HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 3090ORIGINAL
RESOLUTION N0 3090
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALO ALTO RECOMMENDING DESIGN
STANDARDS FOR JUNIPERO SERRA FREEWAY
WHEREAS, since the advent of the "freeway" in California,
the San Francisco Bay Area, and especially the Peninsula, taere
has been an ever-growing concern of many of our citizens over
the absence of a truly creative and aesthetically satisfying
relationship between the : ree i y and the land forms ;,rid communi L,
characteristics through which it traverses, and
WHEREAS, examples such. as Bayshore, Embarcadero, and other
freeways have set a formidably alarming backdrop for the design
of Junipero Serra, a freeway which will pass through the most
outstandingly beautiful section of our Peninsula, and
WHEREAS, the apparent implications of this were of such
magnitude that .the formation of a Freeway Design Committee was
.spontaneously initiated by citizens from the three Peninsula
counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco, and the
formation of the Peninsula Highway Policy Committee,,•composed
of County Supervisors and City Councilmen has been consummated.
This .Committee has met and has adopted the following criteria
as worthy objectives for the design and execution of the Junipero
Serra Freeway:
1. That the natural beauty Of the area wherein the
freeway is located is fully preserved.
2. That the freeway be designed to follow the natural
contour of the ground as much as practicable and
yet maintain grades and standards for maximum
safety of driving.
3. That the median area and widths o.f right -of -.nay
vary in width to meet the unusual topographic
conditions and to avoid drastic cuts and fills
which will mar the natural terrain.
4. That the project be landscaped with native plant
materials which will obliterate construction
grading as much as possible, screen off areas of
incompatible use and effect other arrangement
of planting in the interest of safe driving.
5. That all grade separations, bridges, and other
structures be designed to achieve an excellence
of aesthetic appearance and that they be built
of such materials which will blend appropriately
with the landscape.
WHEREAS, it is our belief that the State Highway Design
engineers and the Bureau of Public Roads officials of the
Federal Government desire this high excellence of design,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council
1
of the City of Palo Alto does support the general objectives
as herein set forth, and does respectfully and urgently request
the California Highway Commission, the Bureau of Public Roads
of the Federal Government, and the State Highway Engineer and hi.s
staff, to find ways and means of accomplishing these objectives
as set forth herein, and further,
BE IT RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to.
Congressman Charles S. Gubser
State Senator John F. Thompson
Assemblyman Clark L. Bradley
Assemblyman Bruce F. Allen
Bureau of. Public Roads, Federal Government
The California Highway Commission
State Highway Engineer
Assistant State Highway Engineer
Peninsula Highway Policy Committee
The above and foregoing resolution was duly and regularly
introduced and passed at a regular meeting of the Council of the
City of Palo Alto held on Monday, April 27, 1959, by the
following vote:
AYES: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Davis, Evans, Giffin,
Marshall, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal, Stephens, Woodward.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mitchell, Navis
ATTEST.
C{ty C1er,
L•
APPROVED AS TO FORM'
APPROVED: ,
2
/�
c / v a >>
Mayor