Summary:

In the Fall of 1990, over 400 surveys were sent out to residents of Emerald Lake Hills. More than 75% of them were returned, which amounted to 35% of the total property owners in the area. A copy of the survey is attached in Appendix A. The residents were asked two basic sets of questions: what road improvements they wanted to have, and how to pay for them.

In addition to sending the surveys to the residents, surveys were also sent to the ten biggest developers in the area.


Road Improvements

Those responding to the survey made the following suggestions for road improvements:
-no streets voted in favor of having a paved path next to the road (over 90% of those responding to the survey opposed paths)
-with only one exception, no additional street lights were desired;
-off-street parking is not necessary, except on part of Oak Knoll Drive;
-many residents liked the idea of underground utilities, but voted against it due to the prohibitive cost;
-improved signs were needed, especially around blind curves;
-more stop signs and speed limit signs were requested to slow down traffic;
-"speed mounds" were rejected as dangerous to cyclists, or considered unnecessary.

The most controversial question in Emerald lake remains road width. Most residents are predisposed toward leaving the roads at their current width. They feel that wider roads with a smooth road surface will encourage more speeding and be more (not less) dangerous.

The San Mateo County Dept of Public Works, however, has issued regulations which call for the following on all roads in Emerald lake:

  22' wide road
   3' for asphalt berms
   4' for a paved path on one side of the street
  ---
  29' Total Road Width

To meet the standard, numerous buildings would need to be demolished. Many trees would be destroyed, and several roads would need to be rebuilt with large retaining walls. Since the County has no funds to complete such an ambitious plan, and the residents don't want it, nothing has been done.

Most of the hillside cities in the San Francisco Peninsula do not have a fixed road standard. Instead, they call for roads which are as wide as practical, given local topography and existing structures. Similarly, a more flexible approach is needed in Emerald lake.

A compromise between the fixed standard of 22' and the "as is" attitude of the residents is called for. It appears that the residents would support the following:

  -19' width for two-way roads, where possible
  -16' width for one-way roads, dead-end streets, and cul-de-sacs;
  -unchanged for roads that exceed these minimums.
  -no paths

In general, the roads in the area vary between 15' and 19'. There are very few areas that cannot support a 19' wide road. Most of these can be turned into one- way streets.

There seems to be only one street that cannot support a 19' wide road and cannot be made into a one-way street: Oak Knoll Drive, from the intersection at Vista and Lake to Lakeview. This street is only 12' wide in places, and is burdened further by a severe parking problem. Particular attention has been paid to this street, but the County Dept of Public Works may have some suggestions that could be included.


Cost

This plan covers the roads in Emerald lake south of Cordilleras. There are about 12 miles of roads in this area. This cost estimate only pertains to the streets that favored an assessment district.

Most of the roads are already covered with asphalt and only need to be resurfaced. The oiled rock roads have been used for over 50 years and are well compacted. The geology of the area is very stable, with topsoil averaging around 3 to 4' in depth. The bedrock is typically a mixture of shale, sandstone, and serpentine.

The stable geology, and the well compacted roads lead us to believe that the unimproved roads will not need extensive drainage systems and road base work.

About 2.5 miles of rock roads will need 6" to 8" of crushed rock base, topped with 3" of asphalt. Current cost estimates for this type of road run about $3 per sq ft.

The remaining 10 miles of roads will need to be resurfaced with about 3" of asphalt, costing about $2.50 per sq ft. Other costs include engineering ($100,000), drainage and contingencies ($200,000), and about a mile of retaining walls ($70 per lineal foot). The total cost of the project would approximately be:

Acacia Lane (.16 Mile)
Existing Width: 10' to 16'
Proposed Width: 16'

Acacia Lane is a cul-de-sac street, located off of Oak Knoll Drive, near lower Emerald Lake. There are some older homes on the street, with structures built close to the street pavement. The street takes a sharp 90 degree turn at 636 . Acacia Lane. The road is not paved.

Since this street is a cul-de-sac, it handles very little traffic. Widening the road past 16' would (probably) require that several buildings be demolished and 7 trees removed.

The residents indicated a preference for an assessment district, but did not want their street widened.


Agua Vista Court (.12 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 16'

Agua Vista Court is a short cul-de-sac that connects to Oak Park Way in the southern part of Emerald Lake. It is paved with broken asphalt.

The street serves four houses, and has a turnaround at the end of the street. The pavement needs to be resurfaced. Since it is a cul-de-sac, there is no reason to widen it past 16'.

This is a minor street. The residents did not express a desire to be part of any assessment district, so the resurfacing of the street could be funded by building permit fees.


Bay View Way (.34 Mile)
Existing Width: Lakemead to 727 Bayview: 18', elsewhere: 22'
Proposed Width: Lakemead to 727 Bayview: 19' (727 ft long), elsewhere: 22'

Bayview connects Lakemead Way, Diablo Way, Brookline Way, and Jefferson Ave.

Although relatively straight, it does have a blind curve between 830 and 834 Brookline. It is in the southern area of Emerald Lake, about 3 blocks west of Upper Emerald Lake. It is paved with broken asphalt from Jefferson Ave to Lakemead; the rest of the street is an oiled rock road.

There are numerous newer homes in this area, with adequate off-street parking. The residents believe that the road width is adequate. The street has been paved with asphalt, but has been cut up badly and needs to be resurfaced. The residents indicated a preference for an assessment district.


Bay Wood Glen (.05 Mile)
Existing Width:
Proposed Width: 16'

Bay Wood Glen is a dead-end street that connects to Old Stage Coach Road, in the northeast corner of Emerald Lake.

Currently, there are no homes on this street.


Brookline Way (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Located 1 block north of Jefferson Ave., in the southeast corner of Emerald Lake Hills, it connects Lakemead Way, Diablo Way, and Bayview Way. The road has been paved in places, but is mostly an oiled rock road.

The road has three dangerous areas. First, a stop sign needs to be installed. where Brookline Way joins Lakemead Way. Second, the road narrows between 3964 and 3969 Brookline; it can be widened at this point and brought up to the same width as the rest of the street without affecting any trees or buildings.

The residents were split on making this street a one-way road. Given that it connects several streets, has adequate width in most places, and would disrupt traffic patterns for many residents in the area, making it one-way does not seem to be necessary.

By a narrow margin, the respondents favored an assessment district.


California Way (600 to Jefferson Ave) (.43 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

California is one of the major roads in the southern section of Emerald Lake Hills. The 500 block of California is excluded because the western half of the road is within the city limits of Redwood City. There are many newer homes here, providing adequate off-street parking.

Speeding is a major problem on this street. The residents strongly believe that widening the street past the proposed 19' will allow motorists to drive faster, creating more of a safety problem for the children that live in the area. Two 25 MPH sign should be posted. The intersection of Sunset and California should be made into a three way stop instead of the current one way stop. In addition a two way stop should be created at the intersection of Paradise and California.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Chin Court (.07 Mile)
Existing Width:
Proposed Width: 16'

Chin Court is a short cul-de-sac off of Temescal Way in the southern part of Emerald Lake. Only one house is planned to be built on this street.

The cost-of improving this street is up to the developer. It need not be included in any assessment district.


Crest Drive (.14 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 16' (One Way)

Crest is a short, one block long street between Hillside Road and Summit Drive, on the East side of Emerald Lake. It is very narrow, but would be difficult to widen without lots of retaining walls and regrading, since the topography is quite steep. It is a paved road. The street is a good candidate to be made one way. There are two alternative routes for local traffic: Hillway Drive and Oak Knoll. 80% of the people responding to the survey were in favor of making the street one way.

There are two blind curves on the street -a blind corner at 427 Crest, and a hairpin turn at 455 Crest. By making the street one-way, these are no longer so dangerous. A stop sign should be located at the outlet of the street.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Diablo Way
Existing Width: 17' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' to 22'

Diablo Way is a minor street that connects Bay View Way to Brookline Way in the southern part of Emerald Lake. The street is paved with broken asphalt.

