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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes August 27Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee Minutes of Meeting August 27, 2007 1. ADMINSTRATIVE Chairman Ginger Summit called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM Members present: Jim Bliss, Courtenay Corrigan, Nick Dunckel, Ginger Summit, Bill Silver, Bob Stutz, Jolon Wagner, Chris Vargas, Sue Welch Members absent: Anna Brunzell, Nancy Ginzton, Council Members present: Councilman Mike O'Malley Town Staff present: Brian Froehlich, Associate Planner Members of public present: Orrs, owners of 26285 Altamont Road Linda Yee and Dipesh Gupta, representing owners of 26462 Purissima Road Lili Milano, architect, 26990 Arastradero Road (Lands of Ng) The agenda was approved as amended below. 1. NEW BUSINESS A. Review of pathway in-lieu fee calculation. Brian Froelich, Associate Planner, LAH Planning Department, presented a summary of different methods to calculate pathway in-lieu fees based on 1) square root of square footage of lot; 2) average width of lot; 3) perimeter of lot; 4 ) length of street frontage. Brian favors using the square of square footage of lot because it is more consistent and objective than other methods and thus spreads the cost of the Town pathway system more equitably among all property owners. It is also the easiest to calculate. The LAH General Plan specifies that the in-lieu fee should be roughly proportional to the cost of installing a pathway. PWC members will review the wording about calculating the fee in the General Plan. Additional questions about in-lieu fees were raised (e.g., whether an in-lieu fee must be paid every time a property sells). Brian will return to the PWC with the regulations addressing these issues. B. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: i. 26285 Altamont Road (Lands of Orr). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The property owners (the Orrs) were present. The property is at the corner of Altamont Road and Corbetta Lane adjacent to Packard property. Driveway access will be from Corbetta. A dirt pathway exists on this side of Altamont, which is heavily used. Construction of a IIB path along Altamont would enhance access and safety. Corbetta Lane has public access in the road and no pathway is needed. Bob Stutz moved that the PWC request the owners of 26285 Altamont Road bring the pathway along Altamont up to IIB standards. Nick Dunckel seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. ii. 26462 Purissima Road (Lands of Los Altos Homes). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. Linda Yee and Dipesh Gupta were present representing the owners. This is a flag lot on the southwest side of Purissima and is incorrectly marked as 26270 Purissima on Town parcel maps. According to LAH Resolution 38-96 (May 1996), Purissima Road should have roadside pathways on both sides. Purissima is heavily used by both cars and pedestrians. Chris Vargas moved that the PWC request that the existing pathway along Purissima on 26462 Purissima be upgraded to IIB pathway standards. Bill Silver seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. iii. 26990 Arastradero Road (Lands of Ng). The reason for pathway review is construction of a 999- square foot addition. Lili Milano, architect for the project, was present. The property is on the south side of Arastradero across from the intersection with Deer Creek Road. It is the third lot in from the street and accessed via a private drive off Arastradero. Although PWC members did not make a site visit to this property, it was agreed that no pathway is required because the lot has no frontage on Arastradero and the Master Path Plan does not show a planned off-road path. Chris Vargas moved that the PWC request a pathway in-lieu fee from the owners of 26990 Arastradero Road. Bill Silver seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. iv. 13310 La Paloma (Lands of Evershine). The reason for pathway review is a lot line adjustment (i.e., change in planned subdivision). This property will be reviewed at a later meeting. v. 25706 Elena Road (Lands of Agam and Cohen). The reason for pathway review is a 3-lot subdivision. Property owner was not present. The property is on the west side of Elena and also has frontage on Vinedo Lane. The only frontage on Elena Road is a driveway. Although LAH Resolution 38-96 (May 1996) does not specify that Elena Road should have roadside pathways on both sides, the consensus is that pathways are desirable on both sides of this heavily used road. Vinedo Lane provides access to pathways on Edgewood Lane and (in the future) to the Packard property. Chris Vargas moved that the PWC request that the owners of 25706 Elena Road construct a IIB roadside pathway along Vinedo Lane and assure that sufficient access for a roadside pathway across the driveway on Elena is provided. Bill Silver seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. vi. 27753 Sherlock Road (Lands of Heit). The reason for pathway review is an addition. Property owner was not present. This property is incorrectly marked as 27751 Sherlock Road on Town parcel maps. The property is on the north side of Sherlock Road, just east of the intersection with Moody Road; it also has frontage on Sherlock Court. It is not known whether the Town holds an easement on Sherlock Road and/or Court adjacent to this property. The current recommended route for an off-road pathway connecting Sherlock Court to Buena Vista Drive goes through a very steep gully on the north side the property (adjacent to 27857 Buena Vista Drive). This route also passes close to a residence there. It was recommended that the PWC review this off-road route for possible modification. Bill Silver moved that the Town request easements for public access on both Sherlock Road and Sherlock Court in front of 27753 Sherlock Road. The Town should further specify that it holds a pathway easement on the north side of the property and may develop a pathway connecting Sherlock to Buena Vista in the future. Chris Vargas seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. vii. Town-owned parcel on Story Hill Road (APN 182-52-009). The reason for pathway review is