Staff deleted MHS EIS Traffic Plan Carpool requirement from Resolution 2005-105

From: charlessands@aol.com
Date: February 15, 2010 8:16:26 PM PST
To: skinsey@co.marin.ca.us
Cc: eberberian@co.marin.ca.us, cmcglashan@co.marin.ca.us, hbrown@co.marin.ca.us, cmurray@co.marin.ca.us, sadams@co.marin.ca.us, fmansourian@co.marin.ca.us, BCrawford@co.marin.ca.us
Subject: Staff deleted MHS EIS Traffic Plan Carpool requirement from Resolution 2005-105

Dear Supervisor Kinsey,

On 16 August 2006 you wrote a letter to the members of the Board of Supervisors in "preparation for the upcoming Marin Horizon School appeal hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 16."

You provide a copy of this letter to Christina Oldenberg, Chairperson of the Homestead Valley Concerned Citizens (HVCC) prior to Tuesday August 16. At her home on or about September 15, 2005, Ms. Oldenberg shared the contents of your above referenced letter to the Board of Supervisors with myself and other HVCC members.

On page 2 of your letter to the then Board of Supervisor (BOS) members you state that you will move to "direct staff to return this item incorporate for approval and placement on a future consent agenda after incorporating the following additional or revised conditions"

You are respectfully requested to explain why BOS Resolution August 16, 2005 Condition of Approval # 43 requiring not less than 2 students per carpool was entirely deleted in BOS approve resolution 2005-105 August 30, 2005.

Marin Horizon School's (MHS")Traffic Plan at page 68 of the Negative Declaration approved by BOS Resolution 2005-104 states "A carpool is
defined as 2 or more families sharing driving".

PC Staff Report May 9, 2005 contains the same text as BOS Resolution August 16, 2005 Condition of Approval # 43 requiring not less than 2 students per carpool

Who ever deleted the above MHS carpool and PC Staff Report May 9, 2005 requirements of 2 or more families per car did so in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and presumably without your knowledge.

Shortly after August 16, 2005,Ms. Oldenberg provided me with a copy off "staff's" MS revisions tracking copy showing staff's deletions and additions to BOS Resolution August 16, 2005 to be incorporated in BOS Resolution 2005-105. This copy shows staff deleted BOS Resolution August 16, 2005 Condition of Approval # 43 carpool requirements.

Staff's deletion of MHS' Traffic Plan carpool requirements effectively increased MHS traffic by 100% on Homestead Valley's substandard street widths.


As staff deleted MHS' carpool requirement necessary to reduce MHS generated traffic volume Montford, Melrose and Evergreen Avenues and Laverne-Reed the County should make the following offsetting mitigating street improvements actions,

.A. Montford Ave.;
a) Widen Montford Ave. from Homestead Valley Community Center to the County boundary with the City of Mill Valley to conform to the conform to the County road standard ADT minimum width required to carry current community and MHS’ additional traffic which will also provide for MHS’ 32 +/- on-street parking demand determined by MHS’ E.I.S. ;
b) Paint lane median traffic striping lines;
b) Construct a left hand turning and stack up lane for MHS’ vehicles destined for MHS’ non-conforming on-street passenger drop-off pick-up zone;
c) Construct a turn around in the vicinity of the Homestead Valley Community Center for arriving MHS parent, visitor and vendor parking;
d) Install “Left hand traffic must turn immediately”;
d) Construct a formal accessible Montford Ave. gateway entry to MHS’ campus;
e) Repave Montford Ave. and construct a decomposed granite pathway on along the south side of Montford Ave.

B. Melrose Ave::
a) Widen Melrose Ave. from Montford to Laverne Aves. to comply with County road standard ADT minimum width;
b) Delete MHS’ Traffic Plan requirement that MHS vehicles must exit via Evergreen Ave. which concentrates MHS traffic on Evergreen;
b) Locate pedestrian cross walks at Montford Ave. and Volunteer Park;
c) Require MHS to provide an accessible passenger drop-off loading zone in accordance with CBC 1131B.2 and federal ADA requirements and BOS resolution 2005–105 Condition of Approval # 48.
d) Install “No-Parking except for residents” from Montford to Laverne Aves.
e) Paint lane median traffic striping lines.
f) Repave Melrose Ave. and construct a concrete curb and sidewalk on the West side of Melrose and a decomposed granite pathway with bollards 5’-0” o.c. along the East side of Melrose Ave.

C. Evergreen Ave.:
a) Widen Evergreen as required to comply with County road standard ADT minimum width.
b) Paint lane median traffic striping lines.
c) Repave Evergreen Ave, and construct a decomposed granite on-street parking zone and five feet (5) wide decomposed granite pathway on both sides of Evergreen Ave. separated from traffic by decorative metal bollards 5’0 on center to prohibit parking on Evergreen Ave.’s pathways.

D. Laverne-Reed:
a) Widen Laverne-Reed from Melrose Ave to Miller Ave. as required to comply with County road standard ADT minimum width.
b) Paint lane median traffic striping lines.
c) Repave Laverne-Reed and construct a five feet (5) wide decomposed granite pathway on one side Laverne-Reed from Melrose Ave to Miller Ave.

As the County is responsible for imposing a major traffic generating commercial private educational facility in our community the County should act to mitigate the traffic problem created by staff's deletion of MHS carpooling requirement that benefits only MHS.

The favor of reply is respectfully requested.

Regards,

Charles D. Sands, Architect.

BCC Madrone Park Circle Group and HVCC members