Fullerton Trail Demolition

[~ Pakiha ~]

We've all seen it; we all hate it, and now let’s do something about it!!

A couple select individuals whose homes have bordered a particular piece of trail on the Fullerton loop have shown their angst towards us for years. I'll be the first to admit that not all bikers are the cream of the crop, but to discriminate against us on such a broad spectrum is a sad display of ignorance. They've sworn over the fence at us, they've tried to ruin and block the trail, then finally they built a wall, and now they have started excavation with a backhoe and have dug out a large portion of land and trail. They are possibly crossing property lines and claiming public land for their own. Please help the city of Fullerton know what is happening in their backyard, because we all know that it's that squeaky, grindingly annoying gear that gets attention!

Contact the Mayor, contact the city manager, contact their assistants, and let everyone know!

Here is the site to find all of the contact information.

City of Fullerton

Mayor Shawn Nelson 714.738.6311 Council@ci.fullerton.ca.us

City Manager Chris Meyer 714.738.6310 CityManager@ci.fullerton.ca.us

Asst. to the City Manager Joe Felz 714.738.6760 JoeF@ci.fullerton.ca.us

I know I posted this lower but for those who are reading this for the first time the addresses of the locations in question are:

here is a copy of my letter if you want to use it:

Mr. Nelson, Mr. Meyer, and Mr. Felz,

I am writing you to inform you of the destruction of popular part of the Fullerton trail system. I know how meticulously you maintain the trail system in Fullerton, which is why it surprised me that a permit was possibly issued to allow an individual to use an fairly large backhoe to dig out a major portion of his property so close to a slope. I am referring to 511 Domingo Pl in Fullerton, CA. This individual has posted signs that claim the trail your city maintains is closed to the public. He has also destroyed a portion of the trail that many people in the city loved, used and enjoyed. I as well as thousands of trail users would appreciate it if you could please send an inspector to this individuals construction site and inspect his operation, I truly believe both he and his neighbor have crossed their property lines and have claimed public land for their own.

I know how much you care for your city and the standards that you maintain. In advance I’d like to thank you for the efforts involved in verifying that thousands of people that enjoy the environment and trail system that Fullerton maintains may continue to freely do so.

[LBmtb]

Do you have an address for the house where those said individuals live? That might help when contacting the city officials. Perhaps on thursday we can go find out that piece of information . . .

[doublewide]

What part of the LOOP is this on? I havent been there in a while.

[SAR_boats]

Do they still have the backhoe onsite? I have keys to most models of backhoe and I have no problems doing some "midnight backyard sanitation" so to speak

[~ Pakiha ~]

Heres a copy of the letter I wrote:
Mr. Nelson, Mr. Meyer, and Mr. Felz,

I am writing you to inform you of the destruction of popular part of the Fullerton trail system. I know how meticulously you maintain the trail system in Fullerton, which is why it surprised me that a permit was possibly issued to allow an individual to use an fairly large backhoe to dig out a major portion of his property so close to a slope. This individual has posted signs that claim the trail your city maintains is closed to the public. He has also destroyed a portion of the trail that many people in the city loved, used and enjoyed. I as well as thousands of trail users would appreciate it if you could please send an inspector to this individuals construction site and inspect his operation, I truly believe both he and his neighbor have crossed their property lines and have claimed public land for their own.

Follow this link to get an aerial view of the individuals homes in question: LINK

I know how much you care for your city and the standards that you maintain. In advance I’d like to thank you for the efforts involved in verifying that thousands of people that enjoy the environment and trail system that Fullerton maintains may continue to freely do so.

[Kid A]

forget the mayor -where's the "enforcer" a.k.a. steve jackson in all this. thought it was his loop, his rules.

[dubjay]

Looking at the map, this doesn't look like part of Fullerton Loop proper. Is this one of the little offshoots?

[~ Pakiha ~]

Originally Posted by dubjay

Looking at the map, this doesn't look like part of Fullerton Loop proper. Is this one of the little offshoots?

This is a trail that climbs up on the west side of the trail once you head south after Laguna lake. Yes it is an off shoot, but is is public land.

[soul rider]

i couldn't have put it better, cut and paste and giver eh

[dstepper]

That is the big question? Is it public right of way? Most people when they build fences build them inches inside there property line unless it is a shared expence fence with a neighbor, then right on the property line. There is a posiblity that the originial surveyors pins may still be there...since it is an older neighborhood might need metal detector to find...if they have not been removed or moved to make a point. I doubt anyone will pay to have them come back out and reset the corners.

