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Published on 07/28/1999 All articles from this issue

Not on the same path

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By Wendy Marinaccio

Special to the Town Crier

Some enjoy LAH pathways, while others could do without them

A walk through Los Altos Hills' Byrne Preserve last week introduced me to the pathway system, the town's occasionally controversial version of sidewalks.

"I think the pathways set our community apart," said Diane Barrager, co-chairwoman of the pathway committee. "There's a friendlier tone, a neighborly feeling. But of course, not everyone shares those feelings."

Some residents, shocked to find that new construction triggers pathway easements on their properties, have protested creation of new paths. In addition to property rights and privacy issues, opponents argue most paths are rarely used, are poorly maintained, and may even encourage crime.

We walked the Byrne Preserve on the off-road pathways that draw some of the resident concerns. But these paths, carrying joggers and horses, do not pass uncomfortably close to homes - they wind over the hills and into a shady area thick with vegetation, much appreciated in the dry weather.

The town's volunteer Pathways, Recreation and Parks Committee preserves and enhances the system of pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian pathways that weave throughout the hills.

The committee's duties include determining whether a path should be built around a property, inspecting pathways and properties, holding pathway dedications and leading tours of the pathway walks.

"The general plan says pathways are our gift from one generation to the next," Barrager said.

"The paths have been a 20- or 30-year project," said Scott Vanderlip, the committee co-chairman. "Easement by easement, a lot of paths take 20 years to complete."

Vanderlip said residents often are surprised to discover there are more than 70 miles of paths in the hills. "A lot of people in town probably don't realize the asset we have here," he said.

One weekend each month, the nine-person committee walks the pathways around residences that are being remodeled, said Harry Emerzian, who has served on the committee for a year-and-a-half. At its last meeting, the committee walked around seven properties.

"We're busy because there's lots of property being developed right now," Vanderlip said.

"The system doesn't work as efficiently as it might," Barrager said. "The town doesn't always have the means necessary to install a whole pathway, so we wait for a house to come up for construction." Unfortunately, she said, this often results in a "dotted pathway," since some paths are built one residence at a time.

Barrager said maintenance is another issue the committee deals with. The town does not have the resources to pay for upkeep of existing pathways, she said.

"Another mission we have is to update the pathway map," she said. Some planned pathways have never been built and some existed but were destroyed.

The committee holds an indoor meeting the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public.

Emerzian said the committee tries to keep in contact with residents. When people redevelop their land, the committee determines whether it will have an impact on the pathway system. "We walk the various properties and we try to understand what they're doing - we try to open up a dialogue so we ... can have people happy and not have a pathway going right down their back yard," he said.

"When property owners complain, we're trying to be the listening group to see if there is a win-win situation," Barrager said. Over the past year, the committee hasn't had many complaints.

Emerzian said the committee sends its recommendations about pathway locations to the city council. "When we come up with a recommendation, they know we've been out there and involved," he said.

The committee leads pathway walks tours twice a year and participates in dedications. A pathway was dedicated May 23 to Fran Stevenson, an avid pathway advocate who moved away from the area. On Oct. 9, the committee will dedicate a pathway to the late Mary Stutz, who, Barrager said, served the community in many ways. "Pathway dedication to people who have served the community over the years is very important," Barrager said.

Some residents feel a pathway can intrude on their privacy. "We keep in mind that people in the community want serenity and privacy. But they also want a sense of community, so there's always a balancing act between all the issues," Barrager said.