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Apr 16

5/19 – Public Hearing Draft Master Plan for the La Honda Open Space Preserve

Hi all,
I’ve never posted here, but I got the following email, which I am sure others also received. Is is worth going to this and speaking up for mountain biking, or has the MSROD BOD already decided to shut us out?
Thanks!
-johann
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You are cordially invited to join us on May 19 as the District�s Board of Directors considers tentative adoption of the Draft Master Plan for the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. For additional project updates and information, please visit the La Honda Creek Master Plan project page.

Please Join Us for a Public Hearing on the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Master Plan
When: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 6:30 p.m. � 9:00 p.m.
Where: Alvin S. Hatch Elementary School, Multipurpose Room [Map]
490 Miramontes Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
What: From Highway One in Half Moon Bay, take Kelly Avenue towards the ocean.
Turn left on Alsace Lorraine
Turn left again on Miramontes Avenue

Participation is key to a great plan!
Email questions or comments to lahondamasterplan@openspace.org,
call Project Manager Ana Ruiz at (650) 691-1200,
or visit the project page at www.openspace.org.

Click ‘read more’ to see a sample letter you can send in by 5/13

On behalf of myself, ROMPs 300+ current members, and the more than 100,000 mountain bikers we represent, I’d like to congratulate the planning staff and the ad hoc committee for taking into account the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding allowing mountain biking in La Honda Creek Open Space preserve. We feel strongly this is the right decision and are excited to see that there will be cycling related, light recreational opportunities for La Honda residents and inhabitants of the entire bay area.

We’d like to commend the District on a bold move to close perhaps 1/4 of the preserve to the public to protect Red Legged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake habitat. We appreciate and respect the District’s mission to preserve protect and restore open space.

Finally, as a Director of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, I recommend draft two which permits cyclists access to the Bay Area Ridge Trail Segment through La Honda Creek Open Space without a docent. This is imperative to the success of the Ridge Trail’s mission to create a multi-use trail that circumnavigates the Bay. Few people get to enjoy the SF water section of Ridge Trail north of 92 because of the docent only restriction and this is a shame.

We support draft option 2 with the following addenda:

1. Permit biking along the entire length of the Driscoll Ranch main access road (trail 1). It’s a fire road used by heavy trucks, hikers and equestrians. Adding Cycling to the use of this road would not be a significant impact to the environment, Driscoll Ranch, or the surrounding neighborhoods.

2. Cyclists enjoy a good view as much as anyone else. Permit cycling on trails 12 and 13 up to “Ray’s Peak”. This would add another loop to the region near the town of La Honda and would spread the cycling use out, creating more positive user experiences for everyone.

3. Allow mountain biking on some or all of the flatter trails for the neighborhood behind Alice’s Restaurant such as the Redwood Cabin Loop Trail (7), Vista Point Loop trail (3), and the Easy Access Loop Trail. The cycling and outdoor recreation needs of the residents in the Skywood Keber neighborhoods have not been addressed.

4. Allow for reconsideration of the No Public Access in the northwest portion of the preserve in the event that a future preferred alignment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail falls within that corridor.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Joshua Moore

President, Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers

Director at Large, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council