Meadowood Residents Up In Arms

Neighbors around the Corte Madera Creek haven't had to share the Meadowood Path too often — until now.

The City of Larkspur is planning to pave the pathway that runs around the Niven Property and behind the Mt. Tam Racquet Club. That plan has neighbors concerned about the increasing bicycle traffic and the effect on the Corte Madera Creek Watershed.

"An asphalt path is aesthetically undesirable and unnecessary. What's the point in asphalting a path when we can't maintain the asphalt we already have," said Meadowood Drive resident Susan Whitney, referencing Larkspur's poor grades by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the potholes in streets like Doherty Drive. "We'll have high-speed bikers, strollers, runners, a fence on one side and a raging creek in the winter on the other. We already have trouble with bikers, strollers, skateboarders. … The path should be left as dirt."

The Ross Valley Sanitary District installed a new line under the pathway, which was then graded. Work was completed in early December 2011. The hope is the new sewer line will prevent bacteria from spilling into the creek.

The City is now obligated to pave the pathway to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The question remains, how should it be paved?

Asphalt is allegedly the less expensive material to install and maintain along the pathway. The other popular option is decomposed granite, which would cost an extra $41,000.

The City Council cast its preference 4-1 on Feb. 1 for the decomposed granite and to seek private contributions for the project.

"There should be pervious paving, so the rain water can soak in," said Sandy Guldman of the Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed. "I don't think we object to paving if it can reduce the sediment flowing into the creek. … A hard-packed gravel would probably last longer than a pervious paving."

Guldman is more concerned with the native plants along the creek.

"The contractor took out native plants we planted there when the pipeline was installed," Guldman said. "They were supposed to plant some sedges along the bank closest to Meadowood, but it may be too late for that. You have to plant those in the winter so the roots can settle in.

"If they use pervious paving and follow through with the planting, the creek will be OK. We just need to keep leaning on the contractor to make sure that happens."

Brett Richards of the RVSD said the district is "committed to restoring certain plants that need restoring," but that the work could be placed on hold while the City of Larkspur works on plans for a major restoration project in the area.

Some residents are upset over the development they've already seen along the pathway that runs past their backyards.

"I've spent hundreds of hours over the past 11 years removing invasive species. It's a beautiful area to walk along. I know it's a designated pathway, but I'd like to look at it as a destination," Peggy Cross said. "In working along the path, I get comments from people about how beautiful it is there. I think of it as a park. People walk there to get away from busy lives, to slow down and take it easy. … It would be nice to pave the path with something more natural that would integrate with nature. Really, I'd like to see this path left as it is."