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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes December 12Minutes December 2011 ‐ Final.doc                    2/24/15 1  Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL Minutes of Meeting of Tuesday, December 12, 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, Breene Kerr, Joseph Kleitman, Bob Stutz, Tim Warner Sue Welch, Denise Williams Members absent: None Members of the public: None The agenda was approved as amended. 2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR None 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: a. 24100 Hillview Road (Lands of Lam). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The homeowner was not present. The property is on the southwest side of Hillview at the corner of Magdalena and Hillview and has frontage on both streets. A roadside path exists along Magdalena on the adjacent lot (11993 Magdalena) and remnant roadside paths exist along Hillview. The PWC discussed the importance of roadside paths in this area. Chairman Gibbons will talk to staff about the Water District structures located in the pathway easement at the corner and also ask staff to convey that the path will need to meander behind the traffic signs at this location. Ann Duwe moved that the Town ask the owners of 24100 Hillview Road to construct IIB roadside paths along both Magdalena and Hillview Roads. Joe Kleitman seconded; the vote was unanimously in favor. b. 26958 Dezahara Way (Lands of Sharp and Harris). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The homeowner was not present. The property is on the south side of Dezahara, which is a public road that forms a loop off Taaffe Road. Roadside paths exist on Dezahara around the other side of the loop, but none are present in the area of this parcel. At the site visit, it the PWC noted that some overgrown landscaping needs to be removed from the roadside path easements on several parcels (27033 and 27071). The side of the street opposite this parcel (i.e., the inside of the loop) is the preferred side for roadside pathways because the roadsides are less steep. Tim Warner moved that the Town ask the owners of 26958 Dezahara Drive to pay a pathway in-lieu fee. Bob Stutz seconded; the vote was unanimously in favor. c. 26493 Weston Drive (Lands of Zeev, Hagit, and Orin). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The homeowner was not present. The property is on the north side of Weston Drive and has frontages on both Weston and Aric Lane. Both Weston and Aric are public cul-de-sacs that serve more than eight residences. An off-road path connecting into Esther Clarke Park exits from the east end of Aric Lane. Weston has no off-road path connections. Although neither side of Aric Lane is ideal for a roadside path because of steep slopes and/or obstructing structures, the side of Aric Lane opposite this parcel is considered the preferred side for roadside pathways. That side is generally flatter and also, there is a retaining wall running along the Aric Lane frontage of this property within a few feet of the paved road. The side of Weston on which this parcel lies is considered the preferred side for a roadside pathway. In October 2011 the PWC recommended that the owners of 26480 Weston (across from this parcel) pay a pathway in-lieu fee because the opposite side has better topography for a path. Courtenay Minutes December 2011 ‐ Final.doc                    2/24/15 2  Corrigan moved that the Town ask the owners of 26493 Weston Drive to construct a IIB roadside path along the Weston Drive frontage. Ann Duwe seconded; the vote was unanimously in favor. d. 26310 Esperanza Drive (Lands of Bergman). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The homeowner was not present. Esperanza is a public street that forms a lasso- shaped loop off Concepcion. The property is at the southeast corner of the loop and has frontages on two sides because the road makes a right angle turn here. The PWC discussed the value of roadside paths on this street for safety. Roadside paths exist on parcels across the street from the parcel under review (i.e., along both 26304 and 26311 Esperanza) and on 26347 Esperanza, which is located further around the loop. An off-road connection enters Esperanza between 26319 and 26315 on the opposite side of the street. Nick Dunckel moved that the Town ask the owners of 26310 Esperanza Drive to pay a pathway in-lieu fee. Bob Stutz seconded; the vote was unanimously in favor. e. 27510 and 27520 Twin Oaks Court (Lands of Huang Twin Oaks Star, LLC). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence on each lot. The owner was not present. These parcels do not yet have legal addresses and are designated as Lot L1 and L2 on the Master Path Plan map. Twin Oaks Court is a short cul-de-sac off Arastradero Road that serves five properties. No off-road paths connecting to the cul-de-sac appear on the current Master Path Plan. Lot L1: The property is on west side of the cul-de-sac and has frontage on both Arastradero Road and Twin Oaks Court. A IIB roadside path exists along the Arastradero frontage and a remnant roadside path exists along Twin Oaks Court frontage. These were apparently installed at the time of subdivision 10 years ago. Upgrading of the Arastradero roadside path is planned as part of the Stanford trail/Arastradero Corridor project. The PWC was unclear whether the current construction projects that triggered this review constitute second development projects (i.e., different from the subdivision project 10 years ago) and whether the Town can collect additional fees. Some members considered that an additional fee was appropriate at this time and others did not. Ann Duwe moved that the Town ask the owners of Lot L1 to restore the roadside paths along Arastradero Road and Twin Oaks Court to IIB standards. Joe Kleitman seconded. The vote was 6 in favor; 4 opposed. Lot L2: The property is on west side of the cul-de-sac and has frontage only on Twin Oaks Court. As for Lot L1, the PWC was unclear whether the current construction projects that triggered this review constitute second development projects (i.e., different from the subdivision project 10 years ago) and whether the Town can collect additional in-lieu fees. Some members considered that an additional fee was appropriate at this time and others did not. Ann Duwe moved that the Town ask the owners of Lot L2 to pay a pathway in-lieu fee. Sue Welch seconded. The vote was 5 in favor; 5 opposed. 