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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes January 28Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee Minutes of Meeting January 28, 2008 1. ADMINSTRATIVE Chairman Ginger Summit called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM Members present: Anna Brunzell, Jim Bliss, Courtenay Corrigan, Nick Dunckel, Nancy Ginzton, Ginger Summit, Bob Stutz, Jolon Wagner, Chris Vargas Members absent: Bill Silver, Sue Welch Council Members present: Councilman Mike O'Malley Town Staff present: Members of public present: Patou, owner of 26253 Esperanza Dr.; Roelandts, owner of 26401 Eshner Ct.; Cedar, owner of 13300 East Sunset Dr.; Cadeddu-Duke, owner of 11520 Old Ranch Rd. Representative of Ascension Development, owner of 26491 Ascension Dr. The agenda was approved on a motion by Anna Brunzell seconded by Nick Dunckel.. 1. NEW BUSINESS A. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: i. 26353 Esperanza Dr. (lands of Patou). The reason for pathway review is the proposed addition and remodel of an existing residence. In anticipation of remodeling, the owners have already replaced a fence abutting the adjacent Public Utility Easement (PUE) at the backside of their property. There is an existing IIB path on the road right of way in front of their house. An unresolved issue was whether there is a pathways easement on the PUE. Although only two pathway segments on Esperanza were active, the committee felt that it would be beneficial to request the owners provide a IIB path in front of their property along Esperanza. Nancy Ginzton moved that a pathways easement be obtained along the PUE behind the house at 26353 Esperanza Dr. and that a IIB roadside path on Esperanza at 26353 Esperanza be constructed on the road right of way. Bob Stutz seconded. The motion passed with 8 in favor and 1 opposed. ii. 13131 Delson Ct., lands of Robertson. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence. This residence lies off a cul-de-sac and backs up to Wright Way, where a 10 ft easement on this property already exists. Since this property already has this easement, and since no easement is desired on the Delson Ct. cul-de-sac, the PWC decided that no further action was required on this property. iii. 26401 Eshner Ct., lands of Roelandts. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence. A pathway in front of the property was put in by the developer at time of subdivision. The PWC has a concern that construction would further impact the existing path. Anna Brunzell moved that the existing IIB path be restored after construction has finished. The motion was seconded by Courtenay Corrigan. The vote was unanimously in favor. iv. 26491 Ascension Dr., lands of Ascension Dev. LLC. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence. The PWC agreed that the logical side for a pathway is on the opposite side of the street. Courtenay Corrigan moved that the PWC recommend that the Town collect a pathway in-lieu fee from the owners of 25893 Fremont Road.. The motion was seconded by Anna Brunzell. The vote was unanimously in favor. v. 12610 La Cresta Dr., lands of Marple/De Ruyter. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence. Since an easement along the La Cresta side of this property already exists, the issue was whether or not to put a path alongside this property. The PWC deliberated which side of the street was optimum for a path, and decided that in the interests of privacy for the owners and convenience for pathways users the best solution was to have the path change sides. Chris Vargas moved that based on the Aug 16 2006 map, for a person walking Southeast on La Cresta, the path must be on the right side at 12695 La Cresta and must switch to the left side between properties at 12680 and 12690 La Cresta. Jim Bliss seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously in favor. The PWC also decided that even though there is a limited number of houses to the Southeast of this property that will be served by a pathway, there is a significant benefit to having a pathway along La Cresta. Jim Bliss moved that the PWC recommend a pathway along 12610 La Cresta Dr. The motion was seconded by Anna Brunzell. The motion passed with 7 in favor and 2 opposed. vi. 13300 East Sunset, lands of Cedar. