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During a board meeting on Feb. 14, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board unanimously approved plans to create an entranceway to the Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve in San Carlos.
Last year, the city of San Carlos pushed to send plans to the District Board.
The Pulgas Open Space Preserve currently has an entrance near Edgewood Drive at Edmonds Road with parking and restrooms, but the new entryway would add an access point on Los Vientos Way. A similar plan was presented back in 2011 when there was pushback due to the proposed entrance being near suburban homes.
That pushback was again reflected during the District’s meeting, with one speaker saying it would add traffic and noise pollution to the area.
“If the Los Vientos Way trailhead were proposed alongside my residence, I would be very upset, so I want to advocate for my neighbors,” said San Carlos resident Charlene Garabedian. She added that concerns included barking dogs, traffic and noise pollution.
Lucy Dobson, another resident, hoped the city and Midpeninsula District Board would address the parking issue that may occur with a new entranceway and the dog waste it could lead to if not attended to.
Some board members noted that the gate is sometimes used illegally and that opening it up and adding a ranger presence could mitigate and discourage illegal activity.
The City also hopes it would ease traffic in the other entrance while creating security for the Los Vientos gate, which board members say often has illegitimate entrances creating safety hazards.
Others attending the meeting expressed their support for the new entranceway, viewing it as adding access to a popular trail.
“We really appreciate this city’s efforts to connect these parks,” Beth Harrison, a plan proponent, said. “This whole idea of open space is why we live in this area.”
“It seems to me that having this area more monitored with this proposal would improve things,” said San Carlos resident Dee Dee Stovel. “That there would be trash cans, there would be dog waste bags and there would be more patrol of the area,” adding that if she lived in the neighborhood, she would love the easy access.
Priyanka Parekh, who lives in the neighborhood, said she’d love to use the opening if it is created but was concerned about how parking would be affected and disturbances in the area. She added that there was a fire hazard and suggested that the parking is at a busier street on Crestview Drive.
The issue of parking at the new access point will likely go to the San Carlos City Council.
“I’d like to second that since it’s taken me 14 years to get back to that issue,” Board Secretary Curt Riffle said on the motion to approve.
Assistant general manager Brian Malone said that the gate will likely be opened around March or April.