There is a concrete gutter in front of 426 Diablo Way; this should be retained. When the road is resurfaced, care 'should be taken to make sure that the elevation of the new road surface does not create drainage problems.

The residents did not indicate that they wished to be part of any assessment district. Since it is a minor street, improvements could be funded through building permit fees at a later date.


Eastlake Way (130 ft needs work)
Existing Width: 17' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Eastlake Way is halfway between lower and upper Emerald Lake, and lies mostly within the city limits of Redwood City.

The portion of the street that is in Redwood City is about 24' wide, and has curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. It needs no attention. However, there is a short section (about 250' long) between Hamilton Way and 3806 Eastlake that is in the unincorporated section of the county. The pavement is in poor condition and needs to be resurfaced.

There are two possible approaches here. The first one is to improve this section to the same standard as the rest of Eastlake Way by building curbs, sidewalks, and widening the street to 24'. The second alternative is to improve the road to the same level as the rest of Emerald Lake. The second approach will cost less, and is preferred by the people in the area. It could be fixed at the same time as Hamilton Way, as part of an assessment district.


East View Way (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

East View Way is about 4 blocks long; however, most of it lies within the city limits of Redwood City or Woodside. The unincorporated section of the street begins at Sunset, then crosses into the city of Redwood City after 649 East View Way, just past the intersection at Hillcrest.

The terrain is relatively flat on East View Way; the street could be widened to any reasonable width. The residents prefer a narrower street, however, because they are concerned about speeding on their street. Within the city limits of Redwood City and Woodside, the road varies between 19' and 22', so it makes sense to have the unincorporated portion of the road be the same size. The residents did not indicate a preference for an assessment district.


Edgecliff Way (.25 Mile)
Existing Width: 17' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Edgecliff Way is a short street, south of Jefferson, that connects Lakeview, Fallen Leaf Way, Far Creek Way, and Jefferson. It is located near Upper Emerald Lake, and is paved with broken asphalt.

The current road width of 19' seems to be adequate for the current residents. The road gets very little traffic, since it is only used by residents of Edgecliff, and by those living on Fallen Leaf Way to get to Lakeview. The residents were concerned about speeding on the street, particularly near the intersection of Fallen Leaf and Edgecliff. A stop sign on Edgecliff where it meets Fallen Leaf Way would reduce speeds and clarify which traffic had the right-of-way. Widening the road past 19', while feasible, may actually reduce safety by allowing motorists to drive even faster.

Only two residents of Edgecliff responded to the survey. They were split between an assessment district and using building permit fees to fund improvements. Since this is a short, minor street, it could be left off of any assessment district -allowing building permit fees to pay for improvements at a later date.


Emerald Lake Place (.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' -18'
Proposed Width: 16' -18'

Emerald Lake Place is a dead-end street that connects to Summit Drive, about 2 block east of Lower Emerald Lake in the center of the area.

This street has been repaved within the past 6 months. There are asphalt berms on both sides of the road. A developer is planning to construct 4 homes on this street as part of a minor subdivision. Since it has been paved recently, it needs nothing.


Fallen Leaf Way (.07 Mile)
Existing Width: 14'
Proposed Width: 16' (One Way)

Fallen Leaf Way is a short street that connects Jefferson Ave. and Edgecliff Way in the southeast corner of Emerald Lake. The road is very narrow, and is not paved.

Like Crest, this is a good candidate to be turned into a one-way street. The residents responding to the survey unanimously supported the idea. Local traffic can get to Jefferson by either taking Fallen Leaf Way to Jefferson, or by taking Fallen Leaf to Edgecliff Way, and then proceeding to Jefferson.

The street forms a blind corner at the intersection of Fallen Leaf Way and Edgecliff. Adding a stop sign at this point would control traffic and make it less dangerous.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Far Creek Way (.05 Mile is County Maintained)
Existing Width: 14'
Proposed Width: 16'

Far Creek Way is a dead-end street begins on the cul-de-sac portion of Lakeview. The first 200' or so is a public road; past 905 Far Creek Way, the street becomes a private road and is not maintained by the county. The road is paved with broken asphalt.

There is only one house on this street. The road is cut deeply into the hillside, and widening it past 16' wold require a lot of grading and some retaining walls. Given the light traffic load, this is not necessary.

This is a minor street; fixing it can be made a lower priority and funded through building permit fees.


Ferndale Way (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 12' to 18'
Proposed Width: 16' to 18'

Ferndale is a dead-end street that connects to Lakeview in the northwest corner of Emerald Lake. About two blocks long, it is paved with broken asphalt.

There are several garages on this street that have been built very close to the paved portion of the road. Widening the road to 16' at the narrowest points will be difficult, but possible, if the road is widened on the opposite side of the street. Widening the road past 16' would require that several buildings be demolished. The road is very narrow at the intersection with Lakeview; widening the road at the intersection would improve visibility and safety. Building a turnaround at the end of this street would require that two large oak trees be removed, so the residents did not want it.

This is another minor street that did not favor an assessment district. Since does not handle any through traffic, it would be possible to make resurfacing this street a lower priority and to fund the project with building permit fees.


Geri Place (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

Geri Place is a new cul-de-sac, built in 1989 off of Summit Drive, north of lower Emerald Lake. A total of 6 homes will be built on this street. It is the only street in the area outside of Mariani Court with cement curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

Since it is a new street, nothing needs to be done.


Glenloch Way (.32 Mile)
Existing Width: 12' -19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Glenloch Way is a narrow, winding road on the western edge of Emerald Lake, close to Edgewood Park. While covered with asphalt, the road surface is very uneven, and has been patched many times.

There are two main problems with Glenloch. First, it has inadequate drainage. Several of the existing storm drains are only 6" in diameter, and they often plug up in the winter. These will need to be replaced. An upgraded drainage system will need to be designed with emphasis on better drainage further up the street toward the Hillcrest Way intersection. Second, the topography is quite steep near Hillcrest Way. Widening the road to 19' at this point will require some small 3' to 4' retaining walls to control erosion on the existing banks. Due to the topography, a wider road would be very expensive.

The road has three narrow sections: one at 625 Glenloch, one at 655 Glenloch, and one next to the RWC water tank. Widening the road past 19' would require as many as 25 trees to be removed.

Some of the residents were concerned with speeding on their street especially at the curve near 629. A shallow valley that cuts across the street would slow down traffic and help reduce drainage problems by carrying water from the uphill to the downhill side of the street.

The residents were in favor of an assessment district.


Glenmere Way (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Glenmere Way is a minor street, running between Sunset Way and Temescal Way, in the southwest corner of Emerald Lake. It is an oiled rock road.

There are no obvious safety problems on Glenmere. The terrain is average for the southern part of Emerald Lake, and has above average visibility. Besides paving the street and creating an asphalt berm on the downhill side of the road, nothing special needs to be done.

The 5 homeowners that responded to the survey on Glenmere Way were split on how to pay for resurfacing the street. Two of the residents favored an assessment district, two favored using building permit fees, and the 5th did not express an opinion. If an assessment district petition on this street fails to receive enough signatures, the resurfacing project could be delayed and funded through building permit fees.

Greendale Way (.09 Mile)
Existing Width: 12' to 15'
Proposed Width: 16'

Greendale Way is a dead end street that connects to Lakeview, in the center of Emerald Lake. It is an oiled, rock road that is largely undeveloped. The road is very steep, with a grade that approaches 20%.

The lots on this road are very small and narrow -most are 40' to 45' wide. They could be merged together, but this is unlikely, given the high cost of a buildable parcel in the Bay Area. This implies that the street will serve lots of smaller homes, packed closely together.

If that turns out to be the case, a wider road than 16' would be preferred. The terrain is so steep, however, that widening it past 16' will require lots of large retaining walls. At a minimum, a turnaround at the end of the street would help emergency vehicles negotiate the steep narrow street more easily.

The improvements to Greendale should be made at a later date, since so few of the lots have been developed. Once the construction pace has slackened, paving the street and installing the retaining walls could be funded by either an assessment district or by building permit fees.


