff presented an Initial Study
and Negative Declaration. The route would include private driveways off La Loma and an off-
road path through the properties at 25265 La Loma Drive and 11970 Rhus Ridge Drive. Although
an informal path used by neighbors already exists on 25265 La Loma, the owner is strongly
opposed to adding an off-road path on his property to the MPP. The PC did not find a
compelling reason to make this amendment to the MPP at this time and voted 3 to 2 against the
amendment. The PWC discussed the outcome and it was suggested that a neighborhood meeting
be held sometime in to discuss the issue. A minority of the committee opposed further action on
DraftMPWC_Regular_Min11‐0726 9/9/11 2
this proposed amendment to the MPP. Anne Duwe moved that the PWC set a date in the next
six months for an informational meeting with residents in the area to discuss adding the La
Loma neighborhood to the Master Path Plan. The vote was 6 in favor, 1 opposed.
b) Election of New Officers. Eileen Gibbons was unanimously appointed for another term as chair,
and Courtenay Corrigan was appointed to serve as Vice Chair. Sue Welch volunteered to
continue as secretary.
c) Fence Committee. Denise Williams reported that the fencing committee work was progressing
and members were assembling examples of fences that were or were not consistent with current
Town policy
d) Continuation of Discussion of the Fremont Road Bike Trail. The PWC began discussion of a
proposed design for the Fremont bike path at the regular meeting on Monday, July 25, 2011. That
meeting was adjourned at 11 PM. Tonight the PWC resumed discussion of plans for the route
starting at the intersection of Fremont Road and Concepcion and running to Arastradero Road.
The PWC proposal is attached as an appendix (Fremont Path Part 2).
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the June 27, 2011 meeting were approved as amended. Meeting was adjourned at 10:25
PM.
6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS
No meeting will be held in August.
Next pathway walk: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall
Next regular meeting: Monday, September 26, 2011 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Welch
August 11, 2011
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Pathway Committee Recommendations for Fremont Bike Path
PART 2
Meeting of July 26, 2011 DRAFT1
Continuation of Meeting Adjourned July 25, 2011
This part of the route is based on the maps included in the grant application dated Nov 2010. The newer
map with modifications that was presented at the Joint Study Session on June 29, 2011 does not extend
beyond the intersection of Fremont with Concepcion.
Votes on all segments were all unanimously in favor.
PAGE 6 (pg 2 on Nov 2010 map). Concepcion to Town Hall (Matchline C to Matchline D)
East Side
• Install IIB-type path of decomposed granite (DG), continuing same as on Fremont before the
intersection with Concepcion).
• Meander the path where possible to create a buffer between the road and the path; landscape buffer
where possible
• Improve trees and landscaping at the corner of Fremont and Concepcion
• Improve drainage as needed
• Continue white edgeline in road on to delineate right side of vehicle lane
West Side
• Existing 5-foot IIB path in front of Town Hall is adequate; widening to 6 feet is not necessary.
• Plant trees between path and road in front of Town Hall
PAGE 7 (pg 3 on Nov 2010 map). Town Hall to south end of Pinewood School property (MATCHLINE
D TO MATCHLINE F)
East Side
• Continue 6-foot IIB-type path (DG) where possible with landscaping separating path from road.
• Install bike-friendly curbs at Alexander. Trim obstructing landscaping and run path behind fire
hydrant.
• Install bike-friendly curbs at Snell.
• Between Snell and Matchline, landscape the open area just past the blow box if possible. Trim shrubs
as necessary.
West Side
DraftMPWC_Regular_Min11‐0726 9/9/11 4
• Continue 5-foot wide meandering IIB-type path separated from the road with landscaping until
Pinewood School property. Along the Pinewood property construct a meandering 6-foot path IIB-
type path separated from the road with landscaping.
• Shore up header boards and surface and improve drainage as needed
• Trim landscaping where needed
• At north entrance to Fremont, remove asphalt where road is excessively wide and add landscaping.
Install bike-friendly curbs at Snell.
Remove asphalt where road is excessively wide and add landscaping
• Add bike friendly curbs at St. Francis
PAGE 8 (pg 4 on Nov 2010 map). Pinewood School property to Ohlone Lane (MATCHLINE F TO
MATCHLINE H)
East Side
• Parts of this stretch are more constrained and the committee agreed that the IIB-type path along here
should be 5-feet wide if possible but a minimum of 3-feet would be acceptable. Five feet is preferred
for safety if possible near approaches to intersections.
• Shore up header boards, path surface, and drainage as needed
• Add bike-friendly curbs at intersections with Weston and, Aric Lane.
• North of Aric Lane, level path, shore up header boards, improve drainage
• North of Old trace Lane, remove the eucalyptus tree in the path. Remove the pine tree just north of
the eucalyptus only if necessary for clearance.
West Side
• Continue a 6-foot wide meandering IIB-type path separated from the road with landscaping along
Pinewood School property to the entrance of the school. North of the entrance, resume a 5-foot
meandering IIB-type path.
• No retaining wall is needed on the curve north of the intersection with Weston. Preserve trees in this
area.
• Remove paved asphalt path between the curve and the intersection with Palo Hills Drive and replace
it with a IIB-type path.
• From Palo Hills to Ohlone Lane, continue 5-foot IIB-type path where possible, make bike friendly
curbs and trim shrubs as needed.
PAGE 9 (pg 5 on Nov 2010 map). Ohlone Lane to Arastradero Road
East Side
• Continue white edgeline to delineate right edge of vehicle lane
• Consider moving road center line to allow equal amounts of safe pedestrian, horse, and bike access
on both sides.
DraftMPWC_Regular_Min11‐0726 9/9/11 5
• Remove new squared-off asphalt curb and connect striping to existing lines on Arastradero
• Remove some of the new asphalt from the northwest corner of Fremont and Arastradero. Add
landscaping and clarify pedestrian access.
• Consider adding a design element (e.g., a split rail fence) at this location to create a Town gateway.
Add the same element at Town Hall and Edith
General
• Meander the path where possible for interest and to maintain rural character
• Install landscaping in buffer between road and pathway where practical
• Add white edgeline to delineate right edge of vehicle lane on both sides of Fremont (as has been done
on Edith). Line should be measured a consistent distance from center line leaving shoulder width to
vary and no additional width should be needed.
• Make all new curbs bike-friendly rolled curbs. If funds allow, replace the existing squared-off curbs
with rolled curbs.
• No need to move existing street signs unless they will make the path less than 3 feet wide
Priorities
1. Pathway from Edith Avenue to Miranda
2. Pathway from Miranda to Town Hall
2. Pathway from Weston to Arastradero
3. Pathway from town Hall to Weston
The highest general priorities are installing bike-friendly curbs and adding a white edgeline delineating
the right border of the vehicle lane. Planting landscaping, fixing header boards and drainage are
secondary.