Atherton plans tighter right-of-way regulations

You will esentially require a huge number of residents to move keypads, intercoms, and mailboxes back 6'. What about all the trees that are within 6' of the pavement. Some are inches away from pavement...
Will the town remove them ? Uh, no.

While bikers and pedestrians have a right to use the road, try getting them off the pavement. Won't happen. I'm all for safety, but lets start with getting pedestrians to use the left side of the road.

BTW, USPS guidelines for mailboxes is 8" off the road.

Let the absurdity begin..

Mailboxes, whose location IS governed by USPS regulations, will not be impacted by the proposed ordinance.

This is outstanding. Now we can force or neighbors to rip out all of that beautiful landscaping that they have invested so heavily in so that we can get back that tobacco road look that we admire so much.

I'll be damned if I will have someone else's workers park in front of MY estate. Time for a recall.

It's about time the Town did something about people blocking the right of way in front of their "estates" to prevent people from parking off the pavement. Logs, rocks, stepping stones and "No Parking" signs are not neighborly and only narrow the roadway worse than it is now in some instances.

I think it's about liability especially living in a litigious state like California (which doesn't faze me, California is still the absolute best place to live). I believe the town must officially pass measures that help comply with potential legal issues by the resident or visitor to Atherton who may be injured due to an obstruction. Although a previous poster wrote accurately about the USPS regulations for mailboxes, I have lived in a prior community in a different state where they banned brick or stone built up mailboxes because of the risk if a wayward car were to hit it, causing serious injury. All the mailboxes had to be wood post based. Many people ignored the ordinance, but at least the city was making its position clear and keeping clear of potential lawsuits. I think the same could be said for some of the landscaping.

I would be surprised if the town would ever be able to enforce this on existing "violations" -it's probably just going to be a requirement for new construction or new landscaping to the extent that requires permits from town. Already, even driveways and curbs related to new construction need to be approved in advance by public works before a final occupancy permit is granted.

As a tax payer like all of you, i am happy if the town goes through steps to avoid using our taxpayer dollars to defend against frivolous lawsuits if such a measure is not passed and people are injured and decide to sue.

In recent years, from what I can see, the elected officials of Atherton have been very mindful of fiscal spending and I believe they will continue to be good stewards of taxpayer money and leave residents to largely live in peace (just like they themselves want to be treated).

Memberone, pedestrians are required to walk facing traffic, not on the left side of the road.

walkers:

it's not "required" it's suggested.

Walkers, the left side of the road IS facing traffic and thank you Menlo Voter, while it is not required, it is not the way to live a long happy life by challenging common sense.