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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence | ||||
Department of Public Works | ||||
DATE: |
June 25, 2008 | |||
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
July 8, 2008 | |||
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING: |
None | |||
VOTE REQUIRED: |
Majority | |||
TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors | |||
FROM: |
James C. Porter, Director of Public Works | |||
SUBJECT: |
Authorizing the Director of Public Works to Deviate from the | |||
Recommendation | ||||
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to deviate from the County minimum road standard three-foot wide valley gutter to two-foot wide valley gutter on Franks Lane in the West Menlo Park Area. | ||||
Vision Alignment | ||||
Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all. | ||||
Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors. | ||||
Adoption of this resolution contributes to this commitment and goal by substantially improving the condition of the road for the benefit of the public. | ||||
Background | ||||
Previous Board Action | ||||
1. |
Adopted resolutions establishing minimum road standards and a priority list for road improvements in the West Menlo Park Area, which standards provide for an eighteen-foot or twenty-two foot travel way with a three-foot wide valley gutter. | |||
2. |
Adopted procedures to be used by Public Works to determine if property owners want minimum road improvements built on a specific street and the minimum road standard to be used in the design of the road improvements. | |||
3. |
Directed Public Works to construct improvements, as feasible as possible, along the center of the public right-of-way. | |||
4. |
Adopted resolution No. 069242, on January 29, 2008, directing the Director of Public Works to Implement the Policy on Granting Permits for Non-Standard Improvements in the County Road Rights-of-Way. | |||
History | ||||
Camino De Los Robles from Barney Avenue to the County Limit before Camino Por Los Arboles and Franks Lane from Camino De Los Robles to Valparaiso Avenue are the next streets on the priority list to be reconstructed. Initially, the property owners on Franks Lane were surveyed and the majority of those responding preferred the 18-foot wide travel way with three-foot wide valley gutter. | ||||
Thereafter, in April 2008, the homeowners on Franks Lane submitted a petition requesting an exemption for Non-Standard Improvements on Franks Lane. In the opinion of the property owners, the two-foot wide valley gutter will serve the drainage requirements of a leveled Franks Lane, allows for cars to park off the roadway improving aesthetic appeal, offers the best chance of survival of existing trees, and is environmentally friendly. | ||||
Discussion | ||||
Plans and specifications for the work are being prepared. We reviewed the property owners’ request and determined that reducing the width of the valley gutter will have the following impacts: | ||||
1) |
Existing drainage patterns will not change significantly. However, reducing the width of the valley gutter from a three-foot wide to a two-foot wide will reduce the storm water carrying capacity. Three-foot wide valley gutters provide almost twice the storm water carrying capacity as two-foot valley gutters. | |||
2) |
Current landscape and frontage areas may only be minimally impacted. | |||
3) |
Grading requirements will be minimized resulting in better conforms to the adjoining property. | |||
4) |
The two-foot wide valley gutter will not save existing trees from removal during construction. The coast live oak adjacent to property 1901 Camino De Los Robles will still require removal. The County proposes to mitigate the loss of this removed tree by providing a new tree (20 gallon) outside of the proposed improvements under the condition that the homeowner provides future maintenance of this tree. | |||
5) |
The wishes of the majority of the property owners will be met as eighty-one percent (81%) of the property owners are in favor of the two-foot valley gutter. | |||
6) |
The proposed improvements will be constructed from the center of the road right-of-way. | |||
The petition was not unanimous, as three (3) out of sixteen (16) property owners did not sign this petition due to various reasons when the petition was circulated. The neighborhood has been advised that the two-foot valley gutter will have reduced storm water carrying capacity, but are willing to trade off the increased risk of storm water exceeding the capacity of the valley gutter for the overall reduction in cross-section width of the improvement. | ||||
A copy of our report has been sent to the property owner who organized the petition and to the three property owners whom did not sign the petition as explained above, and we have notified them of the date when your Board is scheduled to consider our recommendation. | ||||
A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel. | ||||
Fiscal Impact | ||||
The cost of constructing the revised improvements centered on the existing road will be less expensive than the standard improvements. The Engineer’s Estimate will be determined once the design has been finalized. The cost of improvements will be financed with Road Funds. | ||||
Funds have been appropriated in both the Road Fund and the Roadway Improvement Fund to finance this work. | ||||
There is no impact to the General Fund. | ||||
