HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS San Rafael Ridge Access CommitteeCITY OF�
Agenda Item No:
Meeting Date: July 6, 2009
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Carlene McCart City Manager Approval:
SUBJECT: San Rafael Ridge Access Committee Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Accept Report
BACKGROUND: In December 2008 the City Council adopted the Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery (2500 Fifth
Avenue) 50 Year Master Plan and Prezoning for annexation to the City of San Rafael to the cemetery and
three contiguous properties (2450, 2452, 2468 Fifth Avenue). At that Public Hearing the Council heard
testimony from the community on the desire to continue public bicycle and pedestrian access through the
privately owned cemetery onto County of Marin Open Space leading to San Rafael ridge. Lacking
agreement of the Cemetery owner, the City has no legal mechanism to impose public easement across
the property. A representative of the Sun Valley Neighborhood Association suggested a committee be
formed to study alternative access options and make recommendations to the City Council. Staff was
directed to convene a committee consisting of City, County, and neighborhood representatives along with
a Park and Recreation Commissioner and Councilmember Heller to formulate findings and
recommendations. The City Council approved the formation of the San Rafael Ridge Access Committee
in January 2009. The scope of work for the Committee was to
1. Review the opportunities and constraints for a bike/pedestrian off road trail.
2. Review and evaluate the findings of the conceptual proposals developed by the County of
Marin and make recommendations on this and/or additional options
The Committee convened three times. The first meeting in February served to review the issues
surrounding access, the area topography, features and previous access design work.
The second meeting in March was a field trip. Committee members initiated their tour at Sun Valley
School with observation of the Sun Valley Trailhead. The group noted the topography, the narrow foot
trail, and the elevation change from Fifth Avenue to the terminus adjacent to Ridgewood Avenue.
By van the group visited the former ridge access route through the Mt Tamalpais Cemetery to the fire
road that connects with the Sorich Ranch Park trail and the San Rafael Ridge. There, they observed the
previous bicycle access, its conditions and location.
Next the group disembarked the van at the end of Ridgewood Avenue and descended the Sun Valley
Trail on foot. Stops along the way provided clear views of the topography challenges for bicycle access
(many gullies and swales), trail head opportunities at the end of Happy Lane, the Sun Valley trail, a
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SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
proposed access from Sun Valley School, above the Camgros Property and behind Shannon Lane for
link to the fire road behind the Cemetery.
At the conclusion of the hike the group discussed options for bike access to the San Rafael Ridge.
Additional comments included:
o A trail to allow for bicycle access to San Rafael Ridge should not duplicate the existing hiking trail,
as the results could be confusing for users and have impact on the environment of the hill.
o New ridge access development should be postponed due to costs and impacts. Efforts should
continue to reinstate the access though Cemetery property.
o A new trail could be cost prohibitive given the topography of the hillside between Sun Valley and
San Rafael Ridge. The County may be able to purchase an easement through the Cemetery at
less cost than alternate trail development would require.
o A Prescribed Easement through the Cemetery property has been investigated and is not a legally
viable option for the City/County/neighborhood to pursue.
o The Committee should not limit its mission to creating only a bicycle trail. If creation of such
proves unfeasible or too expensive, a hiking trail across the potential easement on the Camgros
property to connect the school with the fire road that formally served cyclists should be
considered as a valued addition to the trail system.
The third meeting was held on June 1 to discuss the priority of the options
Analysis:
The trail options discussed by the Committee are:
1. Delay construction of a bicycle access trail; wait for opportunities to negotiate with Tamalpais
Cemetery to reinstate the previous access to San Rafael Ridge.
2. Negotiate with the owner of the residential property on Happy Lane (Community Development
Department is currently processing a request for a two lot subdivision on Happy Lane which provides an
opportunity to seek an easement) for an easement to Marin County Open Space lands, tie the bicycle trail
link to the Sun Valley Trail and split the bicycle access trail at the water tower on Mt Tamalpais Cemetery
property. Obtain easement link on Cemetery property to the existing fire road that terminates on the San
Rafael Ridge. See Attachment A.
3. Negotiate with the owner of the residential property on Happy Lane for an easement to Marin County
Open Space lands, tie the bicycle trail link to the Sun Valley Trail, and expand the trail to the Ridge for
bicycle access. See Attachment B.
4. Install upgrades to the existing Sun Valley Trail to accommodate bicycles. See Attachment C.
Given the topography and required easements, trail options are limited and costly. All require the
concurrence of the County of Marin, and funding allocations from the Open Space District or other
source. The City has no jurisdiction or funds available to provide more than a recommendation for a new
bicycle trail. While the neighborhood, and residents beyond, desire a trail for bicyclists from Sun Valley to
San Rafael Ridge, ultimately the County will need to reconcile environment, habitat, potential for land
slide and drainage risks, cost of construction and maintenance issues on County Open Space. The
Committee agrees that utilizing the previous access though the Cemetery remains the most viable option
for bicycles and urges all parties to continue the dialog to reinstate that option to the public.
Meanwhile on -road bicycle access to San Rafael Ridge exists currently utilizing Elizabeth Way or Fairhills
Avenue to Ridgewood Drive.
Staff recognizes the contributions of Committee members Counciimember Barbara Heller, Jean
Starkweather and Carol Colbert, Marin County Parks and Open Space, Ralph Mihan, San Rafael Parks
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
and Recreation Commission, Tim Gilbert San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Francis
Conway, Sun Valley Homeowners Association, Steve Patterson, Federation of Neighborhoods, James
Raives, Marin County Open Space District, and Paul Jensen San Rafael Community Development
Department.
FISCAL IMPACT: No financial commitment from the City is implied through this recommendation,
however County and City staff estimate design and construction costs of a new trail to be in excess of
$1.5 million. If the project becomes a joint effort by City and County there will be costs for environmental
review and processing.
OPTIONS: 1. Accept the San Rafael Ridge Access Committee Report.
2. Direct staff to continue investigation of options.
ACTION REQUIRED: Accept Report
Encls.
Attachment A
Attachment B
Attachment C
