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Home My WebLink About0396.091, .. '.:. ,:",,0 ~.'_ . ':~ ---,:,.: - . >-.!";:-. ,;,l---f"" : •. -",";J . .... -<, ~., . }:g~~i,.;; . ) "'J~~~~~t(.._.'" ... i'.uq'oJst 15, 1991 'IHE HONORABLE CI1'~ COUNCIL Palo Alto, California Matadero Creek Flo~ContrQl project ~Bike Path Status Repqrt Members of tne Council: Report in Brie,! This is an informational report on the status of Phase V of the Katadero creek Flood control project and its potential impact on the bike path and vegetation in the right-of-way between Matadero Avenue and the Varian Associates property. No Council action is required. R~ckgrQund In April 1988, the Santa Clara Valley Wa.ter District (District) final ized a Planning Study outlining flood: control im.provements for Matadero and Barron Creeks. One of the proposed improvements is the Matadero Bypass, a 12-foot-high. 12-foot-wide box culvert that will carry excess Matadero Creek flow during heavy stormS4 Because the culv~rt ~ill be constructed in the location of a porti~n of the existing Bol Park bike path, consideration l,dll be given to temporarily relocating or closing the path. Puring the early p!anning stage of the project, staff requested that the District maintain bike and pedestrian traffic throughout the construction period. This ~ill be particula~ly difficult in the seqment between Matadero Avenue and the varian Associates property because of the narr.o\omess of the right··of--...ray and the lack of existing alternate routes (Attachment A) ~ The District proposed building a temporary path parallel to the e~isting path location (Attachment B). Since there was concern about the loss of vegetation under this plan, staff a:sked the District to explore alternative routes, including placement of a path across adjacent private properties. The Oistrict contacted several property owners on Matadero Court to discuss the possibility of acquiring a temporary bike easement through their properties, but received negative reactions4 On :March 6, 1991, Mso Kathr:{n Olmstead -wrote ~ letter to the Co~ncil objecting to the removal of vegetation for -1- --'L-·.! _)P't~-'''*'''''''-''-- ------.,...~ I f I • I r " ...... 11, .. - o the construction of a te~pcrary path. Staff responded on April 18, 1991. Both letters are atti!!llched (Attachment C). The District has just begun the actual detailed design of Phase V of the Matadero Creek Flood Control Project. The decision to construct a temporary bike path has not been finalized, nor has the exact extent of required vegetation removal been datermined. Construction is not scheduled to st,art until summer 1'392. Eet'Ween now and then, the District will 'Work vith th.e City and the Barron Park neighborhood to resolve the bike path issue, as 'Well as any other construction impact is-sues. The District plans to hold neiqhborhood meetings prior to cOIIlpletion of the proj ect design, in order to receive public input on alternate path locations and the pos$ibility of path closure during construction. Staff's initial request to the District to ma ir.tain bike and pedestrian traffic along the route of the 001 Park bike path was based upon the i~portance of this link in the bike path network. OVer 400 people use the path daily, including stanford Research Park employees, neighborhood residents, and Gunn High School students. CUrrently there is no convenient alternate route. The closest parallel routes are E1 Camino/Page Mill, which is subject to heavy traffic, and Hiranda/Hillvie~/Hanover, which covers some steep, hilly terrain. 1-.5 a result, there .... i 11 be substantial impacts if access-is elizr.inated for the four montl".s it will take to construct the culvert bet~een Matadero Av~nue and Varian. Staff also acknowledges the ne';Iative impacts of removing the mature veget~tion along the existing path and therefore ~ill direct the District to investigate the follOwing alternatives: • Explore further the possibility of obtaining a private easement so that a temporary path can be rou.ted alor.g Matadero Court and across private property. • Identify alternative alignments (inclu~in9 a meandering path) vithin the existing path right-ot-way .... ithout removing trees or destroying significant and mature vegetation. • Consider reducing the path "",idth from eight to four feet, constructing the path with base rock instead of asphalt concrete, and requiring bicyclists to .'alk their bikes along this section of the path. -2- CKR: 396:91 .. ':-'"·L·-. , j j I o Staff will return to Council 'With a status report after public meetings are held and before finalization of the design. Respectfully submitted, l/:;~f~ '''-r/l ' AblS' tant Director of Public works ~ ~ 1.e,~JV-U~ DAVID G. ADAMS Director of pu~~orkS > /, --/:~.I JtJN~ FLEMING ",s~Jstant City ~tachrnents: I Mana~er , A. B. c. p showing Matadero Bypass bat ... een Matadero Avenue and Varian Property Typical section of Matadero Bypass along bike path (sho~inq proposed temporary path) Letter from Ms. Kathryn Olmstead and staff response cc: Ms. Alison Cherry Harer Mrs. Rjchard Wolffer~ Ms. Kathy Olmstead Barron Park Association Santa Clara Valley Water District -3- CMR:396~91 , f , I I j I , j I ! I , I I I I I I I , L LOCKHE () /"-...... LEGEND EXISTING BIKE PATH I>IATADERO BYPASS TEMPORARY PATH IPROPO'SEO~ IIIIIUIIiI ~ ATTACHMENT A ~!' p m&'-" ,,,':~i'E\'1;'C{,, L - .. ',-", " -. .- R/W A/W 80' -l 1-1 ~ _____ -...,.