Hamilton Way (.40 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Hamilton Way connects Lakeview and Vista, and is intersected by Woodland Way, Eastlake, and Oakview. It is on the eastern edge of Emerald Lake. From Vista to East Lake, the road is paved with broken asphalt; between East Lake and Lakeview, it is an oiled, rock road.

There are three blind curves on the street, at 3739, 3772, and 3831 Hamilton. The narrowest section of the street is near 3817 Hamilton. Adding 3' of width to the street may require regrading the shoulder on the downhill side of the street or installing about 160 lineal ft of 3' high retaining walls. There are two large oak trees on either side of the street past 3772 Hamilton. It may be possible to build a 19' road between them; anything larger would require taking out at least one of the trees.

Funding any improvements to Hamilton Way could be a problem. A portion of the street lies within the city limits of Redwood City. While both of the respondents favored an assessment district, participation in an assessment district would require better support from the property owners and cooperation between Redwood City and the County.


Handley Trail (.27 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 16' (One Way)

Handley Trail forms a loop, beginning and ending on Lakeview Way. It is located on the Western side of Emerald Lake, a few blocks from Edgewood Park. It is an oiled rock road from between Lakeview and Mountain View Way, and paved with broken asphalt elsewhere. Mountain View Way, another loop, connects to it.

The residents favored making this a one-way street, since the topography is steep and it begins and ends on Lakeview. There is one blind corner at 634 Handley Trail, which would be less dangerous on a one-way street. The residents like the narrow road, and view the one-way option as a means to reduce traffic and prevent the street from being widened.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Hillcrest Way (1.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' minimum

Hillcrest Way is a very long, winding street in the southwest corner of Emerald lake. It connects Eastview, Sunset, Glenloch, and Lakeview. The section from Sunset to 690 Hillcrest is an oiled rock road; the rest of the street is covered with asphalt. One section needs no work at all: from Sunset south to 434 Hillcrest the pavement is in excellent condition.

Hillcrest is a long street, but it is not a major traffic artery, except for the 400 Block.it would be very difficult to widen it to 22' without using many retaining walls and regrading. Furthermore, a wider road, together with a better surface, would exacerbate the current problem with speeding. The road narrows at the blind curve at 738 Hillcrest. To widen the road to 19' at this point will require a short (3' high) retaining wall on the uphill side to control erosion. Improved signs would increase safety. A stop sign is needed where Hillcrest Way joins Lakeview.

While a majority of those on the street favored an assessment district, the residents from Sunset to 434 Hillcrest can be excluded since no work is needed. Several of the residents expressed a desire to have the utilities put underground.


Hillsdale Way (.32 Mile)
Existing Width: 10' to 15'
Proposed Width: 19'

Hi11sda1e Way is a long, dead-end street off of Lakeview Way. It is located on the west side of the central portion of Emerald Lake. It is paved with asphalt.

While the road winds around a fair amount, the curves are not exceptionally dangerous. The biggest problem on the street are some of the older structures. located close to. the road. They will prevent the road from being widened beyond 19'. The road narrows significantly at 203 Hi11sda1e Way and at Niner Court. A turnaround at the end of the street would be helpful, but there doesn't appear to be enough room for one.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Hillside Road (County section of the road is .21 miles long)
Existing Width: 15' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19' if possible without tearing down structures

Hillside Road is a steep oiled rock road that is very narrow in several places. It connects Oak Knoll to Hillway Drive and Crest Drive, and is located in the center of Emerald Lake.

The first 270 feet of the road from the intersection with Oak Knoll is within the city limits of Redwood City. The balance of the road (1090 ft) is unincorporated.

There are two blind corners on Hillside Road; one at the intersection with Hi11way drive, and the other at 526 Hi11way. While it may be possible to make this road a one-way street, the residents were not in favor it. Instead, they seemed to favor a modest widening of the street at its narrowest points, as long as it did not involve removing existing buildings.

The driveways to the older homes on this street are very steep; the grade is probably greater than 20%. If the road were to be widened past 19', the driveways would become impassable and lots of retaining walls would be required on the downhill side. To control runoff, an asphalt berm on the downhill side of the street is necessary.

The steep terrain, coupled with the sharp corners, reduce the problem of speeding on this street. Better signs are needed, however. A stop sign should be placed on Hillside where it runs into Oak Knoll. Warning signs for the sharp turns at Crest and at 526 Hillway would also help.

The residents were in favor of an assessment district.


Hillway Drive (.14 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Hillway Drive connects Hillside Road to Summit Drive. Paved with asphalt, it is located in the center of the Emerald Lake area.

There is a sharp 130 degree turn where Hillway Drive meets Hillside Road, and a blind curve at 418 Hillway. While the steep terrain makes widening the road past 19' extremely expensive, the road could be made this wide at reasonable cost since retaining walls could be avoided.

There are several older homes on the street, but parking is not a problem because there is adequate space off of the traveled lanes for parking. These areas could be paved at the same time without difficulty. The sharp turn at the intersection of Hillway and Hillside keeps speeding down. A stop sign is needed at the intersection of Hillway and Summit Drive.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Jefferson Avenue
Existing Width: 22' or greater
Proposed Width: 22' or greater (unchanged)

The road surface on upper Jefferson Avenue is in excellent shape and does not need attention.

The sharp curve at 3988 Jefferson needs some improvements, however. Since the embankment on the outside of the curve is very steep, a guard rail would prevent someone who had lost control of their car from going over the edge. It is already marked with a warning sign.

The speed limit in this area is 35 MPH, but it is not posted. Since it is largely a residential area, with limited street lights, the homeowners feel that this speed is too high. They would prefer having the speed limit reduced to 25 MPH, and having a sign posted. The have also asked to have the sheriff enforce the lower speed limit.

Since the road does not need to be repaved, funding questions do not apply here.


Kataoka Court (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 21' to 22'
Proposed Width: 21' to 22'

Kataoka Court is a new cul-de-sac street that has been built within the past year. It connects to Woodland at the intersection of Woodland Way and Hamilton Way. Seki Court, another cul-de-sac street that is part of the same development, connects to Kataoka Court. It has storm drains, asphalt berms, and a 4' asphalt sidewalk.

No additional improvements are needed on Kataoka Court.


Lake Boulevard (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' from 000 to 500 lake, 22' elsewhere

Lake Boulevard forms a loop around lower Emerald Lake in the east central part of the area. It connects Oak Knoll Drive, Park Avenue, and Vista Drive. Although the road surface is paved, it is very rough and needs to be resurfaced.

Lake Boulevard has several special problems. First, because the Emerald Lake Swim Club is located here, it has a large number of children using the street in the summer. Parking is also a problem for two reasons -parking for the Club members, and parking for owners of the older homes without adequate off-street parking.

The residents in the area were not in favor of constructing a path for the foot traffic, since they felt that the path would mostly be used for parking. They did suggest, however, that the road be made a bit wider (22') near the entrance to the Club, to make it less dangerous for the children in the area. Special care should be taken to save the large oak trees near 513, 519, and 535 Lake Blvd.

Clearly, something needs to be done to alleviate the parking problem in this area. The Club has some property about 200' from the main entrance that can be used for parking -this should be paved and marked accordingly. In addition, a place for cars to wait in front of the club entrance that did not block traffic would ease congestion.

The final plan should be drawn up after more review with the Swim Club's Board of Directors. While the residents in the area favored an assessment district, participation of this street in any assessment district will depend on the position of the Swim Club, since they own so much of the street's frontage. Speeding on the 2400 block at lake is a real problem and the residents wanted a 25 MPH posted and strict enforcement.


Lakemead Way (.65 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' -19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Lakemead Way is a winding, U-shaped street located in the southern part of Emerald Lake Hills. Beginning inside the Redwood City limits, it connects Lakeview, Brookline, Bayview, Temescal Way, Oak Park Way, and Revere Way, before ending at Bayview Way.

