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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes January 26Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee DRAFT2 Minutes of Meeting January 26, 2009 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Co-Chairman Nick Dunckel called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Anna Brunzell, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Eileen Gibbons, Nancy Ginzton, Bill Silver, Bob Stutz, Chris Vargas, Tim Warner, Sue Welch Members absent: Courtenay Corrigan LAH Council Members present: Breene Kerr, Ginger Summit The agenda was approved as amended below. 2. NEW BUSINESS A. Communications from the floor. i. City Council Liaison to the PWC, Breene Kerr gave a progress update on the new path being built along El Monte between Foothill College and the I-280 interchange. B. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: i. 26555 Aric Lane (Lands of Perkash). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The property is at the corner of Aric Lane and Fremont Road. There is a roadside pathway along Fremont on this property. Aric Lane is a cul-de-sac serving at least eight properties. Because an off-road path connecting to Edith Park exits the end of the cul-de-sac, a roadside pathway is needed. Members discussed whether the north or south side of the road is better for the path. A path on the north side of Aric would pass very close to one of the properties and a brick wall has been built close to the road edge on another property on that side. Although the roadsides are steep in places on the south side and some cut and fill will probably be required, most thought this was probably the better side. A pathway in-lieu fee cannot be collected because a pathway already exists on this property along Fremont Road. Chris Vargas moved that the roadside path be put on the opposite (south) side of Aric Lane and that the owners of 26555 Aric Lane restore the IIB pathway along Fremont to IIB standards at the end of construction. In addition, the Town should request an easement to walk on Aric Lane if it is not a public road. Bill Silver seconded. The vote was 8 in favor, 1 opposed. ii. 12695 Roble Veneno Lane (Lands of Coughran). The reason for pathway review is a remodel. The property is at the end of Roble Veneno, a cul-de-sac that serves five properties and does not connect to any off-road pathways. Ann Duwe moved that the Town ask for a pathway in-lieu fee from the owners of 12695 Roble Veneno. Chris Vargas seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. iii. 25611 Vinedo Lane (Lands of Agam) is on the agenda, but has already been reviewed by the PWC. 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Selection of CIP Projects for recommendation to City Council. The PWC plans to submit to the City Council a list of possible pathway projects to be funded during 2009. The committee discussed the list of 17 potential projects prepared by Chair Nick Dunckel and came to a consensus on which projects would be best to present for approval and funding. CIP top priorities are: 1. Bullis School to Robleda: There is already a path from South of school grounds along 13833 and along part of 13830. We need to extend this path along 13781 to Robleda. The Town already holds the easements needed for the project. A path here would provide safe passage for children walking to school. Is this path already used?? 2. 27600 Page Mill at Altamont: there is an easement here and one of our maps says that a pathway exists, but it is overgrown with oleander and is no longer visible. It would complete the pathway along the eastern side of Page Mill from Central to Altamont and make a very nice loop from the Barn. Improvement also needed for path on Altamont side of this lot. 3. Moody road at its intersection with Chaparral: the Moody road path, which is on the South side of Moody, lies 4 ft below the roadway, making it hard to get up the steep bank. Instead, a path should be created across from 26200 Moody for walking East along Moody to Chaparral. This is also a safety issue. 4. Arastradero between Purissima and Old Adobe Road. There exists a good paved path on the Palo Alto side of Arastradero from Purissima to Deer Creek but no access is available from La Cresta. Sections of this path already exist in various forms. Building a path will be expensive and difficult along the steep bank adjacent to the sharp curve just north of La Cresta. Most of the rest of the route is relatively flat. This is a major safety issue because Arastradero here is narrow, has blind curves, no shoulders, and carries heavy traffic. It appears that all easements (including Beth Am) are available except at 27112 Arastradero, which we believe to belong to the Fire District. 