COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

May 23, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 10, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Construction of Improvements at the Intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue by Stanford University - Menlo Park Area

Recommendation

A.

Certify that your Board, as a responsible agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, has reviewed and considered the information in the Stanford Sand Hill Road Corridor Projects Environmental Impact Report, and City of Menlo Park Addendum;

B.

Adopt resolutions:

1.

a.

making findings for each significant or potentially significant environmental impact and adopting a statement of overriding consideration associated with the construction of road improvements in the unincorporated area at or near the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue (Project);

b.

approving that portion of the Mitigation and Monitoring Program for the construction of the Project; and

c.

authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with the Board of Trustees of Stanford, which provides the terms and conditions governing the construction of the Project.

2.

authorizing a zero ($0.00) property tax exchange with Menlo Park in conjunction with the annexation of an easement area on a portion of Stanford owned property (Buck Estate) on the southwest corner of the Sand Hill/Santa Cruz Avenue intersection that is necessary for the construction of road improvements in this area.

Key Facts

1.

The County is a responsible agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) with regards to the construction of roadway improvements at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue.

2.

A Mitigation Monitoring Program (MMP) has been prepared for the construction that provides for the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of all conditions and mitigation measures adopted to mitigate environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction.

3.

An agreement has also been prepared which commits Stanford to construct and pay for the construction of improvements, including improvements or mitigations that were discussed with the adjacent residents.

4.

A property tax resolution is required as part of the Local Agency Formation Commission's proceedings that provide for the annexation of a portion of the Buck Estate that will be needed for road purposes, in order that all the road improvements southwest of Sand Hill Road within the Project limits, remain within one jurisdiction( i.e. Menlo Park).

Discussion

Environmental Review

On June 30, 1997, the City of Palo Alto, acting as lead agency, certified the Stanford Sand Hill Road Corridor Projects Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR addressed the Sand Hill Road Extension and Related Roadway Improvements Project( Total Project), including construction of the extension in the City of Menlo Park and in the unincorporated area. Both the City of Menlo Park and the County of San Mateo are considered "responsible" agencies who are required to use Palo Alto's EIR. Menlo Park, in reviewing and approving that portion of the Total Project within their corporate limits, prepared and approved an Addendum to the EIR in November 2002, which analyzed changes to the Total Project that occurred since the EIR was certified. The Addendum included analysis of changes and mitigation measures for that portion of the Total Project within the unincorporated area as well.

Supervisor Gordon, concurrent with Stanford's discussions and negotiations with Menlo Park, met with Stanford and with the property owners in the unincorporated area adjacent to the Total Project, to discuss issues related to the proposed construction. Supervisor Gordon and staff also held subsequent meetings with Stanford to review and revise the concept plans for the work in the unincorporated area in order to address the concerns expressed by residents and others regarding the impacts of the proposed construction.

These meetings resulted in additional changes in Stanford's concept plans, or in conditions in the proposed agreement that provides for the construction of improvements in the unincorporated area. Now, in order to approve the Project for the unincorporated area and the proposed Agreement with Stanford, your Board is required to certify, as a responsible agency, that you have reviewed and considered the information in the EIR and the Addendum. Your Board is also required to adopt findings and a statement of overriding considerations related to significant environmental effects that were identified in the EIR; and your Board will also need to adopt a Mitigation and Monitoring Program.

Construction in the County Area

The following is a summary of the mitigations agreed to:

General Mitigations

There is no acquisition of other private property required by the construction work in the unincorporated area. All work is being done within existing road rights-of-ways or easements or on land owned by Stanford.

Pedestrian facilities will continue to be provided on Santa Cruz Avenue. Residents in Menlo Park on the westerly side of Santa Cruz Avenue expressed the need for the sidewalk in previous discussions with your Board regarding the competing uses of the Santa Cruz Avenue right-of-way.

