San Anselmo sets bicycle plan for Sorich Park Trail

San Anselmo officials have decided on a plan to redevelop a portion of the Sorich Park Trail to allow for bicycle use.

The Town Council voted unanimously to proceed with “trail alignment A” – a plan that garnered public support and a recommendation from town staff – to set the trail with speed and safety controls following a three-hour discussion at its meeting on Sept. 24. The vote also directs staff to develop new trail concepts for the park that could be single use and multiuse and can be developed alongside the new addition.

Town staff will return to the council with additional trail options that integrate or modify the trail plan in the next few months.

“We don’t want to leave people behind. We want to preserve all of our values,” said Mayor Eileen Burke, who said that an ultimate decision could satisfy all residents, despite public chagrin about the inclusion of bicycles on the trail.

Councilmember Tarrell Kullaway recused herself from the discussion and vote. Kullaway is the executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

“I do this with a heavy heart because I know many of you voted for me based on the understanding that I would fight to improve access and make things safer for people who walk and bike,” she said.

The Planning Commission included a stipulation to investigate incorporating additional safety features into the trail connection and include it in the Sorich Park Multiuse Trail Plan.

The 4-to-5-foot-wide Sorich Trail is approximately 0.3 miles long, with the west end in San Anselmo and the eastern end on Marin County Parks land. The trail is currently a hiking and horse-riding trail and does not allow bicycling.

The plan would involve widening the trail to allow passing, slope and switchback maintenance, change of signage and the installation of new drainage.

The town is seeking to improve bicycle connectivity from San Anselmo to the San Rafael Ridge, the Loma Alta Preserve and Terra Linda. Currently, bicycle access is limited to Fawn Drive in Sleepy Hollow, Sun Valley in San Rafael and Tomahawk Drive in San Anselmo.

“We need to get this done,” said Councilmember Brian Colbert, who advocated for the trail plan. “We learn, we iterate, we engage in the process and we move forward.”

At its meeting on Aug.19, the Planning Commission received a presentation and voted in support of converting the Sorich Park Trail to a multimodal trail.

The Sorich Park to Eagle Rock Trail Connection would provide access to Kaiser hospital, Northgate mall and the Marin County Civic Center and its Sunday farmers market.

Public Works Director Sean Condry said construction on the trail was likely years away. Condry said the trail option developed out of an existing trail and would be the most cost-effective option.

“It’s there, it’s safe,” he said.

Opinions on the trail plan were divided.

Henry Johnson, an eighth-grader at White Hill Middle School and a cyclist, said the new trail would benefit cyclists countywide.

“The proposed connections of our towns and trail networks will help young cyclists like me access other trail networks during our training,” he said.

Sandra Howard, a resident, said she had been hiking the trail since she moved to San Anselmo in 1977 and did not want the area disturbed by new users.

“I just really want to have a trail in Sorich Park where I won’t have to be with bikers,” she said.

Councilmember Steve Burdo said that chicanes — S-shaped curves in the bike lane — and speed limits could improve safety.

“Sorich is a special place for me,” said Burdo.

Sorich Ranch Park is considered relatively undeveloped, with limited picnic benches and tables, winding trails and various elevation changes. The town acquired the approximately 60-acre Sorich Dairy, the site of the park now, in 1965. The San Anselmo Open Space Committee received $30,000 in grants to improve the park.

The Marin Wildfire Protection Authority is also moving forward with a fire fuel reduction plan to remove invasive species such as eucalyptus trees up to 10 inches in this area as well as other fuel removal, a staff report said.

The cost of the project has not been determined. Town officials plan to develop an estimate and funding options after the public and the council endorse a trail proposal.