5. Page Mill Road: Make path from Edgerton to Arastradero Preserve via Paseo del Roble. This path would provide a route from the scenic Matadero Creek trail to Arastradero Preserve (via the entrance off Paseo del Robles). Only need to create path along 28520 and 28525 Page Mill to complete. The shrubbery could be probably be cut back to make a roadside path. This is also a safety issue; this part of Page Mill is very dangerous, with a high volume of fast-moving traffic, blind curves, and no shoulders. Other projects discussed and considered lower priority include: • Buena Vista-Sherlock connection. This route would provide safer options for pedestrians/equestrians in this area. The general consensus was that this potential route needs additional planning before the PWC asks for funding. • Route between Red Rock and Sherlock Court. Many potential routes could provide connectivity in this neighborhood. The general consensus was that this potential route needs additional planning before the PWC asks for funding. • La Cresta to Roble Ladera. This off-road route connects La Cresta to Fremont Hills Country Club. Neighbors have walked along the concrete drainage ditch between 12600 and 12625 La Cresta for years. The Town holds the necessary easements and could install a path adjacent to the ditch. • Hilltop to Dawnridge. This off-road connection existed at one time but has been neglected and has become impassible. Easements exist on 11872 Hilltop and 24444 Dawnridge. A 40-foot easement on the steep portion should allow ample room for switchbacks; culverts are required. This will probably be an expensive project. • El Monte Road to Magdalena (Eastbrook subdivision). Town does not hold easements at this time and the timetable for development is unknown. It may be premature to ask for funding for this project now. • Pathways within Byrne Preserve. The path from Byrne Park Lane to Westwind barn is heavily used and very muddy in winter months. The drainage needs to be improved near Byrne Park Lane and in the lower portion of the main path as it approaches the culvert near the barn. This can probably be managed as a maintenance issue and Town staff will be contacted about it. • Zappettini Court to Central Drive. The Town initially said this would require a long expensive bridge, but it now appears that a smaller bridge will be adequate. This route would provide another route close to Byrne Preserve. • Pedestrian light at corner of Ravensbury and Magdalena. Currently cars and pedestrians share a narrow bridge at a busy intersection. A traffic light, rather than a bridge may be adequate. • La Loma Drive to Rancho San Antonio. A native path connecting to the open space could be constructed. Construction beside the water tank will be tricky because the hillside is dangerously steep. The route also crosses a small creek. Developing this route would involve working with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to plan connections to their trail system. The general consensus was that this potential route needs additional planning before the PWC asks for funding. • Clausen Court to Dawnridge Drive. This native path along I-280 needs to be cleared and improved. This can probably be managed as a maintenance issue and Town staff will be contacted about it. • Bullis School paths. Improve paths on Fremont Road, including crosswalks in front of school. This should be funded by school improvements budget. • Viscaino Road Path. Install a 2-inch AC berm to separate pathway from the road. • Page Mill Road. Need to work with outside agencies to find safer pathways, especially along the lower routes of Page Mill. • Hilltop Drive. Work with property owner T 12355 Hilltop to build a path around the dangerous curve here. B. Other PWC Issues Needing Attention. The PWC has a number of other issues that need to be addressed. Chairman Nick Dunckel asked PWC members to select an issue and begin working on it. The list of issues that need attention includes: i. Upgrade Master Path Plan with the following: • Extend the MPP to the newly annexed part of Town • Add additional roads to the Council-approved list of two-sided roads (e.g., add Ravensbury and parts of Elena) • Easements on Burke Lane (a private road) should be on the MPP • Bentley • Consider gathering voluntary easements on Toyonita (a private road) • Correct the current MPP by putting Amherst Court back on (was on 11/22/06 but not 8/20/08 MPP map) • Review newest version of MPP maps for accuracy ii. Make the path loop around the Little League filed in Purissima Park ADA accessible. iii. Select path for Atherton Court to La Paloma iv. Update residents Pathway Map (walking routes); include newly annexed areas of Town v. Review how often frequently pathway in-lieu fees can reasonably be collected (i.e., for properties for which fees were paid many years in the past). C. Reports from members who have attended other meetings i. VTA meetings. Nancy Ginzton reported that the VTA group is working on projects to add sidewalks to roads in the unincorporated parts of Santa Clara County. Parts of Moody Road in LAH might qualify for this. D. Volunteers to attend other meetings. City Council: Feb 12, 2009 No volunteers City Council: Feb 26, 2009 Nick Dunckel will present CIP priorities 2. GENERAL DISCUSSION Eileen Gibbons reported that the off-path between Teresa Way and Laura Court has become overgrown and is impassible. She will report this to Town staff for maintenance. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the December 15, 2008 meeting were approved as amended. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM. 4. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next pathway walk: Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next regular meeting: Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch February 2, 2009