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence to replace an existing older residence. The PWC has looked at this area two times recently: in June 2006 they recommended that a pathway be built on East Sunset beside 13241 East Sunset, and on 27 November 2007 they recommended a pathway be built along East Sunset on the property under discussion at 13330 East Sunset. There are many walkers on this road, probably because East Sunset and West Sunset. make an attractive walking loop. The narrow road and sharp curves create dangerous conditions for walkers in the road. The PWC decided to uphold their previous recommendation of 27 November 2006 to require that on the property at 13300 E. Sunset a IIB path along E. Sunset be required. vii. 11520 Old Ranch Rd., lands of Cadeddu-Duke. The reason for pathway review is a proposed new residence. The owner has been told that at the rear of this property there is a “horse” path that a person comes to trim regularly. Old Ranch Rd is very wide so the PWC saw no need to provide a pathway along it. The property has an existing easement on the side towards Ravensbury Ave. This easement is currently noted as an equestrian easement. The PWC felt that this equestrian easement should be re-classified as a standard Town pathways easement. The PWC also felt that the Town staff should advise the residents on the status of the reported “horse path” at the rear of this property. Chris Vargas made a motion that the easement on the Ravensbury side of 11520 Old Ranch Rd. should be re-classified as a standard Los Altos Hills pathway easement. The motion was seconded by Jim Bliss. The vote was unanimously in favor. B. Presentation from Councilman Mike O'Malley. Councilman O'Malley expressed thanks to the PWC from the Council for completing the Pathways map that is currently being printed and distributed to Town residents. C. Chairman Summit showed the committee a sample of the new Pathways Walking map and told them that 5000 copies were being printed and would be distributed to each household in LAH. D. Chairman Summit presented to the committee her map of missing Pathways signs and requested that committee members review their sectors for additional missing signs. The Town Maintenance staff requested that a list be provided to them so they can efficiently replace a number of them at the same time. Nick Dunckel will compile from this map a list of missing signs for the staff. E. Nick Dunckel and Jim Bliss reviewed the Pathways Maintenance spreadsheet they have developed for interacting with the Town on the issue of Pathways Maintenance. F. Chairman Summit reminded the PWC that when the new Pathways Map is distributed to the townspeople, that it will be accompanied by an explanatory pamphlet. She invited members of the PWC to suggest for inclusion in the pamphlet pathways and pathway loops suitable for people with specific needs and interests, including children, handicapped persons, equestrians, and bicyclists. G. Chris Vargas presented plans for Clean Up Day, which is now in its third year. Pinewood will provide students from their 6th grade. Bullis will provide students from all grades. He plans to request publicity from Hills 2000 and the Civic Association. Hidden Villa will also be involved. Chris hopes many residents will also participate. 2. OLD BUSINESS A. Chairman Summit reported that she had walked the proposed CIP routes with the Town Engineers. She found five commercial or non-profit groups that specialize in the construction of pathways and plans to encourage them to bid on the CIP projects in order to lower the projected costs. B. Reports from members of the PWC who attended other meetings: None to report. C. Volunteers were requested to attend meetings in the absence of Chairman Summit, who will be away most of the month of February: i. Planning Commission February 7; ii. Town Council February 14 and 28. D. General Discussion i. Debbie Pedro contacted Chairman Summit regarding the eucalyptus trees on the Cranston property at 27080 Fremont Road. The PWC had studied the issue on October 22, 2007 and had voted to move the existing path to a IIB roadside path so that the Cranstons would only have to trim one side of the trees to protect both the road and the pathway. However, Debbie Pedro reported that arborists said that cutting only one side of the eucalyptus trees was bad for the trees, and that therefore the PWC should re-consider the issue. The PWC deliberated this issue, concluding that 1) the Cranstons should still be permitted to move the pathway to a IIB roadside pathway; 2) the discussion of October 22, 2007 never recommended that the easement for the old pathway should be moved or vacated nor is it the policy of the PWC to recommend moving or vacating easements. (HOW WAS THIS LEFT?) 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes were not yet ready for approval. Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM. 6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next pathway walk: Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next regular meeting: Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Nick Dunckel February 2, 2008