PRC MIN 1975-10-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

-=-~- ~llg AGENDA ITEM 1 - ~uestrian Trails - Presentation by Mr. William Mikesell Mr. Mikesell thanked the Commission for the opportunity of meeting before them. He stated his intention was to solicit the support of the Commission in the form of a resolution or letter and thereby obtain more positive input to be submitted to the County Supervisors for immediate action on the subject of equèstrian trails. MI. Mikesell stated that there are residents in Redwood City who own horses, mainly located in the Edgewood area and the Emerald Hills area. Roughly, there are approximately 160-180 horses located in that area. Riders are continuously riding from that area to the trails west of the 280 f~eeway. The crossing at 280 freeway has become very hazardous due to construction in the vicinity of 280 and the limits imposed by the erection of fences. Prior to the construction in the vicinity of 280 (approximately five years ago), there were historic equestrian trails leading from the area of Emerald Hills and Edgewood Road to the trails in Huddart Park and the Skyline area. When 280 freeway went under construction, a verbal agreement was given from the California Transit Commission that these trails would be maintained and an encroachment permit granted. This has not come to pass in the last five years. The agreement was given on the premise that there are preemptive rights on existing or historic equestrian trails which states that no governmental body or land owner can close off a trail that has been in existence for any period of time prior to new construction. A map of the areas in question was shown on the overhead projector. Approximately two years ago, Mr. Mikesell met with Mr. Robert Emert, Area Manager with the San Mateo Parks & Recreation Department, and it was agreed that the trails that had evolved to avoid the 280 construction WEre highly unsatisfactory. A task force committee was then formed which did a complete study of the problem. The Committee arrived at recommendations which were presented to the Scenic Roads Committee of San Mateo County. Within one week additional fencing was constructed leaving only one trail on Edgewood Road. As this particular road is very steep, it makes it extremely difficult to travel on horseback as well as extremely dangerous because of the high traffic use. There now are no safe trails for 160 horsemen, of which 60% to 80% are women and children. The Task Force suggested a gate be installed near the underpass in the vicinity of the new state college that was proposed to be constructed. This college was never constructed and the service road lies dormant. If the gate were installed and the unde~pass were used, a natural trail would be created which goes the entire distance to the west side of 280. The Equestrian Task Forec, after making this suggestion, ran into delays and "Red Tape." The Task Force is now asking numerous groups for their support in order to bring about this change. The Chief Engineer with Caltrans, Dale Ryman, has obtained an encroachment permit from Ca1trans for the use of this underpass. Fence material has been donated for the area in order to keep horses off the highway should one or more become loose. The Sheriff's Department has agreed to use their prisoner labor to construct the fencing and the trail. It has been estimated that the work could be completed in one weekend. The difficulty at the present time is obtaining a signature on the encroachment permit.