-:--=:---=-:::-=~~--:::--::-:-::--____ MA TADERO CT. (COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA) RESIDENCES EX.! ST. TREES ~ I 20' t I NOT TO BE : ,.. • • DISTURBED 1 THIS SIDE EXIST. BIKE PATH TO BE REPLACED 30' • I ~--CHIMALUS DR. RESIDENCES PROPOSED 12'X12' __ ""1 ~ , PROPOSED SHORING RCB CULVERT U~!_~' ~~'~I . DURING CONSTRUCTION '- 2'~ ~2' TYPICAL SECTION BYPASS CHANNEL VARIAN TO HATAOERO AVENUE ATTACHMENT B 906 .Ka'tadero Pale I.lto, Ca. March 6, 1991 Attachment ~ STAFF WILL RESPOND • - Members of Clry Council 250 HamIlton Ave, Palo Alto~ Ca. 94301 Dear Kembe~1 of Clty CouncIl: I am "wrIting tc ask all of you for your assIsta~e In oreer to save many native trees and :;hrubs that are sched'.J.led tf'J be t.orn ow.t for 'the Matadaro Creek F~o~~ Control Projeet. The area ~ffected is alcr.g the Barron Park bicycle path between the Matad~ro Ave"/lAg~na St" intO'lt:section and the Varian property line. Lat~r this year, the Matadero Creek FlOod Control Project will be placing a large drai~age pipe under the bicycl~ path. Apparently, tvo or three years ago, City Council placed a cor-,dition on t.ne project. that the bicycle path was to remain o~en. In order t.o meet this reqUirement, the current plan 15 to t.ea= out all the native t.rees and shrubs along one side of the path and to build a temporary bicyc.le path. 1 have walked thls area with Gary Fazzino to show h!~ the va~iety and density of t.his natl,lral landscaping which includes several oak trees as well as pInes, peppers, accacias, an olive, and many shrubs, all of which are thriving inspice of the drought.. He has encouraged me to bring this matter to the 6ttentlon of the councl1 as .. whole. There. is precedent for the bicycle path to boe. c.losed for an exter.ded perlod of time._ It is cut:rently closed and has beer: sir-,ce 2/11/91. In additIon. my neighbo-r, Alison Marer, has pbotographs that I5"how that the bicycle pat.b was elosed for a couple of months a year or two ago. I am sure that with good planning, the Flood Control Project can minImize t.he closure of ~e bicycle path. In summary, these. nat.ive plants are "liorth saving. In ad(!~tion. if the area does not ha.ve to be re-landscaped: &.nd if a tec~'nary bIcycle -path does ~ot have to be constructed, our tax dollar5 will also be saved. And very import.ant t.o !!lyself. the Itepact of t.he. fleod C~ntrol Proje.ct on the ne1ghpors &l~ng Matade~o Ct. will be much r~d~ce~ If ~e. can keep the landscaptn& which provides ~rivacy and a bufter to Lhe noise and dirt. ~hat will come with th~ construction. I thank yO"-l in advance and hope. t.hat the Council ,"'ill !!lake a change to the eurrenC plans for the landscaping. cc: Kr. William Zaner, City Manager Mrs. Alison C. Mayer Mrs~ Thelma Yolffers 2. Sincerely, ~s~ .. '. ~ I' " ~: .' I f i I i 1 ! j I I - <;> Cit}' of Yolo ~lto p 0 !OJ: 101')0 .',oI,L.O ..... 70. C"LlfO~N' .... 9~JC3 Transportation Division F.O. Box 10250 9430:!-0862 April 18, 1991 Ms. Kathryn Olmstead 906 Matadero Court Palo Alto~ CA 94306 Dear Ms. Olmstead: 2~O Ha~ilton Avenue sixth Floor (415) 329-2136 The city Manager has ask..:d me to respond to your letter of March 6, 1991 regarding the possibility of closing the bike path between Matadero Avenue and Varian during construction of Phase V of the Matadero Creek Flood Control Project in order to minimize the loss of existing native trees and shrubs in the area. The santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) completed its planning study for this project approximately -t.hree years ago. At that time the city expressed the desire to have bike and pedestrian acces~ through the area maintained ,during the extended constroJction period (three months or more). Over 400 people use the path daily, including stan~ord Research Park employees, neighborhood residents, and Gunn High School students. CUrrently there is no convenient ~lterative route; the closest parallel routes are El Camino Real and Mirenda Avenue. As you knoW', the District's study included provisions for the temporary !:like path to be built directly adjacent to the bypass channel betW'een Varian and Matadero Avenue. While the District did propose an extensive landscape plan to restore the visual appearance and habitat of the area, it is true that TleW" .landscaping would take time to mature and provide the sa'Cle level of screening for the adjacent properties as no· ... exi5ts~ In recognition of these impacts, we have asked the District to explore all other reasonable alternative bicycle detours. including those that ~ould require acquisition of temporary easements from private prop€rty ovners. This is a sensitive issue I given the trade-offs bet • .'een accommodating the many users of the path and maintaining the existing native vegetation and habitat. ·rhe District 'IoI'ill begin design work for this phase of ~he Matadero Creek Bypass • ·1 I .... I ...... ··1 "----'- . I :, .,.:.J l - :. o Ks. Kathryn O!msteaej April 18,. 1991 Page 2 thIs coming raIl (c:onstruction is not scheduled \,;;ntil late 1992). At that time these iss1;,&s .-i11 be subject to further revie'W and evaluation by the District, the city and interested pUl:>lic. By copy of this lett~r, I am ~o~ardin9 your comments to Marc Klemencic ot the SCVWD, the Project Engineer tor tbe Matadero Creek I~prove~ents Project. Thl\nk you for bringing your-concerns to our attention. Please contact me at 329-21315 to further discuss this issu€ or to check on the status of the desiq~ and construction plans. Sincerely, /~/Ci..ih'CQ Gayle '-'Likens senior Planner Attachment cc: City Council Marc Xlemencic, SCVWD • ./ • t