The County section of the road begins at 3919 Lakemead Way, and winds uphill until it reaches an intersection with Oak Park, where it makes a sharp left. From here until it ends at Bayview, the street is relatively flat. The road is paved between 3919 and 600, but it is very rough. It is an oiled rock road between 600 Lakemead and Oak Park.

The area has a mix of older and newer homes, but parking is not a major concern, and speeding on the street is not a problem. Increasing the road width past 19' would enable cars to travel much faster, and would not make it any safer.

Widening the road to 22' would affect several driveways, and destroy drainage channels and existing hedges. The road narrows at a few points, but these could be increased to the same width as the rest of the street without too much difficulty.

Any widening of the road between 600 Lakemead and Oak Park should take place on the uphill side of the street since it would affect existing homes to a lesser degree. No retaining walls would be necessary, but some minor regrading of the embankment on the uphill side may be required.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Lakeview Lakeview is one of the busiest streets in Emerald Lake. It is a major connecting street for residents who live north of Hillcrest Way -they use it to get to Interstate 280, Highway 101, and shopping in Redwood City, Menlo Park, and San Carlos. About 15% of the residents of Emerald Lake live on this street. It is also one of the longest streets -over a mile long. The terrain and conditions vary wildly on the street, so each section is taken in turn. One thing that was constant, however -the residents on Lakeview were strongly in favor of an assessment district.


Lakeview (100 -200 Block) (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: 14' -16'
Proposed Width: 19'

It will be very difficult to widen this section of Lakeview past 19'. As it is, the road is cut into the hill, and will require about 200' of retaining walls, some 3' to 4' high. Widening it any further will require the removal of several heritage oak trees and not add significantly to safety.

There is a blind, hairpin curve from 186 to 202 Lakeview. Installation of a row of raised yellow "botts dots" in the center of the street along this section would encourage drivers to stay on their side of the road and reduce the possibility of a head-on collision.

Lakeview (202 to 251 Lakeview -Ferndale to Springdale) (.25 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Like the 100 block of Lakeview, this section is also quite narrow and is a fairly busy street. Widening the road to a uniform width of 19' will require a retaining wall that would start across from 243 Lakeview and continue to the property across from 209 Lakeview. The hairpin turn at this location is quite dangerous, but can be made safer with raised dots, and a slightly wider road surface at the lower end of the curve.

In addition, the hill drops away very quickly on the downhill side. A guard rail could prevent a car from spinning over the edge, reducing the likelihood of a fatal accident.


Lakeview (267 to 366 Lakeview -Springdale to 366 Lakeview) (.25 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

This section of Lakeview is fairly straight. Parking is not a problem, since most residences have long driveways and people park on the driveway and not in the street. There are few problems here, except for the typical broken and uneven asphalt pavement that needs to be resurfaced.

From the Springdale intersection, Lakeview curves slightly and widens from 19' to nearly 24' before Sylvan Way. From just past Sylvan to Hillsdale, the street levels out and narrows down to 16'. Widening the road on the odd-numbered side of the street will save a few small trees.

From 316 to the sharp bend at 328, the road is very narrow, being 14' at 320 Lakeview, and 15' at 328 Lakeview. Widening the road on the odd-numbered side of the street will help save a 24" oak that is only 4' from the paved surface on the even side of the street.

From 328 Lakeview to a small bend at 334 Lakeview, the road is slightly uphill and widens out to 18'. It narrows to 16' at 358 Lakeview, but the road could be widened to 19' without creating any problems. The road makes a sharp bend at the intersection with Greendale Way; installing a row of yellow "botts dots" would encourage drivers to stay in their lane.

Lakeview (368 to Summit Drive intersection) (.25 Mile)
Existing Width: 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

This section of Lakeview has a blind curve at 418 and 422 Lakeview that narrows at this point to 15', so widening the road at the turn will make it safer. If the road is widened on the odd side, it would protect a 4' diameter white oak tree that is located on the even side of the street at 422.The residents of this section expressed very strong feelings about preserving this Oak tree.There is also an old retaining wall at 420 that would have to be replaced if the street were widened to 19'.

The road narrows once more as it enters the curve at 433 Lakeview. It can be widened to 19' most easily on the even side of the street. While parts of this piece of Lakeview could be widened past 19', the residents overwhelmingly opposed the idea. Parking is not a problem, since there is space in front of most of the homes for extra parking out of the travelled lane. A stop sign at the intersection of Summit Drive and Lakeview should be installed.

Lakeview (Summit Drive to West Summit Drive)
Existing Width: 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

One of the widest sections of Lakeview, this short distance is also a major intersection, connecting Lakeview to Summit Drive. The road is wider at this point, with good visibility in all directions.

Road directions at this point are very confusing. Both Summit Drive and Lakeview take sharp turns at this intersection, leaving visitors very confused. Signs should be installed that indicate Summit Drive and Lakeview Way do n.Q1 go straight through the intersection, but make 90 degree turns would be helpful.


Lakeview (West Summit Drive to Handley Trail) (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' -19'
Proposed Width: 19'

There are three blind curves on Lakeview in this area; one at 560, one at 576, and a hairpin turn at the intersection with Handley Trail. The residents all felt that speeding was a problem. Widening the road past 19' would require several retaining walls, and would allow motorists to drive even faster. Care will have to be taken to preserve the existing retaining wall at 577 Lakeview. Parking is not a problem, as cars are usually parked on driveways and off of the travelled lane in front of their homes.


Lakeview (Handley Trail to Woodland Place) (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 14' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

This section of Lakeview with many lots with short street frontages. The topography is quite steep, dropping off severely on the downhill side. Some of the older homes have inadequate off-street parking.

Unfortunately, little can be done about the parking problem. Since the lots have typically 50' of frontage, any parking areas would obstruct access to existing or future homes. The topography limits the road width to 19' -constructing a wider street would require large retaining walls on the downhill side. A wider street may be safer, but would be prohibitively expensive, is opposed by the residents, and would ruin the rural character of the street.

Posting no parking signs would help by encouraging people to store their seldom- used vehicles on their own property instead of on the street. The grade of Lakeview could be raised slightly near the intersection at Woodland place to make for easier access to the driveway at 632 Lakeview.


Lakeview (Woodland Place to Sylvan) (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 14' to 19'
Proposed Width: 20'

This section of Lakeview is one of the most dangerous areas in Emerald Lake. There are relatively few homes here, with a sheer rock face on the uphill side and a precipitous drop on the downhill side. The road is very narrow. People often drive too fast around the two blind corners, running the risk of a head-on collision. Widening the road will be extremely expensive, requiring some of the most extensively engineered retaining walls in the area.

The one mitigating factor is the geology of the area. The road is cut into solid rock, so the retaining walls do not have to be built to hold clay soil which could slump in a wet winter. The foundation for the retaining walls can be drilled directly into the bedrock, reducing the total depth of the supporting piers.

It would be nice if the road could be kept at its present width. Lakeview is a very busy street, however, and carries a lot of through traffic for the area. This section is the narrowest on the street, and has two blind curves. As such, there is little choice but to widen the street to improve visibility and provide more space for vehicles to pass.

A guard rail on the downhill side of the road, and warning signs would also improve safety by encouraging motorists to slow down and saving them from a catastrophe if they don't.

An asphalt berm on the downhill side of the street would help control erosion.


Lakeview (Sylvan to Midland) (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 18'
Proposed Width: 19'

The road is wider on this short section of Lakeview. Widening the street to 19' can be done without a retaining wall by regrading the bank on the uphill side of the road. An asphalt berm on the downhill side could control erosion. A storm drain has been installed on Lakeview near Midland. It may need to be enlarged, since the opening is fairly small and clogs with debris in the winter.

