EverGREEN Living Street Proposal

CLICK HERE to sign an online petition 
 If you would like to read the whole Evergreen sidewalk SAGA, click HERE

September 2012 : Permeable Pathway and Driveway Inspirations

Jeffrey Bale, Garden and Path designer, offers these inspirations for increasing permeability in our landscape : LINK


The following suggestions are proposed as a result of nearly two years of community outreach.
Mari Tamburo
founder, HEAR US
Homestead and
Evergreen
Avenue
Residents,
United for
Safety and Sustainability

Suggestion :

Evergreen Avenue "Living Street" Proposal Updated : July, 2012  
Evergreen Avenue in Homestead Valley.
Goals / Priorities
 - Preserve Evergreen's 100% Safety Record
 - Environmental Health : Decrease Storm Water Runoff  - Improve Natural Path Filtering Ability
 - Respect the TAM PLAN Guidelines
 Solution:
-- Install ADA compliant permeable paving in the County right of way.
At grade, homeowners can choose placement of parking - near the house or nearer to the street. If needed can be separated from road by plantings to separate parking area from pedestrian area. 
examples :
http://www.terrafirmenterprises.com/ecogrid/e50.html
 http://www.invisiblestructures.com/ada.html

Benefits :
Create parking area toward perimeter, improve drainage
Keep pedestrians visible, which has been proven to slow down cars. 
This will increase safety for all who use the street

-- Location : Intersections : install rain garden on South east corners to increase drainage, filter storm water before draining into creek, discourage drivers from speeding around turns.
- Added benefit : Enhance visual aesthetic to encourage more walking and biking

-- Location: Intersection (Melrose and Evergreen) :
Challenge : Parked cars block entrance to Volunteer Park, block natural path
Proposed Solutions :
-- Eliminate parking at North corner 
-- Neighborhood Enforcement as per TAM Plan guidelines : Reinstate Traffic Resolution #236 (formerly Resolution 73-271 A)  NO PARKING on both sides of Evergreen commencing at Melrose and extending 150 feet in the Easterly direction
-- Location : Volunteer Park (near Melrose & Evergreen)
Install "NO Parking within ___ feet of center of road" sign on the post, under the SCHOOL sign
Install signage "no parking within ___ feet of Stop sign"  under STOP sign

Complaint : Occasional cars that travel too fast  at several locations along Evergreen 
Solution:
-- Location : Linden to Ethel : replace 25 posted Speed Limit with 20 mph
-- Location : Linden to Ethel : Remove "25"  from road : replace with "SLOW"
-- Location : Melrose and Evergreen : replace 25 posted Speed Limit with 20 mph
-- Location : Melrose and Evergreen : Remove "25"  from road : replace with "SLOW" 
Complaint : Increased traffic from Marin Horizon School in mornings and afternoons
Solution : Re- evaluate Traffic Plan, ENFORCE IT
Complaint : not enough room for Pedestrians to walk off road :
create more  NATURAL PATHS - Please see above
Between Linden and Scott :
Challenge : occasional speeding car
Solution : create "Living Street" giving top priority to pedestrians and non-motorized transportation.
PHASE ONE : Low Impact :  install potted woonerfs of Evergreens
PHASE TWO :
Install rain gardens and evergreens to create a visually pleasing,  meandering road

Along Evergreen,  : 
--  HEAR US Volunteer Green Street Steward Program :
Consult with homeowners on both sides of the street to assist with pathway improvements as needed
Depave all unnecessary impervious pavements in the County right of way
i.e.,  install at grade ADA permeable gravel or grass pavers in the right of way, such as http://www.invisiblestructures.com/ada.html
(If necessary, after community built workshops, reclaim Right of Way, create off street parking :  as per Tam Plan T8.1 )