People are just strange, what harm does a few bike do unless they are afraid of a lawsuit.

Dean

[carbonman]

Thanks for the city info. I just sent off an email as a concerned Fullerton resident and trail user.

[Kid A]

not aware of all the facts re: fully (nor below) nor suggesting apples to apples but recall reading this in OC Register

[SIZE=2]Unhappy trails in neighborhood [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]A couple agrees, for now, to remove gates blocking access to trail.[/SIZE]

By SUSHMA SUBRAMANIAN
Staff Writer
A couple agreed last week in a settlement with the city to take down gates that angered neighbors because they blocked access to a dirt road leading to Yorba Linda's El Cajon Trail.
But the gates might not be taken down permanently, said the lawyer for the couple, Debbie and Todd Kopit.
The city filed misdemeanor charges against the couple in October, because their neighbors claimed the gates blocked access to the feeder trail that they shared.
Each household on Citrus Circle and Aspenglow gives up five feet of backyard property to produce the dirt path.
The homeowners own the land. However, when the homes were built in the mid-'70s, the original owners agreed on their deeds to create the feeder trail.
The dirt path is meant only for these residents, to help them get to the public El Cajon Trail. The gates created a conflict in the community – between the Kopits, who wanted to maintain their privacy and reduce littering on the pathway – and the neighbors, who said that trails are part of Yorba Linda's rural charm.
The gates, installed last year, had often been closed but not locked. The Kopits plan to explore another channel, through the civil court system, to put the gates back up.
"Basically, I figure it's a civil dispute and wanted to get it out of the criminal system," their attorney, Paul Smith, said. The Kopits have 30 days to take down the gates and will put up a "do not enter" sign in their place, Smith said.
The Kopits argue that the private equestrian trails are not being used for horses, their intended use, and are being eroded by joggers, bikers and people using it as a shortcut.

[OTHRIDER]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]Hey Shu - do you have any more info on this?[/SIZE][/FONT]

Per his post in the Loop Tea Party thread:

She(my friend at the bldg dept) told me to just take it down...hahha..she is going to have the inspectors and/or city maintaince stop by there tomorrow...

[Winger]

As much as I'm on board with taking down violators, I have a hard time doing so blindly.

Is there any way someone can post pictures of what's going on? I'd hate to cause a big disturbance by calling the Mayor's office if the pit is legitimate. Maybe there's a busted pipe somewhere.

[~ Pakiha ~]

I'm having a friend that lives closer get me some pictures of it. If he doesn't come through I bet some one will get pictures for me at the Loop ride on Thursday. I won't be able to make this week, but I'll plan for the week after.

[2wheel_lee]

This Thursday night's ride could be very entertaining!

[~ Pakiha ~]

[SIZE=2]UPDATE:

unfortunately this got caught in my Junk box, but ... [/SIZE]

[FONT=&quot][SIZE=4]Jared,[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=&quot][SIZE=4]Thanks for the info. I have staff looking in to the issue now. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=&quot][SIZE=4]Shawn Nelson [Mayor][/SIZE][/FONT]


that was a fast reply, and directly from his personal email address.

[Shu]

Originally Posted by OTHRIDER

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]Hey Shu - do you have any more info on this?[/SIZE][/FONT]

Per his post in the Loop Tea Party thread:

She(my friend at the bldg dept) told me to just take it down...hahha..she is going to have the inspectors and/or city maintaince stop by there tomorrow...

I just dropped her another email to see if she has any other news....

as far as the 1st wall that was built...it was built right up to their legal property line...I personally haven't seen the location of the new wall...but if it isn't further out than the other one...they are on the edge of their property line...one answer that was given to me(other wall) was the trail would be reopened after the wall is completed...and the trail closure was just for contstruction...this could be the case w/ the new wall too...I have a feeling that the current resident is just more of an a-hole then the other people...

As far as the backhoe digging a trench along the edge of the hillside...that is necessary to put in the footing for the block wall...the wall will be pretty much centered on the trench and the dirt will be backfilled back to the wall(and teh trail should be reopened)....any and all work done is engineered and inspected w/ the slope in major consideration...
I highly doubt they would be bootlegging in a retaining wall...VERY VERYdumb on the home owners part if they are...

UPDATE She is going to call and talk to the homeowner(s) on wednesday (5-23)....

[mazer75]

Wow, this is news to me, but then I've never done the Fully Loop. I will email as well though to add numbers.

What is this night ride on Thursday? Is that a regular ride you guys do?

[SAR_boats]

Originally Posted by mazer75