HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes February 27LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAY COMMITTEE MEETING
Minutes of February 27, 2006
1. A. The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by Chairman Ginger Summit.
B. Present were: Duwe, Brunzell, Corrigan, Dunckel, Ginzton, Stutz, Wagner and
Welch.
Absent were: Vargas; Kamangar had an excused absence.
Ad Hoc Committee was represented by Les Earnest.
C. The agenda was approved as amended below.
2. New Business
A. Libby Lucas and the discussion of county pathway projects was postponed.
B. Properties reviewed for a recommendation are as follows:
i. 13080 Alta Tierra Rd. (Lands of Gruenholz) The committee recommended
an easement be granted and a roadside path be built on Alta Tierra. The
easement and path should continue around the corner onto the side of the
property along La Paloma. Here the easement and path should be separated
from the road, with the drainage ditch running between the easement/path and
the road. A culvert will need to be installed to bring the path back to the
roadside to connect with the path on adjacent property on La Paloma.
Ginzton moved, Brunzell seconded. 7 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain.
ii. 13920 Fremont Pines Lane. (Lands of Corrigan) A private road now extends
from the cul de sac to the top of the hill, serving this property and 4 additional
houses. The committee recommended an easement within the road right of
way be granted for public access along this private road.
Duwe moved, Stutz seconded. 7 yes, 1 no. (Corrigan recused herself from
voting.)
iii. 14355 Miranda. (Lands of Strober). The committee recommended a 5-foot,
2B path, separated from the Miranda Road surface.
Ginzton moved, Stutz seconded. Unanimous.
iv. 25045 Oneonta. (Lands of Boynton). It was noted that Foothill College and
the Town are working on major pathway improvements on the Foothill
College side of El Monte. Since El Monte is designated as a 2-sided road for
pathway purposes, the committee recommended an easement along the El
Monte side of the property. The easement must run well back from the top of
the bank sloping down to El Monte.
Duwe moved, Wagner seconded. 5 yes. 1 no. 3 abstain.
v. 27641 Purissima Road. (Mad Manor subdivision). On Saturday’s walk the
committee noted the steep contours of the hill above where the new bridge is
being constructed and wondered whether the bridge plan is adequate. The
committee also noted a number of cement catchments in the creek bed and
wondered what rules govern such construction. The committee recommended
a 10-foot easement along the full length of the southern boundary of the
property. The easement should continue to the eastern boundary to connect
with the planned route which connects La Cresta with Purissima (B2.27 on the
2005 Master Path Plan accepted by Council.)
Dunckel moved, Duwe seconded. Unanimous.
3. Old Business
A . Vargas’outline of jobs for the Town-wide path cleanup on Earth Day, April 21and
22, was reviewed. Brunzell agreed to hide special prizes along certain pathways
the day before. Ginzton agreed to research pricing on supplies, except prizes.
Duwe agreed to help with publicity. Further action awaits Vargas’ return.
B. Duwe reported on a second meeting with Craig Britton, general manager of
MROSD, regarding the Anza Trail. The meeting was attended by Stanley Bond
of the Park Service. Since MROSD is at work on a new route to bring walkers
and equestrians out onto Moody Road from Rancho San Antonio, the pathway
committee will wait for the outcome before moving forward with a revised
proposal for the Anza Trail through Town. If MROSD develops a new trailhead
along Moody, then bringing the Anza trail through Byrne Preserve will make
sense. The question will then be how to route the trail from Altamont to Palo
Alto’s Arastra Preserve. (Duwe and Ginzton walked easements around the
Altamont Circle subdivision in an effort to see how a connection to Foothill Park
might be made, provided the City of Palo Alto would agree. They also walked
Page Mill Road between Story Hill and Altamont, thinking about the feasibility of
improving the Page Mill Road paths, for general use as well as for the Anza Trail.
Discontinuous easements and steep terrain make this area difficult, and no
immediate action can be taken.
C. (Brunzell, Duwe and Corrigan had not met with Henry Louie re Moody Road
improvements.)
D. Earnest reiterated the need for everyone to have an easement map. Chairman
Summit will see that they are mailed.
E. Earnest asked the committee to re-examine the bridge plan for the Malavali Estate.
2. C . (back to New Business) Master Path Plan Roadside Path reviews
i. Vargas was absent (A-1).
ii. Ginzton reported on B-2. Her annotated map is now the gold standard
reporting method! She clearly showed great detail, including preferred side
for paths on cul de sacs.
iii. Stutz reported on C-3.
4. A. There were no presentations from the floor.
B. i. Next regular meeting: March 27, 6:00 p.m.
ii. Next pathway walk: March 25, 8:30 a.m.
C. General Discussion
Committee members who walked properties on Saturday reported the following
updates to the On-road Path Plan:
Corner of Altamont and Natoma – the path is officially on the northeast side of
Natoma and continues on that side all the way to Black Mountain.
Area of Altamont Lane – Altamont is a 2-sided road. A path and easement are
needed to continue the Altamont path across 26420 Silent Hills, which would
enable the path to link to the segment from Altamont Lane through the
eucalyptus grove and beyond. Till that is secured, the best route is to cross
Altamont in a diagonal line from the end of the existing path and walk below
the road bank along the Packard fence until meeting up with the prepared path
on that side of Altamont. The signpost for the prepared part of the path has
been knocked down, and no clearing or preparation has been done along the
fence to enable this connection. Due to tree work and fallen trees in the
eucalyptus grove, that segment of trail needs major re-establishment.
Venido Lane – Public access should be secured on all of Venido Lane.
Segments of path exist on both sides. Generally the path should stay on the
side bordering 25991, 25981 and 25901; at that point due to slope and privacy
the path should switch to the opposite side, cross 25900 and continue on that
side to Elena Road. The committee noted an exceptionally large construction
project that replaced the home at 25991 Venido and wondered why this major
project never came to the committee for review. An easement between 25991
and 25980 could create a link to the path on the Packard property. The road
right of way goes along the whole lot line of 25991.
5. Minutes of January 23, 2006 were approved after being amended as follows:
*spelling – Courtney changed to “Courtenay”
*25617 Elena, Lands of Wang. Discussion: “because of the traffic load on
Elena, the PC recommends a path along Elena Road on this property. (The
PC would like to see Elena Road become a two-sided road wherever
possible.)
Amend the wording of the discussion of the Anza Trail as follows:
*Discussion of Anza Trail meetings: (Ann D.) There have been 2 meetings
with Craig Britton at MROSD, the second of which was also attended by
Stanley Bond of the National Park Service. Because of the parking problems
with the Rhus Ridge exit from Rancho San Antonio, MROSD is looking at
alternatives for a trail head and parking. At present the Anza Trail enters
Town from Rhus Ridge. Decision: wait until MROSD negotiations conclude
before going forward with PC recommendation. Walsh noted that on 2-27-05
the PC voted that any route through Town should follow roadside paths.
6. Topics for next month’s agenda: Four on-road path squares will be reported on:
Vargas, Dunckel, Wagner, Gottlieb (for Kamangar) and Summit.
Earnest reminded the committee to follow-up on the Emergency Road
designation for Central to Buena Vista. Apparently vehicles are using it.
Corrigan emphasized the need to send notices to property owners before their
properties are examined during Saturday walks.
7. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted:
Ann A. Duwe