4. NEW BUSINES 12386 Priscilla Lane. A formal PWC review is not required at this time, but the owners are making improvement to their landscaping and have asked whether a roadside path is likely to be required along their road frontage. They recently installed a new fence that is set back from the road with sufficient room for a path and landscaping. Priscilla is a cul-de-sac serving more than eight parcels and has an off-road path exiting the east end that connects to the planned off-road path along I-280 (from the Nicholson property to Stonebrook). A roadside path exists on the adjacent parcel (12384 Priscilla) and on several other parcels on the street. Joe Kleitman recused himself from the discussion because his property is within 500 feet of this parcel. Speaking as a Minutes December 2011 ‐ Final.doc                    2/24/15 3  member of the public, he noted that a spring exists on the pathway easement on this property. The PWC discussed the value of a roadside path in this location on Priscilla. This has been an important area for equestrians in the past and the policy is generally to construct roadside paths on cul-de-sacs with off-road connectors. Although the general consensus was that a roadside path on this parcel would be a benefit, no formal recommendation was made ALL BELOW IS OLD 4. NEW BUSINESS    a. Bike–Friendly Curbs for Robleda and Other Roads. Breene Kerr recommended that the Town install bike-friendly curbs where roadside pathways on major roads cross driveways and intersections. Modified curbs would make it easier for children and other cyclists to ride these paths. The committee generally agreed modified curbs would be a benefit and discussed possible options. There was unanimous agreement that simple, inexpensive ramps about the same width as the pathways would be sufficient. The Town should use the bare minimum structure necessary and avoid any elaborate structures such as fully ADA-compliant curb cuts. Improvements should first be made on one road only (Robleda) and at road intersections only (i.e., not at driveways). Breene Kerr moved that the Town install bike-friendly curbs along Robleda Road where roadside paths cross street intersections. The configuration should be as simple as possible and consistent with the rural character of the Town. Nick Dunckel seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. b. Pathway Easement on Princess Elleena. Princess Elleena Court is a private cul-de-sac off Magdalena adjacent to I-280. The Town holds a roadside pathway easement along the northern edge of the road, but the easement lies on parcels that are on the SOUTH side of the road (i.e., not on Dawnridge properties). The off-road path easement exiting the west end of Princess Eleena and connecting to the pathway off the west end of Dawnridge was removed from the Master Path Plan in 2005. Part of the roadside easement along Princess Elleena is on the Kim property at 24086. The neighbors at 24200 Dawnridge have cleared vegetation on this pathway easement, laid down gravel, and are using the easement for egress from their property to Princess Elleena. They have also erected a large metal storage shed immediately adjacent to the easement that is an eyesore visible from 24086 Princess Elleena. Mr. Kim is requesting information from the PWC about whether this pathway easement will be developed and prefers to leave the vegetation in place for aesthetic and sound buffering reasons. The PWC agreed that because this cul-de-sac serves only four residences and has no off-road connectivity, it is unlikely that this pathway easement will be developed. However, Town policy is not to vacate such easements and generally to prohibit obstructing them. Also, neighbors are not permitted to make improvements to the easement, such as dumping gravel. It was recommended that Town staff check the location of the storage shed on 24200 Dawnridge to determine if it is in compliance with required setbacks and require it to be moved if it is not. In addition, plantings to mitigate the view of the shed from Princess Elleena were recommended. It was suggested that the neighbors make use of the free LAH mediation service. 5. OLD BUSINESS    a. Stanford Trail in Arastradero Corridor. A general informational meeting will be held at Town Hall on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 5:30 PM. The Planning Commission will review PWC recommendations for the proposed retaining wall at their meeting on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall. Minutes December 2011 ‐ Final.doc                    2/24/15 4  b. Process Review for Engaging Neighbors for Propose Path Works. This item was tabled until the December meeting. c. Annexation of Urban Islands. LAFCO has asked the Town to annex four existing “urban islands” into the town. At the October meeting the PWC agreed to create a system to inform residents in the annex areas about LAH requirements for pathways at the time of annexation, so they will be aware of pathway requirements when they seek development permits. Chairman Gibbons suggested residents be sent an informational packet including a letter describing the pathway system, the Town Walking Map, and the Pathway Element from the LAH General Plan. Joe Kleitman has volunteered to draft a letter for review at the December meeting. Chairman Gibbons also suggested that the Planning Commission be informed that the Pathway Master Path Plan would be updated after each annexation. 6. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS a. Fence Committee. Denise Williams reported briefly on the results of the fencing committee on- line survey. b. Santa Clara County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Breene Kerr reported that at their last meeting the Santa Clara County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee failed to pass a proposed resolution preventing installation of a stop sign on Page Mill Road at the intersection with Buena Vista Road. LAH will continue to work with Palo Alto on options to make this intersection safer for cars turning left from Page Mill onto Moody Road and Buena Vista. 7. GENERAL DISCUSSION Possible options for improving pathways along parts of page Mill Road were discussed. Breene Kerr suggested seeking funds for a regional project. 8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the November 23, 2011 meeting were approved with minor amendments. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM. 9. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS December pathway walk: Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall December regular meeting: Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch December, 2011