A separate bicycle lane will be provided at the intersection for bicyclists traveling south on Santa Cruz Avenue. Bicyclists and motorists share the outside lanes on Santa Cruz Avenue from the Alameda de las Pulgas to the Sand Hill Road intersection. The original plan provided a separate lane for vehicles turning right onto Sand Hill Road, but no separate lane for bicyclists. This geometry is difficult for bicyclists wanting to continue straight through the intersection, and the added bicycle lane should help both bicyclists and motorists.

Two parking spaces will be eliminated on the easterly side of Santa Cruz Avenue near Sand Hill Road. We discussed this with the adjoining property owners and the plans will incorporate a "no right turn on red" for traffic traveling west on Sand Hill Road to northbound Santa Cruz Avenue in order to provide "breaks" in the traffic to aid these property owners in entering or leaving their property.

A wall will be constructed on the northeasterly corner of the intersection to reduce the possibility of motorists leaving the roadway and entering the adjacent property while turning left from eastbound Sand Hill Road to northbound Santa Cruz Avenue.

Santa Cruz Avenue South - Annexation

The city limits of Menlo Park are at the property line of the Buck Estate on Santa Cruz Avenue south of the Sand Hill Road intersection. An easement from the Buck Estate is necessary in order to accommodate the improvements to Santa Cruz Avenue in this area, and we believe that it is appropriate to annex the easement area to Menlo Park in order that the entire widened road in this area remains under Menlo Park's jurisdiction. The proposed property tax exchange resolution is required for the LAFCO process that will provide for the annexation of the easement area. The resolution provides that no property taxes will be exchanged, and Menlo Park, at the writing of this report, was also considering a companion resolution prior the area being annexed. The Stanford/County agreement also provides that the agreement will be of no force and effect until LAFCO approves the annexation to Menlo Park, subject to conditions acceptable to Stanford.

Sand Hill Road East

Sand Hill Road east of the Santa Cruz Avenue intersection is within the corporate limits of the City of Menlo Park but the adjacent property is within the unincorporated area. The Project includes parallel access roads to the adjacent properties in order to mitigate impacts on these properties.

"Off" Project Impacts

Supervisor Gordon met with residents of the Stanford Weekend Acres area, which is located south of the intersection and adjacent to Alpine Road. The residents were concerned about their continued access to the Stanford Hospital and Menlo Park and other areas to the north, as Menlo Park has agreed that the portion of Santa Cruz Avenue between the Sand Hill/Santa Cruz Avenue Intersection and Junipero Serra Boulevard could be closed for a construction season in order to allow the reconstruction work to be completed in the shortest period of time. Stanford has agreed to provide alternate access with signing to Stanford Hospital and Sand Hill Road, and the agreement requires that the alternate access route be provided through the Stanford campus.

The Stanford Weekend Acres property owners have other issues with traffic on Alpine Road which is not directly related to the Project, and therefore are not addressed in the agreement or Mitigation Report.

Other Impacts

The other impacts associated with construction have also been addressed in the terms of the agreement as well as the Monitoring and Mitigation Plan for the Project.

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to be a "responsive, effective and collaborative government," and Goal Number 22 "County and local government effectively communicate collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire County," as the proposed agreement provides for improvements developed with the cooperation of the City of Menlo Park to improve the traffic movement at this arterial intersection for the benefit of the public, while mitigating the impacts to the adjacent property owners.

Fiscal Impact

The agreement provides that Stanford will pay all costs associated with construction of the improvements including mitigation costs. Stanford will also reimburse the County for all costs up to $40,000, for staff time or consultant's time associated with the Project. The maintenance of the completed facilities will be the responsibility of either Menlo Park or the County for improvements in their respective jurisdictions, and the Road Fund will finance the County costs. There is no impact to the General Fund.

Forms of resolutions, the Mitigation Monitoring Report and an agreement have been approved by County Counsel and the agreement has been executed by Stanford.

A copy of this report has been sent to the adjacent property owners and a representative of the Stanford Weekend Acres residents, and we have notified them of the date when your Board is tentatively scheduled to consider the report and our recommendations.