Lakeview (Midland to 739 Lakeview) (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: 14' to 18'
Proposed Width: 19'

Steep terrain on this section of Lakeview will make widening the road to 19' very difficult. Any wider than 19' would require retaining walls on both sides of the street. It is particularly a problem near 738 Lakeview. There is a blind curve near 720 Lakeview, and a second blind corner at 738 Lakeview, where the road narrows to 14.1. There are two ways it could be widened to 19'; neither alternative is very good. The first (less costly) approach would be to take out the large bay laurel tree and put in a small retaining wall on the uphill side of the street. The second option would be more expensive; move the street around the bay laurel by putting in a large retaining wall on the downhill side, and install a guard rail. In lieu of either option, the local residents would prefer to widen the road as little as possible to minimize the retaining wall work and save the large bay tree. If the County wanted to put in a 22' wide road, it would require doing both: removing the tree, and building the large retaining wall on the downhill side.


Lakeview (739 to 820 Lakeview) (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 17' -22'
Proposed Width: 19' 749 Lakeview to Oak Knoll intersection) 22' Oak Knoll intersection to 820 Lakeview

From 749 Lakeview to Oak Knoll, the road is straight. Past Oak Knoll, the road opens up a bit, and is 22' wide. The residents in the area past Oak Knoll preferred a slightly wider street, and this would be feasible.

The residents felt that the intersection at Lakeview and Hillcrest was quite dangerous. Installing a stop sign at this point would slow traffic down and improve safety. They were especially concerned about speeding and felt that widening the street past 19' in the section from 739 to Oak Knoll would create an even greater speed problem.

Lakeview (820 Lakeview to Jefferson) (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

This part of Lakeview is fairly straight, and is one of the widest at 22'. The road is paved with broken and uneven asphalt; it badly needs to be resurfaced. No additional signs are needed.

This part of Lakeview lies within the city limits of Redwood City. It may be possible to have the City of Redwood City resurface this part of Lakeview and not include it in an assessment district. Since this is a major artery into Emerald lake, the County shou.ld work with the City of Redwood City to have this short but critical section paved.


Lakeview (Jefferson to 1080 Lakeview) (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

This section of Lakeview forms a dead-end past Edgecliff, near upper Emerald Lake. There are sharp, blind curves at 960 and 980 Lakeview, as well as at the intersection with Far Creek Way. A stop sign on Lakeview at the Far Creek intersection would slow motorists down and establish which vehicles have the right of way. At the end of the street, a turnaround has already been built; the turnaround is within the city limits of Redwood City.

While the residents felt that a 19' road width was reasonable, they opposed making the street any wider because it would require major drainage system work, new culverts, and damage hedges and several trees.

The residents were split on how to pay for any improvements. Of the 6 residents who responded to the survey, no clear consensus emerged. Since this portion of the street is a dead-end, repairing it is a lower priority than the rest of Lakeview. The nearby roads could be fixed, and this section could be improved through building permit fees at a later date.


Live Oak Lane (.lS Mile)
Existing Width: 10' -16'
Proposed Width: 16'

Live Oak Lane is a short cul-de-sac street on the southern side of Lower Emerald Lake. Semicircular in shape, it has several older homes and is paved with asphalt in poor condition. It connects to Oak Knoll Drive.

Although the street is quite narrow, widening it would be very expensive because of the steep topography. Since it is a cul-de-sac, it is not necessary to widen it past 16'. Furthermore, the road easement is only 20' wide, so a wider road is not feasible. Depending on the needs of the fire department, it may be possible to make the road narrower than 16' and build a turnaround at the end of the street. Building a 16' road will require a great deal of care to avoid tearing down the structures that are located next to the road.

The property at the end of the street is very large (over 1 acre) and is not developed. Rather than widening the street, constructing an area for vehicles to turn around at the end of the street would give easier access to emergency vehicles. This could be done when the property is developed.

The residents were in favor of an assessment district, but not in favor of widening the street.


Lombardy Way (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 20' to 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

Lombardy Way is a short street that connects South Oak Park Way and Temescal Way in the southwest corner of Emerald Lake. It is a wide, oiled rock road. Since the topography is fairly flat on this street, there is nothing to prevent the road from being paved at 22'. Most of the homes in the area are new, and parking is not a problem.

The residents were in favor of an assessment district.

Mariani Court (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 19' + asphalt path & berm
Proposed Width: 19' + asphalt path & berm

Mariani Court is a private cul-de-sac that connects to Wilmington Way in the southeast corner of Emerald Lake. It is the only medium-density development in the area.

The road was built about 10 years ago, and needs nothing. Since it is a private road, it is not the responsibility of the County to maintain it anyway.


Midland Way (.08 Mile)
Existing Width: 17' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Midland Way is a short, one-block long street that connects Vernal Way to Lakeview, in the center of the Emerald Lake area. Paved with broken asphalt, the pavement needs resurfacing.

This is one of the minor streets in the area that did not support the idea of an assessment district. They preferred to leave the road width unchanged - something that is feasible because it is already 19' wide in most places. The resurfacing could be paid by building permit fees.


Mountain View Way (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: 12' to 14'
Proposed Width: nfa

Mountain View Way forms a loop around the highest point in Emerald Lake. It connects to Handley Trail, and is a one way street in the center of the area.

It is a private road, not maintained by the County, and is paved with asphalt in good condition.

North View Way (.08 Mile)
Existing Width: 28'
Proposed Width: 28'

North View Way is a short, dead end street that connects to West Summit Drive, in the center of Emerald Lake.

No improvements are necessary.


Oak Knoll Drive (Hillside to 3315 Oak Knoll) (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: at least 24'
Proposed Width: at least 24' (unchanged)

This section of Oak Knoll will be difficult to fix. The west side of the street lies within the unincorporated area; the east side is within the city limits of Redwood City. It is paved with broken asphalt in poor condition, and is a major traffic artery for Emerald Lake residents.

Construction of new homes along this stretch of road started later than most of the rest of the area because the existing water service main was inadequate. A new water main was installed about 18.months ago, so many homes are now under construction. Reconstruction of the road should wait until more of the homes are completed.

The biggest problem with the existing road is not width; it is the grade of the street. Currently the road slopes the wrong way, with the highest point on the inside of the curve instead of on the outside. This makes the road more hazardous in wet and slippery conditions.


Oak Knoll Drive (from 3315 Oak Knoll to Lake) (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: at least 24'
Proposed Width: at least 24'

This part of Oak Knoll 1ies entirely within the unincorporated part of San Mateo County. It is paved with broken asphalt in poor condition.

This section should be repaved at the same time as the section from Hillside to 3315 Oak Knoll. A new storm drain has been installed at the intersection of Oak Knoll and lake, eliminating the flooding problem that has occurred in the past.


Oak Knoll Drive (Bridge from Lake to Vista) (.08 Mile)
Existing Width: 18'
Proposed Width: 19'

At this point, Oak Knoll runs on top of an earthen dam that holds the water in Lower Emerald Lake. The road has guard rails on both sides. It is paved with broken asphalt in poor condition.

It may be possible to add 6" of pavement on each side of the existing road. without replacing the guard rail on one side. If the road was widened past 19', one (possibly both) of the guard rails would need to be replaced.


Oak Knoll Drive (from Vista to Lakeview)
Existing Width: 10' to 19'
Proposed Width: 16' to 19', plus parking areas where feasible

This street has some of the most difficult problems in Emerald Lake. First, it is extremely narrow -too narrow to allow a fire truck through. Second, parking is a severe problem. Many of the homes have inadequate parking, so the residents park on the street -further restricting the travelled lane. It also has several blind curves, drainage problems, and the road grade needs attention.

Widening the road will be very difficult. Even a minimal 16' width will require modifying several driveways, replacing a fence, and building a retaining wall. Making the road a one-way road is not feasible, since it is one of the few roads that connect the northern and southern portion of the Emerald Lake area. Attached is a drawing of the street, along with some proposed improvements. They include: -construction of parking spaces for 9 cars as indicated; -installing "no parking" signs outside of designated parking spaces.

While the residents indicated a preference for not widening the street, they also indicated that they would support widening the street to 16'. Anything less would be unsafe, since fire trucks could not get through.

The residents preferred an assessment district to fund any improvements.

