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PALO ALTO, CA - 13 environmental and neighborhood groups
have joined together in support of the C1-B Trail on Stanford
lands in the foothills, and in opposition to the C1-C Trail.
The coalition has released a position
paper providing the details of the trail options and rationale
for their position.
In December, 2000 the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
approved Stanford's General Use Permit (GUP) and Community
Plan, granting the University approximately 5 million square
feet of development through 2010. In exchange for this development
entitlement, Stanford agreed to meet all the conditions of
the GUP. One condition reads: "Stanford shall dedicate easements
for, develop, and maintain the portions of the two trail alignments
which cross Stanford lands shown in the 1995 Santa Clara Countywide
Trails Master Plan (Routes S1 and C1)"
The coalition paper states, "Environmental groups, hikers,
neighbors and community associations have endorsed the C1-B
(Community Endorsed Trail) alignment. This alignment would
provide a safe, recreational trail as required by the GUP
and Countywide Trails Master Plan, and would help mitigate
Stanford's 5 million square feet of development. Trail alignment
C1-C (Stanford Roadside Route) is unacceptable because of
documented risks to public safety and minimal recreational
value."
"Stanford's Roadside Route would place trail users directly
in the path of vehicle traffic from numerous driveways and
roads in the Stanford Weekend Acres neighborhood," said Ginger
Holt, a local resident. "Besides the obvious danger, noise
and exhaust from Alpine Road would create a miserable trail
experience. The Community Endorsed Trail has real recreational
value, and is located in Santa Clara County where it's supposed
to be." "A safe, recreational trail that avoids busy roads
and intersections would be a tremendous asset to the Stanford
community, as well as to residents in the area," said Jeff
Segall, a Stanford graduate and Chairperson of the Stanford
Open Space Alliance. "The University would receive recognition
and praise from the community for providing this public benefit.
We look forward to working with the County and Stanford to
bring about this win-win scenario."
Groups endorsing the position paper include: Acterra, Committee
for Green Foothills, Committee to Save the Stanford Golf Course,
Families for Fair Government, Ladera Community Association,
Mid-Peninsula Action for Tomorrow (MPACT), People for Access
to Trails in the Hills at Stanford (PATHS), Santa Clara County
Green Party, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Sierra Club,
Stanford Greens, Stanford Open Space Alliance, and Stanford
Weekend Acres Neighborhood Association
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