To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing about a matter on the calendar today for consideration. After obtaining much helpful information from Marin County and BCDC staff, there are still some concerns and questions regarding the Bayside Park Permit application:
- What are the conditions under which the BCDC is recommending approval of the permit?
BCDC staff recommends approval of the permit at the hearing today under conditions, but a statement of what those conditions are was not posted. - Is the maximum feasible public access being provided consistent with the proposed project if parking is removed to provide for a bike lane?
The Project is intended to provide ADA compliance at Bayside park. When the Park was created, the newly enacted McAteer Petris Act established that “water-oriented land uses along the bay shoreline are essential to the public welfare of the bay area, and that these uses include … water-oriented recreation and public assembly……. and that maximum feasible public access, consistent with a proposed project, should be provided. To achieve that goal, and provide for an alternative mode of transportation to the Park, a bike lane was required. Currently, there is a shared bike lane. However, BCDC requires a dedicated bike lane as as a condition of the permit.
As a result of the requirement for a dedicated bike lane, all parking must be removed. However, the current plan to remove all parking at Bayside Park does not provide a way for people with disabilities to get to the Park. There is no parking available at or near the Park. There are hazards and hurdles which include uneven and crumbling pavement, dangerously steep slopes, a busy 4 lane roadway to cross without a nearby cross-walk. There are no signs to routes intended to provide access for people with disabilities since no access to the park for people with disabilities is provided in the plan.
— From the West, the slope of the hill is too steep.
— From the East, the sidewalk is deteriorating and increasing presents a hazardous condition to all, especially the elderly and people with disabilities. Because the sidewalk from the East is in the City’s jurisdiction, the County plan’s ignores that hazard even though that sidewalk provides a much used pathway to the park and potentially the only potential way for people with disabilities will be able navigate along a sidewalk that leads to the Park.
— There is no crosswalk and no safe way to cross the 4 lane street near the park. The nearest crosswalk, at Knight Dr., is dangerous and even if persons with disabilities can safely cross they would have to travel a long distance to the park over the deteriorated and dangerous esplanade. - Given the issues detailed above, would BCDC favorably consider a permit amendment to allow DPW’s original parking plan as an interim solution until a longer-term plan could be realized after a dedicated bike lane is provided?
- Is there a way to provide for a long term plan for the site of the sanitary station at the park?
Use of the sanitary station at the park is expected to be discontinued in about a year. There are substantial costs of grading associated with providing access to that sanitary station. That expenditure seems short-sited and possibly unnecessary. Once the pump station is no longer in use, will an amendment to the permit be needed to provide an alternate use of that area of the park? If the sanitary district is able to move forward with discontinuing the use of the station sooner, might the costs associated with grading for access to it be saved and used to modify the plan to create a long term plan for use of the area where the pump station is now located?
Thank you for considering these matters.
Bonnie Marmor Co-President
Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition