Initial Study MND - Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and ...

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Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONone to enjoy even higher up if access were located near or through thelands to the south east. Perhaps the landowner, I believe it might beKendall Jackson, would allow access through its lightly traveledunencumbered "neighborhood" in partnership with the Open SpaceDistrict, for disabled folks, special events, etc.5. UNLIMITED ACCESS POINTThe easement that the County holds on the Bath-Watt property isopen ended. The proposed limitations on traffic and intended use canin fact be changed in the future. This potential expansion of usesand access is foreseeable. For example, the County representativewith whom we originally spoke about this access point, stated that theaccess would not be through Panorama Drive for obvious reasons. Now,however the County is proposing just that. Plans do change, andthere are no assurances that providing limited access for the disabledwill remain the primary reason for this access point.The IS/MND states that the majority of the property is outsidethe Urban Services boundary. However, "[t]he northern section ofproperty off of Panorama Drive (Bath‐Watt parcel) and the LinwoodAvenue parcel are within the City’s Urban Services area, but there isno plan to pursue City services in these locations." The masterplan, however makes mention of many potential future uses of the park,"disc golf course, small visitor center in the existing bathhousestructure, limited camping, including family, small group andenvironmental camping, café or food vendor, small bed and breakfastinn/hotel, fenced off‐leash dog park, community/demonstration garden,special events space." Again, being within the Urban Servicesboundary and given the ability and practice of the County to changedirection, supports the notion that the open ended easement presentsreal concerns.The analysis, just with respect to the access as currentlyproposed and impacts to Holland Heights and Panorama Drive, have notbeen adequately disclosed, evaluated or properly mitigated and norhave the foreseeable expanded changes.6. CONCLUSIONThe access to the radio tower is historic and has remained areasonable use with only minimal impact on traffic. This use has beennarrow and appropriate. With the expansion of the use to parkinglots, a potential bed and breakfast Inn, etc., the easement is beingexpanded and there is no limitation on what can be attempted in thefuture. This trail head and parking lot will necessarilyexacerbate the current road conditions and increase traffic,pedestrian, and cyclist presence. These have not been properlyevaluated and cannot, therefore be properly mitigated. Ifthe easement were narrowed in scope, there might be a means by whichFinal APP-20 September 2012
Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONsome access for the disabled could be accommodated with minimalimpacts on traffic and the environment.Respectfully, the draft IS/MND prepared for the County isinadequate because it does not have adequate disclosure of the historyof traffic on Holland Heights and Panorama Drive, the previousstatements by County representatives, the existence of an openended easement on the property, the absence of any information on roadway volumes or conditions pre- or post- construction, does not haveany traffic analysis whatsoever, and there is no way to adequatelyevaluate or mitigate potential impacts of increased traffic, off siteparking issues, increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic, or road waywidening. Again, I am confident that both the needs of the Districtand the neighborhood can be met. I look forward to discussing ideasthat I have that can facilitate a mutually agreeable solution to thisimportant challenge.Sincerely,Maurine Caplingercc: Kimberly BurrFootnote 1""Panorama Drive (Bath-Watt). Panorama Drive is a narrow rural-typeresidential street without sidewalks, and with limited and informalon-street parking. Therefore, the Master Plan has identified thislocation for minor gated access to a small parking lot within thePreserve that would be restricted to visitors with disabled parkingplacards and special use permits only. Service, emergency and otherauthorized vehicles could use this access point, but no other visitorswould be allowed to park at the site. The project is expected to addno more than two vehicle trips during any hour, which would have anegligible impact to the operations of Panorama Drive or adjacentstreets.This access would be intended to primarily serve pedestrians andbicyclists coming from the surrounding Bennett Valley residentialarea. To help ensure that the potential volume of vehicle traffic atthis access would be minor compared with the other access points,visitor literature and signage would clearly state that parking islimited to disabled users and special use permit holders. Furthermore,the Master Plan includes a provision (Standard 194) to develop aresidential parking permit program to discourage park visitorparking at the end of Panorama Drive.” (emphasis added).ATTACHMENTS TO MAURINE CAPLINGER LETTER: Pictures of blind curves andperson walking in street with dogs, very narrow roadwaySeptember 2012 APP-21 Final
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