potential sale of the property. The property is on the west side of Page Mill Road at the sharp curve across from Matadero Creek Lane. A deep ditch runs alongside Page Mill Road on the property. Current pathway maps show a pathway through the middle of the property parallel to Story Hill Road and connecting to Page Mill Road on both ends. In general, Town pathways should run along the perimeter rather than through the middle of a residential lot. The potential benefits and risks of installing a pathway along Page Mill roadside at this sharp corner were discussed. A pathway connecting to the path on the opposite side of Page Mill (on the south side of Matadero Creek Lane) would be of value. A pathway exists along Story Hill road on the side opposite this property. In addition, the property has a steep bank along most of Story Hill that would make pathway construction impractical. Courtenay Corrigan moved that the PWC request a IIB roadside pathway be constructed on this property along Page Mill Road from Story Hill Road to the drainage ditch and that a pathway marker post be installed. Chris Vargas seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. viii. 13831 Campo Vista Lane (Lands of Hoey). The reason for pathway review is construction of a cabana. Property owner was not present. The property is on the west side of Campo Vista, which is a cul-de-sac serving at least nine properties. The Town holds an easement conferring public access on Campo Vista, which connects to an off-road pathway at the end of the cul-de- sac. Chris Vargas moved that the PWC request a pathway in-lieu fee from the owners of 13831 Campo Vista Lane. Bill Silver seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor. ix. 14560 Miranda Road (Lands of Kreager). Property owner was not present. The property is on the east side of Miranda at the corner of Miranda and Estacada. Although LAH Resolution 38-96 (May 1996) does not specify that Elena Road should have roadside pathways on both sides, the consensus is that pathways are desirable on both sides of this heavily used road. Pathways exist on both sides at many locations. Dirt mounds and landscaping (e.g., palms, redwoods) obstruct the roadside pathway adjacent to this property in some spots and the owner reported complaints from equestrians about a CalWater standpipe in the pathway. Chris Vargas moved that the PWC request a IIB roadside pathway along 14560 Miranda Road and that the owners clear existing obstructions from the pathway. Jolan Wagner seconded. The vote was eight in favor and one abstention. C. Presentation from Councilman Mike O'Malley. i. Councilman O'Malley expressed thanks from the Council for PWC service to the Town. ii. PWC meeting with Council. Council requests a meeting with the PWC on Thursday October 11, 2007, prior to the regular Council meeting. The agenda will be set by Councilman O'Malley and Chairman Summit and will include: 1) Exchange of pathway goals and issues for the next few years 2) Identification of 4-5 new high priority pathways PWC would like to see built. PWC to provide a list of candidate pathway projects to Council before the meeting. 3) Discussion of a method to make PWC more active in managing pathway maintenance (e.g., PWC to field citizen complaints, prioritize maintenance issues, and direct Town staff in repair projects). iii. Walking map. Council requests that PWC prepare a simple walking map for residents. Pathways must meet the following criteria to be included on this map: 1) Town has an easement on the pathway; and 2) the pathway is walkable (i.e., it does not require serious maintenance to be passable). The goal will be to have the map available by Earth Day (late April) 2008. The map can be updated in the future. iv. Review of Pathway Element of LAH General Plan. LAH is currently updating the General Plan as required by state law. The Pathway Element was last updated in 1999. Although it is not mandatory to update this element at this time, it presents an opportunity for the PWC to make changes. PWC members will review the Pathway Element of the General Plan and discuss proposed changes at the next meeting. D. Election of officers. Ginger Summit was unanimously re-elected to Chair and Bill Silver was unanimously elected to Co-Chair. Sue Welch was unanimously re-elected to Secretary. E. Discussion of new computer presentations. Jim Bliss has set up a web site at which PWC members and Town staff can view photos and maps of properties under review. PWC members can email items for posting on the site to Jim. The photos and maps can also be projected during the meeting. Thanks to Jim for this helpful innovation. 2. OLD BUSINESS A. Additions and Changes to the Public Walking Map. Chairman Summit asked PWC members to continue reviewing the draft version of the public walking map (dated November 22, 2006) for inaccuracies in their quadrants and to submit hard-copies or email to her ASAP with corrections. Roadside pathways and existing off-road pathways should be included. Roadside pathway routes can be designated as a line in the middle of the road (no need to specify which side of the road the pathway currently runs along). Criteria for inclusion: "If you can't walk it, don't put it on the map". This map will be a work in progress and subject to updating. B. Pathway CIP Projects. Chairman Summit handed out tables of the 2006 CIP projects and asked members to review them for discussion at the next meeting. C. Reports from PWC members who attended City Council or Planning Commission. None to report. PWC members volunteered to attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings on the following dates: September 6, 2007 Planning Commission Jolon Wagner September 13, 2007 Planning Commission Courtenay Corrigan 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of June 25, 2007 were approved as amended. Meeting was adjourned at 10:05 PM. 6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Next pathway walk: Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Next regular meeting: Monday, September 24, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Special meeting with City Council: Thursday, October 11, 2007 Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch September 4, 2007