Lower Emerald Lake to Acacia Lane (Section A) (.09 Mile) The road is 16' to 18' here, and cannot be widened very easily. There is a steep bank on the uphill side of the street and a drainage swale on the downhill side. Two large oak trees are located close to the travelled lane, as is a fire hydrant at the corner of Oak Knoll and lake. The driveways on the downhill side of the road are not perpendicular to the travelled way. The paved surface is not centered in the right-of-way; it has been placed on the downhill side to minimize the cutting on the uphill side. leaving the road width on this section unchanged makes the most sense. Parking is not a problem. It is already one of the two widest portions of the street. It is the straightest section, with no blind curves. Widening the road would require removal of two large oak trees, moving a fire hydrant, and building 600 lineal feet of retaining walls.

Acacia Lane to 3523 Oak Knoll Drive (Section B) (.05 Mile) There are two 90 degree turns in the road on this section; one at 3468 Oak Knoll, and one at 3523 Oak Knoll. The road narrows to 12' in several places -at the driveway entrance to 3451, and in front of lots 24 and 25. Parking is a problem, particularly between lots 22,23, and 24 where several cars are usually parked. It will be very difficult to widen the road to 16' here. It will require removing the fence across the street from 3503 Oak Knoll, building a 3' high retaining wall on the downhill side, and reconstructing the fence. The cost of repairing this section may be reduced by adding most of the road width on the side of the street opposite 3468 & 3503 Oak Knoll.

At 3451 Oak Knoll, the street cannot be widened on the side of 3451 without completely reconstructing the driveway and putting in a retaining wall. Widening on the opposite side would also require a retaining wall and would require removing a fence along that side. If the widening must be done on the even side, this should only be for as short a distance as possible. Where 3451's driveway ends, near the property line of lot 4, there is significant room to widen the road on the odd side. Since no homes will be built between lot 4 and lot 26, the road could be widened here and some off-street parking could be built without retaining walls.

Between 3468 and 3523, the road should be widened on the odd side of the street on lots 26, 28, 29,30, and 31. The new house under construction at 3503 owns lots 26,28, and 29, and is located away from the street so that the road could be widened on the odd side of the street with little impact. One tree would have to be removed, but would not affect driveway egress.

The hairpin curve at 3503 Oak Knoll is too severely banked. The inside portion of the curve will need to be raised about 2 feet. There is an old garage located on lot 24, and it appears that the area in front of lots 22 & 23 could be paved as a spot to park 2 cars. An existing retaining wall is falling down in front of lots 22 & 23; this will need to be rebuilt to create the two parking spaces. A third parking space could be created in front of lot 41, next to 3523 Oak Knoll. The road widens here, and a car could be parked on the outside portion of the curve without restricting visibility.

3531 Oak Knoll to Live Oak Lane (Section C) (.07 Mile) The road here varies from 13' to 15' wide. There is about 2 feet of unpaved area next to the fence on the downhill side. This could be paved, bringing the road up to 16'.

More than 16' would be very difficult. The road is already located on the side of the easement that is closest to the even-numbered houses (the downhill side), so widening the road past 16' would require cutting into the hill and constructing a retaining wall close to 10' high. The newer home at 3531 Oak Knoll received a variance to build retaining walls and a redwood entrance walk within the right-of-way. If the road were widened past 16', the driveways on the uphill side would be so steep as to become impassable.

Uphill from Live Oak Lane, there is a very old stone retaining wall on lots 46 and 47. Any substantive widening of the road on this side would require the removal and replacement of the retaining wall. It would be better to widen the road on the opposite side of the street (lot 81) and save the retaining wall. Since lot 81 is vacant, widening the street on that side would allow the road to be made 16' wide without impacting the existing homeowners.

Live Oak Lane to Lot 70 (Section 0) (.03 Mile) This section of road consists of two 90 degree turns as the road switches back on itself to make the steep terrain passable.

Once again, it is very difficult to widen the road to much more than 16'. There are several driveways that would become impassable with a wider road. Fortunately, parking is less of a problem because the residents have long driveways and use them for parking. Widening this section on the even side of the street will cause the fewest problems. Widening it on the odd side of the street would require a retaining wall 50' or more in length.

Lot 70 to Carerra Court (Section E) (.08 Mile) This is one of the worst sections of the street -mostly because of the acute parking problem. The road width is about 12' to 13' wide, and as many as 6 cars can be parked on the street. The parking problem is particularly bad around lot 14 and 3627 Oak Knoll.

The road is located on the downhill side of the easement. Fortunately, the terrain on the uphill side is less steep. The road could be widened to 16' by constructing a retaining wall or regrading the hills. Done properly, the slope could be made more gradual, and no trees need be lost if the grading option is . used. Even so, it is likely that a short retaining wall will be needed in front of 3604 since the slope is quite steep in this section. Care will have to be taken to save the large oak tree that is located here. It may be possible to add 6 parking spaces on the uphill side, across the street from 3622 Oak Knoll. If the parking is built, the paved area would have to be increased accordingly.

The cheapest alternative would be to post no parking signs and enforce them. This would make live very difficult for the residents of several homes in this section that have no alternative places to park their cars. The best compromise would be to construct a few parking places within the public right-of-way, and to post no parking signs elsewhere. The signs should be posted at lots 4,43, 46, 57, 12, and 3627 Oak Knoll.

3628 Oak Knoll already has 3 off-street parking spaces that need to be paved. It would be preferable to widen the street along lot 54 as it is a vacant parcel, and the area across the street is solid rock. In addition to these three off- street parking spaces, there would be 5 more spaces at lots 46 and 47.

Carerra Court to Lakeview Way (Section F) The road is in much better shape here. It is already 18' to 19' wide. The road width need not be increased, and parking is not as severe a problem. Like the rest of the street, the pavement is in poor condition, and needs to be resurfaced. Additional parking is not necessary, since there are already several places for off-street parking.


Oak Park Way (.40 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' -19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Oak Park Way is located in the southwest corner of Emerald Lake. It is paved with broken asphalt, becoming an oiled rock road past from South Oak Park Way to Sunset. It begins at the three-way intersection with Lakemead & Temescal, and ends on Sunset Way.

There are three blind curves at 517, 534, and 544 Oak Park Way. These three areas need warning signs. The topography appears to be gentle enough to handle a 19' road without major grading; a 22' road would probably require short retaining walls. The cul-de-sac portion of the street already has a turnaround for vehicles and does not need one.

The residents indicated that they favored an assessment district.


Oak View Way (.20 Mile)
Existing Width: 13' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19',16' from Vista Dr. through the cul-de-sac portion of the street

Oak View Way connects Vista Drive and Hamilton Way on the eastern edge of Emerald Lake. A short section of the street forms a cul-de-sac. The road is partially an oiled rock road, and partially paved.

The residents did not favor widening their street, but did support evening out the road width to make it consistent. There is a blind curve where the cu1-de- sac portion connects to the rest of the street; posting a warning sign and making the street 19' wide at this point would reduce potential problems. A turnaround already exists at the end of the cul-de-sac, and since Oak View is not a main artery widening the street would be expensive and serve little purpose. A stop sign on Oak View Way where it ends on Vista would help.

From Vista Dr., Oak View rises steeply in a relatively straight line until the end of the cul-de-sac. In this section the road width varies from 13' to 15' and several trees would need to need to be removed and long retaining walls put up in order to make the road 19' in width. It would also require the modification of drainage swales on both sides of the street and would increase the speed at which cars can travel up and down the street and put these vehicles closer to homes and playing children. The residents on this section favored a 16' width between Vista and the end of the cul-de sac.

There are some problems with runoff around 755 Oak View Way. Banking the street 5 degrees would substantially improve the situation. A larger culvert at Hamilton and Oakview would help reduce flooding during a major storm.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Occidental Way (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Occidental Way connects Paradise Way to Jefferson Ave in the southern part of Emerald Lake. Only four houses has been built on the street, which is currently an oiled, rock road.

