04 - Laserfiche WebLink

BACKGROUND The Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan Trail Plan was conceptually designed by Thomas Baak and Associates in 2003. The intent of the conceptual design for the trail was to provide limited vehicular access along Old Vineyard, allowing only vehicular traffic from the developments on both sides of the trail to cross the trail at right angles. Gates and/or bollards would be placed at the street crossings to the different developments at Vineyard Heights Lane/Vineyard Terrace (Chrisman Development), Thiessen Street/Brozosky Hill Lane/Winding Oaks Drive and Safreno Waylfuscany Place. Gates have already been installed at the primary access points from (new) Vineyard Avenue at Pietronave Lane and Mingoia Street/Heinz Ranch Road. These gates were placed based on complaint calls received desiring that the City act more quickly to close off the trail due to vehicle and pedestrian conflicts that have been occurring. The plan calls for the conversion of "Old" Vineyard Avenue from primarily vehicular use to trail use specifically for pedestrians, bicycles and equestrians. Where traffic from the residential developments crosses the trail, the residential streets have been narrowed and enhanced paving or markings will be applied to the trail to give drivers a heightened awareness of the trail crossing. The trail would also accommodate emergency and maintenance vehicles. The trail will provide residents with a safe and convenient alternative to driving to recreational areas and to other neighbors, as well as serve as a scenic corridor for just recreational use. Most of the residents live within a short walking distance of the trail. Traveling easterly from the core of the City, the Vineyard Trail essentially starts on Vineyard Avenue and Clara Lane. From this point the trail travels north along what was called the "S" Curve portion of Old Vineyard Avenue providing access to the back entrance to Shadow Cliffs regional recreation area. The trail continues southeasterly along Old Vineyard Avenue crossing the realigned Vineyard Avenue at the traffic signal that has been recently been approved for installation at Pietronave Lane. The trail then continues southeasterly, running along Old Vineyard Avenue between the hillside development to the south and the flat land subdivisions to the north, until the trail connects with Machado Place near Fire Station 5. At this point, the trail continues along the east side of Machado Place where it ties into the trail along the south side of Vineyard Avenue constructed along the Ruby Hill development. The trail will consist of a 12-foot wide paved surface for pedestrians, bicycles and the occasional emergency/maintenance vehicle. The other side of the trail will consist of an 8-foot wide area for equestrians consisting of ground up asphalt. As mentioned, the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Trail Plan calls for gates with openings for pedestrians, bicycles and equestrians at all locations where vehicles cross the trail getting from one development to another on either side of the trail, thus preventing drivers who are unfamiliar with the area from traveling along the trail. Landscape plans will also accompany the improvement plans for the trail, providing for additional landscaping along the trail that was not installed by the adjacent developments. Additionally, the landscape plans will provide for a cluster of evergreen Page 2 of 4