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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11281995 - C88 C.88 and C.90 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 28, 1995, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Bishop NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Correspondence C.88 LETTER dated November 8, 1995, from Pat O'Brien, General Manager, Regional Parks, East Bay Regional Park District, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605, regarding prospective access to the Las Trampas Regional Park and Hemme Avenue. ****REFERRED TO DIRECTOR, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. C.90 LETTER dated November 14, 1995, from Anita M. Mangels, Executive Director, Californians Against Hidden Taxes, P. 0. Box 52, Laguna Beach, CA 92652, requesting the Board to take a position in opposition to the electric vehicle mandate. ""REFERRED**REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendations as noted (****) are approved. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Superv�I?Gisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: 't�rintiG�te/ ..J9 9 Si PHIL BATCHELOR Clerk of the Board of Supervisors andpiunty Administrator By ------Deputy c.c. Correspondents Director, GMEDA Transportation Committee EGIONAL PARKS EAST RAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT RECEIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ted Radke President November 8 1995 NOV 1 3 Susan Smartt Vice-President Douglas Siden BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Treasurer CI.ERI( Jean Siri CONTRA COSTA CO. Secretary Carol Severin Jocelyn Combs Beverly Lane Honorable Ga le Bisho Pat oal'Brien y p General Manager Supervisor. County of Contra Costa County Administration Building 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Supervisor Bishop: I am aware that you have followed the Las Trampas Regional Park and Hemme Avenue access planning issues. The District has conducted an extensive public planning process and Environmental Impact Report between 1991 and 1993 on this planning process. Recently, some residents have expressed concerns regarding the District's acquisition for public access. For your reference, I have attached recent correspondence to Assemblyman Rainey and an information letter addressed to several residents on this item. As you may be contacted, I am providing this as reference material. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, at O'Brien General Manager POB:sv Attachment cc: Director Beverly Lane Bob Doyle �i 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 Oakland, CA 94605 0381 Tela 510 635 0135 TDD:510 633 0460 Fax:510 569 4319 R EGIONAL PARKS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT October 11, 1995 �3-,adfe y Honorable Richard K Rainey Gr _,;aan Smarr California State Assembly -=e-?re<_ideni 1948 Mt. Diablo Blvd. oSiren --asulls�rer Walnut Creek, CA 94596 can So-r acre;ary �aroi Severin os Re: Las Trampas Regional Wilderness-Hemme Ave. Access Feveri° ane =eveuy Lane =v 0"6r;'en Dear Assemblyman Rainey: 3enerai vianacer Thank you for your letter and your interest in better understanding the East Bay Regional Park District's acquisition adjacent to Las Trampas Regional Wilderness and concerns by some local residents related to this acquisition. The Park District conducted a Land Use Development Plan(LUDP) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) regarding Las Trampas and the Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Trail. This public process was carried out between 1991 and 1993 involving numerous public hearings, local meetings and document circulation. It addressed acquisition issues, trail alignments, staging areas, and operational concerns and-involved traffic studies, public safety evaluation and any other items which might be triggered in the environmental document. As a result of this effort, a comprehensive Land Use Development Plan was produced which identified important access points for the park, a management program for the resources and provided direction for development for this park in the future. Vital to this development was providing the public locations where they could access and enjoy this public resource. The acquisition at Hemme Ave. was clearly identified and discussed as a local access and in reality merely formalizes what has been an informal access into the park for more than 20 years. By this acquisition, which was publicly noticed at a regular Board meeting on April 18, 1995, the Park District is protecting one of the local entrances into the park from this area and at the same time is providing permanent open space protection at the edge of this developed area. This project has been a priority since the completion of the LUDP and EIR and we are pleased to accomplish this goal. At the same time, the District is totally committed to developing this small local access with complete consideration for the bordering neighborhood and is confident that concerns that have been expressed will be demonstrated to be unwarranted. Again, the East Bay Regional Park District appreciates your interest in this local access issue and hopes that the information I have provided reassures you of our commitment to good planning and responsiveness to the residents of your district. Sincerely, J P t O'Brien General Manager � 1v CS 2950 ? ra;t7 Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 C.aklana. Ca 94605 0381 Tel:510 6350135 TDD:5106330160 F2X:5105694319 R EGIONAL PARKS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT eOARD OF DIRECTORS ed Radke November 1, 1995 Pee dent Susan Smartt Vice-President Douglas Siden Robert&Deborah Kahn Treasurer Jean Sin P.O.Box 307 Secretary Alamo, CA 94507 Carol Severin Jocelyn Combs Beverly Lane Deal,Mr. &Ms. Kahn. Pat O'Brien General Manager A number of people have