Most of the vacant property will never be built on since it is owned by residents of Temescal, Yanez Court, Paradise Way, and Glenmere Way, and a Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Only one resident on the street responded to the survey. He supported the idea of widening the road slightly to 19'. The road is cut into the hill, but the slope is quite gradual so a 19' road should be possible to build without any retaining walls. There is one blind corner on the street that already has a warning sign. Parking is not a problem.

The resident who responded to the survey said that he preferred a title transfer fee or a building permit fee to an assessment district.


Paradise Way (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 18' to 19'
Proposed Width: 22'

Paradise Way, about 1 block long, connects California Way to Glenmere Way. The south side of the street fronts on Easter Bowl water reservoir, which is owned by the City of Redwood City. It is paved with broken asphalt.

This is a fairly minor street for motor traffic. The residents responding to the survey indicated a preference for a 22' wide road, slightly wider than the other people in the area. The topography is gradual enough to allow the wider road to be built without destroying trees or building retaining walls.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Park Road (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 13' to 16' 600 Block, 18' to 22' everywhere else
Proposed Width: 16' 600 Block, 19' to 22' everywhere else

The 600 block of Park Road is a cul-de-sac, starting where Woodland Place and Park join, near lower Emerald Lake. It is very narrow, since the hill is quite steep. Widening the road past 16' on the cul-de-sac section is unnecessary, and would be prohibitively expensive since long retaining walls would be needed. No parking signs are needed here to discourage people from parking on the narrowest part of the street.

The rest of the street connects Lake Boulevard to Woodland Place. The intersections are a bit wider than the rest of the street, since the streets do not run perpendicular to one another. Since the hill is very steep, it would be very expensive to widen the road any further. Widening the road is also not necessary, since it already meets the 19' wide target.

The residents expressed a preference for an assessment district.


Revere Way (.07 Mile)
Existing Width: 19' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' to 22'

Revere Way is a short street, about 1 block long, that connects Lakemead to Jefferson Ave in the southern part of Emerald Lake. It is paved with broken asphalt.

This minor street does carry some of the local traffic to and from Jefferson Avenue. Already 19' wide and fairly straight, it does not need anything except to be resurfaced.

On this short street, only one resident responded to the survey out of the six existing houses. They are retired, and would prefer to delay making any improvements to the street. Given the lack of support for an assessment district, using the building permit fee to fix the street makes the most sense.


Seki Court (.07 Mile)
Existing Width: 18'
Proposed Width: 18'

Seki Court is a short cul-de-sac street that connects to Kataoka Court off of Woodland Way. This street has been built within the past year, and is located in the southern part of Emerald Lake, near Upper Emerald Lake. Seki Court and Kataoka Court are part of a new subdivision of 13 houses. The street has been paved with asphalt, and includes asphalt berms, a sidewalk, and underground utilities.

The road needs no additional improvements.


South Oak Park Way (.09 Mile)
Existing Width: 17' to 20'
Proposed Width: 19' to 20'

South Oak Park Way begins at Oak Park Way, connects to Lombardy, and ends on Sunset. It is paved with broken asphalt. Parking is not a problem.

The road curves around a bit, but all of the curves have fairly good visibility. All that is needed is to have the pavement resurfaced.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Springdale Way (.45 Mile)
Existing Width: 11' to 16'
Proposed Width: 16' (one way)

Springdale Way is a narrow, winding road that connects Lakeview to Cordilleras on the northwest corner of Emerald Lake. It has a mixture of both older and newer homes, and parking is not a problem since most houses have adequate off- street parking.

The street is built on a steep hillside, with several large oak trees near the travelled lane.

Widening the road past 16' would make several of the driveways impassable, and would require removing huge oak trees at 11, 130, and 157 Springdale. Recognizing the problem, and wanting to keep the road narrow, the residents favored making it a one-way street.

This street can be easily made a one-way street. Most of the traffic that is going between Lakeview and Cordilleras uses Lakeview, since the road is wider and in better condition. Existence of an alternative route, plus the light traffic load, make the one-way option feasible.

The hairpin turn that is now a hazard at the bottom of Springdale near Cordilleras would become safe once the road is converted to a one way road. In the narrowest sections of the street, a short retaining wall may be needed on the downhill side of the street to control erosion.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Summit Drive (.35 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 16' 300 Block, to 22' everywhere else
Proposed Width: 19' 300 Block, to 22' everywhere else

Summit Drive is one of the busier streets, since it connects Lakeview to Oak Knoll Drive in the center of Emerald Lake. The 300 Block is a cul-de-sac, which begins at the intersection of Summit, Lakeview, and West Summit Drive. The cul- de-sac is an oiled rock road; the rest of the street is paved with broken asphalt.

The 300 Block has two hairpin curves; one at 360 Summit Drive, one beyond 340 Summit Drive. These curves can be dangerous, so widening the road to 19' would improve visibility. The grade of the street could be evened out a bit, eliminating the rise in the road in front of 331 Summit Drive, and lowering the street slightly in front of 360 Summit Drive. When the road engineering is done, they should verify that the culvert in the drainage swale near 340 Summit Drive is adequate.

The rest of the street is the busy section. Several streets feed into Summit. Drive, including Crest, Hillway, Geri, and Emerald Lake. The terrain is not terribly steep for most of this distance, and will support a 22' wide road without major grading, removal of trees, or retaining wall work. Given the traffic load, and topography, making the road slightly wider would make sense. A 25MPH speed limit sign should be posted.

The residents preferred an assessment district.


Sunny Hill Road (.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 19'

Sunny Hill Road is a short, dead end street that connects to Sylvan Way in the northwest corner of Emerald Lake.

It is a private road that is not maintained by the County.


Sunset Way (.25 Mile)
Existing Width: 20' to 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

Sunset connects Hillcrest Way and Glenmere Way, in the southern section of Emerald Lake. Already close to 22' wide in most parts, its gentle grade would support a 22' wide street easily.

Unlike the rest of the area, the residents of Sunset favored underground utilities, and were willing to foot the cost in an assessment district. Since this is the only street that voted in favor of underground utilities, it may be possible to use some PG&E funds for this purpose.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Sylvan (1.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 10' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Sylvan is a long, winding road that begins at Lakeview near Springda1e, and finally reconnects to Lakeview near Handley Trail on the western edge of Emerald Lake. Some sections are paved with broken asphalt; other sections are covered with crushed rock and oiled. A long section of the street borders Edgewood Park.

The terrain is quite varied. In the 200 block of Sylvan, there are two garages at 226 and 230 Sylvan which are close to the travelled portion of the road; widening the road past 19' at this point would require tearing them down. The road narrows to 15' at 203 Sylvan. A heritage oak tree is in the right of way at 215 Sylvan; care will be needed to preserve it.

The narrowest point on Sylvan is between 261 and 268, where the road is only 10' wide. A retaining wall will be needed to make this section as wide as the rest of the street.

There are a series of blind curves from 264 to 275 Sylvan. Widening the road at 275 Sylvan will be difficult since the terrain is very steep, with a rock wall on one side and a creek on the other. Further down the street from Lakeview, the area is largely undeveloped since the nearest 6" water main is several blocks away. Before the street is paved, it may make sense to extend the water main down Sylvan and install fire hydrants. The hillside is quite steep in several places, and widening the road past 19' would certainly require hundreds of feet of short retaining walls. It is heavily wooded, so widening the road past 19' would probably also require the removal of several large oak trees in the 600 and 700 blocks. In fact, a road width greater than 19' would necessitate the removal of: -2 trees from Handley Trail to Lakeview; -18 trees from Lakeview to 259 Sylvan; -89 trees from 259 Sylvan to Glenloch; -46 trees from Glenloch back to Handley Trail (155 trees in total).

The road also narrows to 10' at the blind curve near 678 Sylvan. A retaining wall will be needed on the down hill side of the street to bring the road up to 19' width.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Temescal (.30 Mile)
Existing Width: 19' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' from Lakemead to Lombardy, 22' everywhere else

Temescal begins at the three-way intersection with Lakemead and Oak Park Way, and ends at Revere Way in the southern part of Emerald Lake.

