Coyote Creek Trail Story Road to Lower Silver Creek Master Plan prepared for the City of San José SAN JOSE June 20, 2008 TRAIL PROGRAM Coyote Creek Trail Story Road to Lower Silver Creek Master Plan prepared for the City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services and Department of Public Works June 20, 2008 Master Plan Approved by the City of San José Parks & Recreation Commission May 7, 2008 Approved by the City of San José City Council June 17, 2008 Environmental Clearance State Clearinghouse # 2008032096 Mitigated Negative Declaration - City Filing # PP08-014 SAN JOSE TRAIL PROGRAM Prepared by: Callander Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. landscape architecture land planning Table of Contents PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................1 Background and Purpose ................................................................................1 Trail Alignment .............................................................................................1 Planning Process ...........................................................................................4 Plan Overview ...............................................................................................5 SITE SETTING ........................................................................................7 Regional Context ...........................................................................................7 Local Site Context .........................................................................................8 Cultural History ..........................................................................................10 Biological Resources ....................................................................................10 Site Analysis Plans ......................................................................................11 Opportunities.............................................................................................. 11 Constraints .................................................................................................11 Photographic Log ........................................................................................18 PLANNING PROCESS ...................................................................23 Community Outreach ...................................................................................23 Website .......................................................................................................23 Master Plan .................................................................................................23 Environmental Analysis and Clearance ..........................................................24 Regulatory Requirements .............................................................................25 Operations and Maintenance ........................................................................ 27 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................... 29 TRAIL ALIGNMENT .............................................................................. 39 Alignment Plan ........................................................................................... 39 Reach 1: Story Road to Remillard Court .........................................................40 Reach 2: Remillard Court to Selma Olinder Park ............................................ 41 Reach 3: Selma Olinder Park to E. William Street ........................................... 41 Reach 4: E. William Street to E. Santa Clara Street ......................................... 42 Reach 5: E. Santa Clara Street to E. Julian Street ............................................42 Reach 6: E. Julian Street to Lower Silver Creek Confluence .............................43 Typical Trail Section ....................................................................................49 Special Use Areas ........................................................................................49 Boardwalk at San José High School ............................................................... 51 Lower Silver Creek Bridge ............................................................................51 Equestrian Use ...........................................................................................53 Summary of Design Recommendations ...........................................................53 ESTIMATE OF COSTS .................................................................. 57 Overview of Costs .......................................................................................57 Phasing Opportunities .................................................................................57 NEXT STEPS ............................................................................... 75 APPENDIX A: SIGNAGE PROGRAM ...............................................77 APPENDIX B: FUNDRAISING PLAN .............................................. 97 APPENDIX C: MEETING MINUTES AND MEMOS ...........................105 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................... 123 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................ 125 © copyrighted 2008 Callander Associates Coyote Creek Trail Landscape Architecture, Inc. i Story Road to Lower Silver Creek Master Plan Coyote Creek Trail © copyrighted 2008 Callander Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. Story Road to Lower Silver Creek ii Master Plan List of Figures FIGURE PAGE 1. Project Location .....................................................................1 2. City-wide Trail Network ..................................................2 3. Context Map ...................................................................7 4. Site Analysis Plan Sheet 1 .................................................. 13 5. Site Analysis Plan Sheet 2 .................................................. 14 6. Site Analysis Plan Sheet 3 .................................................. 15 7. Site Analysis Plan Sheet 4 .................................................. 16 8. Site Analysis Plan Sheet 5 .................................................. 17 9. Reach Key Map..................................................................... 40 10. Trail Alignment Plan Sheet 1 ............................................ 44 11. Trail Alignment Plan Sheet 2 ............................................ 45 12. Trail Alignment Plan Sheet 3 ............................................ 46 13. Trail Alignment Plan Sheet 4 ............................................ 47 14. Trail Alignment Plan Sheet 5 ............................................ 48 15. Section A – Typical Trail Section ...................................... 49 16. Section B – “Special Use” Area ......................................... 50 17. Detail Plan – “Special Use” Area ...................................... 50 18. Section C - Boardwalk ....................................................... 52 19. Detail Plan - Boardwalk .................................................... 52 20. Detail Plan – Lower Silver Creek Bridge .............................. 53 21. Reach Key Map .....................................................................57 © copyrighted 2008 Callander Associates Coyote Creek Trail Landscape Architecture, Inc. iii Story Road to Lower Silver Creek Master Plan Coyote Creek Trail © copyrighted 2008 Callander Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. Story Road to Lower Silver Creek iv Master Plan Executive Summary Background and Purpose of a diverse and growing community. The Coyote Creek Trail is an important The trail will provide an important system within San José’s city-wide link from several neighborhoods to the trail network. It offers recreational and downtown area and encourage non- commuting opportunities. motorized alternative transportation with connections to other trail networks, This Master Plan report and the Coyote Creek established transit nodes, schools, urban Trail Feasibility Study defi nes, focuses and parks, retail centers and employment illustrates the vision for the trail alignment hubs. from Story Road to Lower Silver Creek, near Highway 101. This 3-mile reach will Trail Alignment link to regional trail systems outlined in The trail alignment is envisioned as a the City of San José’s Greenprint for Parks ‘creek’ trail that provides opportunities and Community Facilities and Programs – A for interpretation, education, and physical Twenty Year Strategic Plan, the City of San fi tness for trail users and school groups. José’s General Plan, the Santa Clara County This matches the Santa Clara County Countywide Trails Master Plan Update, General Plan (1995-2010) vision of “a Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and the Bay Ridge Trail Council and Association of Bay Area Government’s (ABAG) Connector to the San Francisco Bay Trail Plan. This report ties to the San José Greenprint by defi ning a trail system within District 3 that leads a citywide creation of a 100-mile trail network. It will add miles to the existing Coyote Creek Trail, thereby permitting the sub-regional or countywide trail route to ultimately link Morgan Hill, via San José, to the San Francisco Bay. The Greenprint and other related documents with guidelines for the Coyote Creek Trail are listed in PROJECT the Acknowledgments chapter of this LOCATION document for further reference. This reach of the Coyote Creek Trail will provide an asset to the nearby residents © Copyright