indicated their concern recently about the East Bay Regional Park District's plans for a Hemme Avenue access to Las Trampas Regionai Wiiderness. Many have signed petitions opposing the District's acquisition of a small parcel at the Westminster Retreat for access purposes. As your representative on the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors,I wanted to write to you directly to provide you with more detailed background information regarding this matter: Please read the enclosed information sheet which I hope will serve to clarify a number of concerns recently expressed by Hemme Avenue neighbors. As you can see from the Las Trampas map,there are many proposed accesses to the park. Las Trampas does not have the types of recreational facilities likely to attract intensive use. Multiple access points will further diffuse the usage, preventing any one neighborhood from being adversely impacted by additional traffic. Secondly,please note that both the Land Use Plan and the purchase agreement with the Westminster Retreat guarantee that there will be no equestrian parking at a Hemme Avenue parking area. Thirdly,before this access is opened, District staff and I will meet with Hemme Avenue neighbors to discuss plans for development of the staging area. Additionally,under terms of the purchase agreement,the Westminster Retreat will continue to have sole use of the property until May 31, 1996, so no development will be occurring in the immediate future. In closing I would like to assure you that,while the"East Bay Regional Park District is very concerned about the need for public access to Las Trampas, it is equally concerned about potential impacts of access on park neighbors. We respect the concerns which have been expressed in the public hearings and in neighborhood meetings and have attempted to be fair and responsible in our plans. We believe the history of the Regional Park District shows that we are a good neighbor. Our experience and track record in operating 53 parks covering some 80,000 acres,with dozens of neighborhood accesses and parking areas,shows that we can provide a safe,well maintained and publicly accessible system which will benefit the communities and residents adjoining our parks and trails. Thank you for your interest and concern in this matter and I hope that you will always feel free to contact me with any additional concerns that you may have. Sincerely, Beverly Lane Director, Ward 6 East Bay Regional Park District E 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 Oakland, CA 94605 0381 Tel:510 635 0135 TDD:510 633 0460 Fax:510 569 4319 BACKGROUND INFORMATION LAS TRAMPAS REGIONAL WILDERNESS --HEMMEAVENUE ACCESS There has been discussion and debate for many years about how best to provide public access to Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.. The wilderness encompasses 3,800 acres of rugged terrain and diverse natural resources. It is bounded on the east by the communities of Alamo,Danville,and San Ramon; on the west by nearly 20,000 acres of Upper San Leandro Reservoir watershed land. Las Trampas'mostly undeveloped land creates a complex habitat for native species,while challenging hikers and equestrians on a 40- mile trail network. A Land Use Development Plan and a detailed Environmental Impact Report(EIR)were adopted for Las Trampas on Nov. 2, 1993 by the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors. This, action was preceded by six-veli-attended public hearings that were 1=cxd in Danville:;eglnrdrg on June 6, 1991. An important issue addressed in the plan was the need to provide access to Las Trampas from the east. User surveys taken in Bollinger Canyon during the preparation of the plan showed that many park users came from the San Ramon Valley and that they preferred park access closer to their homes. As a consideration to residential neighbors of the wilderness, the plan holds the size of access facilities to a minimum`(10 to 40 cars)so that local roads will receive minimal additional traffic. After adoption of the Land Use Development Plan,the Park District Board directed staff to negotiate with the Westminster Retreat atthe end of Hemme Avenue. The resulting agreement was presented to the board, which approved the purchase on April 18, 1995. The agreement covers approximately 20 acres of the Westminster property. . Except for a small existing parking area, it is a heavily wooded canyon and hillside. The Hemme Avenue access will be only one of several on the east side of Las Trampas(see map on reverse side). It is not intended, nor will it be designed as a major entrance leading to elaborate regional park facilities. Las Trampas is a wilderness park intended for hiking and nature study. There will be no equestrian parking at the Hemme Avenue access. This is a commitment both in the Land Use Plan and in the Purchase Agreement with the Westminster Retreat. Equestrian parking will be provided in Bollinger Canyon, which is the primary park entrance, and at the Hap Magee Park. Before this access is opened, its design process will include input from Hemme area residents. During design both gating and signage will be considered for safety and security. Park District police patrols will augment the existing County Sheriffs patrol, and all improvements will be consistent with the park Plan and EIR. z: Oc�� L• si Y'L' S.- it �O fn :i Tri p � /„'tt 1, ♦• 4 t, I 1� 'd r•4'3y c� SKYWAY 7 � Y•� Cr �tc.u:o q,�' ♦ ,.. .ar o`14%G,� s,y„�r .;ti� ,L. •�• Cy �i '. r R•x'� G ^S'"fF ��dp J.-n��3' •,•,ty'D' o° d}f�..f k'Y _rr,•'• '� 4L..-' VIP ✓,r O ,t ono i •S o<.; } C 1c, t ��':7o N fi ."�„ NH: 3 t: • 0.�'Cf?3a.1 s cly� a :�r, � y '9 � �' ''.., ! ✓ �.O '4 t� C� j!a A „'4�.t.' 1, ��,,;.'L bF4 ! t 9 tS:', j.,'`'ti,4• t r .1 ✓ �L p. 1 o ti' i ..q. $'� ��:. .,-� ♦ '�. A`� ��d '`��`\fit �� . 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