Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10122010 - C.02RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE the tree planting policy for the Iron Horse Corridor, as recommended by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord areas. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no impact to the County General Fund. All time in the development and implementation of the new policy will be funded by tree planting sponsors and the Iron Horse Corridor Trust Fund. BACKGROUND: The Iron Horse Corridor, formerly known as the Southern Pacific Right-of-Way, is 18.5 miles long traversing north-south in Central Contra Costa County. The northern terminus is Mayette Avenue in Concord and the southern terminus is the Alameda County line in San Ramon. The corridor varies in width from 30 to 100 feet and currently has a 10-foot wide, paved multi-use trail (the Iron Horse Trail) managed by East Bay Regional Park District under a license from the County. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 10/12/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Carrie Ricci, 925.313.2235 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: October 12, 2010 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy cc: Carrie Ricci C. 2 To:Board of Supervisors From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Date:October 12, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:APPROVE the tree planting policy for the Iron Horse Corridor, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord areas. The County’s policy regarding BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) the use and ownership of the facility indicates the right-of-way shall remain in public ownership along its entire route and be used as a non-motorized transportation route (trail) and underground utility corridor, and provide an easement for a potential transit facility. County policy for the Iron Horse Corridor also includes landscaping in accordance with the Landscape Element developed as part of the Iron Horse Corridor Management Program. In the past, the County’s policy regarding the 34 foot wide area for the transit facility has been to not allow tree plantings within that 34 foot area. The reason for the policy is that if a transit project were constructed in the Iron Horse Corridor, the trees in the transit area would need to be removed, and possibly mitigated for. Staff has received numerous requests for plantings along the Corridor, specifically at staging areas and trail rest areas to provide shade at benches and drinking fountains. Staff is recommending changes to this policy with the development of specific guidelines for tree plantings. The new policy and guidelines will be consistent with the Iron Horse Corridor’s Landscape Element and the Adopt-the-Corridor Program. The Landscape Element contains landscaping criteria and an implementation process to guide landscaping within the Corridor. When a non-profit organization approached the County to propose and carry out projects using the Landscape Element some concerns about safety protocols and procedures arose. The Adopt-the-Corridor Program Handbook was developed to outline the process by which groups could adopt certain sections of the Corridor to landscape and mulch. Public Works brought the new draft policy to TWIC on June 21, 2010. The draft policy was then brought to the August 4, 2010 Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee meeting for review and comments. Several changes were made to the policy based on comments from the committee and the public. The Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee recommended the approval of the new policy. Public Works Staff brought the revised policy back to the Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee on September 20, 2010 and the Committee recommended this document to the Board for approval and adoption. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Requests for landscaping within the transit easement will continue to be denied. This will limit potential new plantings. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: Not applicable. CLERK'S ADDENDUM APPROVED as amended to add two additional statements by the Transportation, APPROVED as amended to add two additional statements by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee: "Other spot locations as deemed appropriate by teh advisory committee and approved by the county", "The County will not remove the trees unless there is a specific reason and the advisory committee is notified before any trees are removed." ATTACHMENTS Policy for Tree Planting Julia R. Bueren, Director Deputy Directors R. Mitch Avalon Brian M. Balbas Stephen Kowalewski "Accredited by the American Public Works Association" 255 Glacier Drive Martinez, CA 94553-4825 TEL: (925) 313-2000 • FAX: (925) 313-2333 www.cccpublicworks.org Policy for Tree Planting and Preservation within the Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) The County purchased the Iron Horse Corridor using State funds, and as part of the funding agreement, the County is required to preserve the Corridor for future use as a busway or exclusive mass transit guideway. To help preserve the corridor, the Public Works Department has restricted the planting of trees or the protection of seedlings to grow in the 34-foot area designated for future transit. The County developed this new policy to meet the needs of the local community to plant trees and other amenities in the IHC, but the additional plantings cannot diminish the County’s responsibility to preserve an area for future transit. Easements and other areas are to be kept clear of new trees. These include, but are not limited to: • East Bay Regional Park District: 20 foot licensed area, measured 10-ft to either side from the center of the paved trail. • Kinder Morgan: 10 foot easement containing a high pressure petroleum pipeline. • Contra Costa County Flood Control District: Easements of varying widths containing the District’s structures and improvements. • Contra Costa Central Sanitary District: Easements of varying width containing sewer pipelines • Contra Costa Water District: Easement of undefined width containing a water pipeline. • Ditches and grassy swales: Trees will not be permitted in and at the top bank of ditches and swales. The County may allow tree plantings within 34-foot wide transit area if planting proposals meet the guidelines listed in this policy. Sponsors of tree planting projects should contact the County’s Iron Horse Corridor Manager to review the planting proposal and the Iron Horse Corridor Manager will determine with a recommendation from the Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee if the planting proposal will be approved. Areas where tree planting may be allowed within the transit corridor with County staff approval: • Staging Areas • Rest Areas • Adjacent to benches and fountains • Trail Entrance Areas Additional guidelines for approval of tree planting: • Conditions in the Corridor periodically change. New easements or changes to existing easements may add or reduce limitations to tree planting. • Utility work or relocations may require existing trees to be removed. • Tree planting and placement will be considered in order to maintain safe and efficient mowing operations by County staff. • Sponsors of tree planting may be required to enter into an agreement for possible removal and mitigation of trees if a transit project is constructed. • Plantings will be consistent with the Iron Horse Corridor Landscape Element. • Depending on the scope of the tree planting, an agreement for maintenance of the trees may require a three year establishment period. During the establishment period, the tree planting sponsor will be responsible for caging the trees and maintaining the weeds within a 5 foot perimeter around the outside of the cages. After the 3 year establishment period, the trees will become the responsibility of the County. • East Bay Regional Park District and appropriate cities will be consulted for plantings that affect their licensed area, amenities or trail entrances in city right-of-way.