New Bay Trail will effectively prohibit kiting at Racetrack
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 5:30 pm
Many people are unaware of the pending Bay Trail extension is effectively a prohibition on kiting at the 'Racetrack' site located in Albany behind Golden Gate Fields. Many might feel that because they don't kite from this location it doesn't concern them, but I think every loss increases congestion elsewhere and it's also clear that bay area park managers 1) are not aware of kiters' use of the land and 2) don't view kiters as a 'constituency' or organized group. It has been eye-opening to see just how many locations we use that are not specifically zoned for kiting (and, hence, can easily be revoked, as is the case with Racetrack) and how environmentalists and water-users are not necessarily on the same page when it comes to how to enjoy nature.
On Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30pm, there will be a meeting with the City Manager of Albany at Albany City Hall to review the redevelopment plans for the Albany beachfront to realize another stretch of the Bay Trail. The plans are now in their final stages and there's considerable pressure to push these plans through. The plans, however, are deeply flawed in a number of areas and, if realized, will make kiting from this location extremely difficult and dangerous.
While the landscape company claims to have made accommodation for kiters, I have explained to them in detail how their designs remove the required open space from the existing environment and how the designs will result in increased traffic congestion and negatively impact other options that we might have (such as using the existing Golden Gate Fields parking lot as a launch and landing space).
For reference, here is the existing proposal:
http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/drb/2017/0417AlbanyBeachEx.pdf
If you look closely, you can see how:
- the gates on either side of the Bay Trail to prevent cross-traffic effectively removes that space from use as a passage to the beach or launch space;
- the fences around the dunes reduce usable beach space;
- the direction of traffic and parking into the current open space of the parking lot (where almost all launch and landing occurs) will remove that as useable space (note that the bollards (or wooden pylons) that form the barrier between the beach lot and the GGF parking lot remain and there will likely be a fence between the bollards as well, meaning we won't be able to launch in the GGF and walk our kites to the beach).
I have been working closely with two groups that represent dog owners, cyclists and walkers to advocate for a relatively minor change that will have a dramatically positive affect for kiters. We are recommending that the parking area be reduced and pushed to the North to accommodate a grassy field in place of the proposed turn-around. I have also proposed that the gates along the trail be removed so that kiters can access the beach directly instead of walking through the narrow and heavily trafficked 'Beach Access' path. That's it. If we can get these two changes made, Racetrack will be a safe and equipment-friendly launch spot.
The problem is that the city and the design group sees kiters as an insignificant user-population. But the bureaucrats do respond to numbers, and this is where I can use your help. If you can carve out the hour on Tuesday to show up and represent the sport, that would really help the City understand the value of the location to our community. If you cannot make the meeting, then please spread the word to any kiters you know who value this location and feel free to have them contact me directly with questions.
Also, You can send comments to Andrea Gaffney at andrea.gaffney@bcdc.ca.gov. She is the BCDC Bay Design Analyst who is responsible for managing the comments on the project and presenting them to the BCDC Design Review Board, which advises the main BCDC Board on whether they should approve a project. You can simply note that the proposed designs not only compromise, but effectually prohibit the existing use of the beach by kiters by eliminating the required space to launch and land kites safely. Note that the creation of a grassy field in place of the parking turn-around elegantly solves this problem.
And the drinks are on me after the meeting!
Here's the link to the meeting:
http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?page ... rdid=13547
I hope to see you there!
On Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30pm, there will be a meeting with the City Manager of Albany at Albany City Hall to review the redevelopment plans for the Albany beachfront to realize another stretch of the Bay Trail. The plans are now in their final stages and there's considerable pressure to push these plans through. The plans, however, are deeply flawed in a number of areas and, if realized, will make kiting from this location extremely difficult and dangerous.
While the landscape company claims to have made accommodation for kiters, I have explained to them in detail how their designs remove the required open space from the existing environment and how the designs will result in increased traffic congestion and negatively impact other options that we might have (such as using the existing Golden Gate Fields parking lot as a launch and landing space).
For reference, here is the existing proposal:
http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/drb/2017/0417AlbanyBeachEx.pdf
If you look closely, you can see how:
- the gates on either side of the Bay Trail to prevent cross-traffic effectively removes that space from use as a passage to the beach or launch space;
- the fences around the dunes reduce usable beach space;
- the direction of traffic and parking into the current open space of the parking lot (where almost all launch and landing occurs) will remove that as useable space (note that the bollards (or wooden pylons) that form the barrier between the beach lot and the GGF parking lot remain and there will likely be a fence between the bollards as well, meaning we won't be able to launch in the GGF and walk our kites to the beach).
I have been working closely with two groups that represent dog owners, cyclists and walkers to advocate for a relatively minor change that will have a dramatically positive affect for kiters. We are recommending that the parking area be reduced and pushed to the North to accommodate a grassy field in place of the proposed turn-around. I have also proposed that the gates along the trail be removed so that kiters can access the beach directly instead of walking through the narrow and heavily trafficked 'Beach Access' path. That's it. If we can get these two changes made, Racetrack will be a safe and equipment-friendly launch spot.
The problem is that the city and the design group sees kiters as an insignificant user-population. But the bureaucrats do respond to numbers, and this is where I can use your help. If you can carve out the hour on Tuesday to show up and represent the sport, that would really help the City understand the value of the location to our community. If you cannot make the meeting, then please spread the word to any kiters you know who value this location and feel free to have them contact me directly with questions.
Also, You can send comments to Andrea Gaffney at andrea.gaffney@bcdc.ca.gov. She is the BCDC Bay Design Analyst who is responsible for managing the comments on the project and presenting them to the BCDC Design Review Board, which advises the main BCDC Board on whether they should approve a project. You can simply note that the proposed designs not only compromise, but effectually prohibit the existing use of the beach by kiters by eliminating the required space to launch and land kites safely. Note that the creation of a grassy field in place of the parking turn-around elegantly solves this problem.
And the drinks are on me after the meeting!
Here's the link to the meeting:
http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?page ... rdid=13547
I hope to see you there!