The street is narrowest between Lakemead and Lombardy -around 19'. From Lombardy to Revere, the street widens a bit as the hill becomes steeper. The road does not need to be widened, meets the 19' minimum goal, and the residents don't want a wider street. The broken asphalt pavement needs to be resurfaced.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Vaquero Way (.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 16'

Vaquero Way is a short cul-de-sac street that connects to Vista on the eastern side of Emerald Lake.

This is a new development of 3 houses. The street was built within the past year, and needs no further improvements.


Vernal (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 11' to 16'
Proposed Width: 16' between Sylvan and 714 Vernal 19' everywhere else

Vernal is a very short street that begins at the 3-way intersection with Handley Trail and Sylvan, and connects to Lakeview. It is an oiled rock road in the center of Emerald Lake.

There are several problems with Vernal. First, the terrain is very steep near Sylvan and Handley trail, with many trees near the travelled portion of the road. Widening the street past 16' in this area would make most of the driveways impassable.

Second, a retaining wall is necessary where Vernal meets Sylvan. The two roads are at different elevations, and they meet at an oblique angle. The only way to widen the road past its existing 13' here is to construct a short retaining wall.

A short retaining wall will also be necessary from 766 Vernal to Lakeview. Third, the grade of the street needs to be lowered about 12" in front of the driveway at 710 Vernal. If this is not done, widening the road to 16' here would make the driveway impassable.

Fourth, the telephone pole at the corner of Midland and Vernal will need to be moved.

Finally, the residents indicate that there are significant drainage problems in the middle of the street. During the Winter and Spring, there are two springs that flow. One is located at 722 Vernal, and drains on both sides of their driveway. The other is at an empty lot on the south side of 740 Vernal.

A drainage culvert is needed from 722 Vernal to the intersection with Lakeview.

The drainage plan for the street will need to be reviewed, and may require asphalt berms on the downhill side of the street.

These changes will make a slightly wider road feasible, -and ensure that fire trucks can gain access to the homes on the street. They can be made without ripping up the hillside and at moderate cost. Given the steep terrain, anything wider than this is impossible -there simply isn't enough room at choke points like the intersection between Vernal & Sylvan.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Villa Vista Court (.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

Villa Vista Court is a short cul-de-sac street that connects to Vista on the eastern side of Emerald Lake, just outside of the city limits of Redwood City, and near the intersection of Vista and Hamilton.

The street was resurfaced recently and needs nothing.


Vista Court (.05 Mile)
Existing Width: 18'
Proposed Width: 18'

Vista Court is a short cul-de-sac that connects to Vista Drive on the eastern side of Emerald Lake. It is paved with broken asphalt that needs to be resurfaced. A turnaround already exists at the end of the street.

Since this is a minor street and the residents did not indicate a preference, the lmprovements could be funded at a later date through building permit fees.


Vista Drive (County portion is .40 Mile)
Existing Width: 15' to 22'
Proposed Width: 19' to 22'

Vista is a long, curving street that begins at Lake Boulevard and ends at Hamilton Way on the eastern edge of Emerald Lake. The section between 820 Vista and Jefferson Avenue is within the city limits of Redwood City.

Erosion is a problem on this street. Unlike most of the area, the clay topsoil is very deep -more than 20' in some places. During the heavy rainstorms of 1985, the road was washed out by a landslide. The County reopened the road by constructing a large retaining wall at great expense; the new retaining wall is 20' high, and the supporting piers are drilled 40' into the hillside. The hill drops away very quickly on the downhill side, so building a wider road will require digging into the hill and placing large retaining walls on both the uphill and downhill sides of the road. By keeping the road width to 19', this work can be minimized and the road can be repaired at minimal cost.

There is a garage across the street from 647 Vista that is very close to the traveled lane. Widening the road past 19' would be impossible without tearing down this garage. Even a 19' road will require moving the power pole at 681 Vista, and installing a short retaining wall on the uphill side of the road near Oak View Way.

Parking has been in a problem, with construction workers parking their vehicles within the right-of-way and blocking traffic. This problem is expected to be reduced in the future, as the pace of construction slackens and more off-street parking is built for the new homes.

The residents favored an assessment district.


West Summit Drive (.15 Mile)
Existing Width: 22'
Proposed Width: 22'

West Summit Drive is a u-shaped street, running from the three-way intersection of Lakeview, Summit, and West Summit, to the three-way intersection at Lakeview, Handley Trail, and West Summit. It is paved with asphalt in relatively good condition, and has concrete curbs and gutters.

Most of the homes on the street were built in the 1950s as part of the first subdivision in Emerald Lake. They have adequate off-street parking, but some people still park on the street. The road is wide enough so that this is not a problem.

The only change that should be made would be to post a stop sign where West Summit Drive meets Summit Drive. Funding of improvements is not an issue, since no road improvements are needed.


Wideview (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 12' to 15'
Proposed Width: 16'

Wideview Way is a dead end street that connects to Lakeview in the center of Emerald Lake. It is an oiled, rock road.

The terrain on this road is very steep. There is no turnaround at the end of the street. but there is also no room to build one. Vehicles use the residents' driveways to turn around.

There are only 3 homes on this minor street; they did not indicate any interest in an assessment district. The improvements could be made at a later time, and funded through building permit fees.


Wilmington Way (.60 Mile)
Existing Width: 16' to 22'
Proposed Width: 22' from Jefferson Ave to Elks lodge, 19' elsewhere

Wilmington Way forms a loop that begins and ends on Jefferson Ave, in the southeast corner of Emerald Lake. The Redwood City Elks lodge is located on the street.

The street is in.very good condition between Jefferson Ave and the Elks lodge. . This portion of the street needs no work at all.

Between the entrance to Wilmington Way and 934, the street is 22' wide. The rest of the street varies between 16' and 19' in width. Between Jefferson Ave and 926, the west side of the street is in Redwood City.

Past the Elks lodge, the street pavement deteriorates and needs to be resurfaced. There is a blind curve at 1033 Wilmington Way that needs a warning sign. The slope of the hill at this point is gradual enough to allow the road width to be evened out at 19' without building any retaining walls. At the present time, the "Wilmington Acres" project is under development. It will construct a new cul-de- sac street off of Wilmington Way to service 11 new homes.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Woodland Place (.10 Mile)
Existing Width: 16'
Proposed Width: 19'

Woodland Place connects Park Road to Lakeview, near lower Emerald Lake in the center of the area. The street itself is very steep, with a grade of about 20%. It is also fairly straight, with no blind curves.

There is a garage at 2506 Woodland Place that is very close to the road. A 19' road can be built without tearing it down and without building a retaining wall. If the road were to be widened past 19', a retaining wall on the other side of the street would be needed to avoid tearing down the garage. A short retaining wall may be needed on the north side of the street near Lakeview.

The residents favored an assessment district.


Woodland Way (County portion is .12 miles long)
Existing Width: 17' to 19'
Proposed Width: 19'

Woodland Way is another minor street that connects Lakeview to the three-way intersection at Woodland Way, Hamilton Way, and Kataoka Court on the eastern side of Emerald Lake. The section in front of 3835 and 3832 is in Redwood City; the rest of the street is in the unincorporated area of the County. It. is an oiled, rock road.

There are blind corners near 3827 and 3772 Woodland Way; yellow warning signs would be a help. The uphill side of the street has a tall earth berm that may require a short retaining wall to control erosion.

Since this is a short street, only two property owner responded to the survey. they did not indicate a preference on how any improvements should be paid for. Unless more support for an assessment district is shown, it makes more sense to use building permit fees to pay for improvements.


Yanez Court (.06 Mile)
Existing Width: 22'

Proposed Width: 22'

Yanez Court is a new cul-de-sac street that connects to Jefferson Ave on the south side of Emerald Lake. It serves 4 houses. No improvements are needed on the street.