Fitzgerald Marine Reserve trail public comment deadline extended

This week Dave Holland, Director of County Parks agreed to place story stakes on the FMR Dardanelle Trail/Coastal Trail route by Aug. 6, 2010.

Michael Schaller, Senior Planner has extend the deadline for public comment to Friday, Aug. 15, 2010 end-of-day to allow the public an opportunity to view the story stakes before the public comment deadline.

The County is planning a 10’ feet wide, plus 2’ wide aggregate shoulders on each side, asphalt trail. The total trail width would be 14 feet wide.

The FMR Dardenelle Trail/Coastal Trail as proposed, would be a paved road that does not invite people to enjoy and appreciate the natural setting.

Send comments/questions before August 15, 2010 to Michael Schaller:

Michael Schaller
Senior Planner
Planning and Building Department
County of San Mateo
phone: 650-363-1849
fax: 650-363-4849
email: [email protected]

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve/Preserve is a biologically sensitive area and has regional, state, and national significance, as recognized by:

- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)
- Central California Coast International Biosphere Reserve
- California Critical Coastal Area (CCA)

Compliance with ADA does not require the trail be wider than three to four feet, nor does ADA require an asphalt surface.

Trail Surface: The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan (page 60) specifies:

“all trails and paths …shall be surfaced with pervious materials such as decomposed granite”.

The May, 2002 Master Plan for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve recognized the parks remarkable natural resources, through it’s guiding principles:

“The fundamental concept underlying the Master Plan is that protection of the outstanding natural resources of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve will require a new approach to management of ecological systems and visitors in future years, and that the best way to accomplish this goal is to emphasize the sensitivity of the resource, to enhance the educational value of the Reserve, to manage visitation, and to limit use of the Reserve as a recreation destination.”