By Lauren McSherry

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina isn’t the only Los Altos Hills resident to obstruct a public pathway in the secluded, affluent city known for its sprawling homes and scenic views of the foothills.

When the Town Crier began investigating claims that a resident had landscaped and piled brush to obliterate a pathway off Baleri Ranch Road that connects to Saddle Court, we discovered that that path and two others designated on the 2004-05 Master Pathway Map terminate abruptly.

One is a path on city property that links the Berry Hill Court neighborhood to Page Mill Road; the other is a connecting path from Stirrup Way, designated by pathway markers but without distinguishable tread. The path on city property is overgrown with star thistle and nearly impassable.

“I thought I was trespassing, so I stopped going on it (the Baleri Ranch path),” said Alisa Bredo, president of the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association. “The pathways are a key part of the town. If paths are approved and on the map, then they should be open and available.”

In Fiorina’s case, a locked gate on her property blocks an off-road path that links the Three Forks Lane neighborhood off Page Mill Road to residences on Matadero Creek Court.

In March, the city council directed staff to send a letter to Fiorina requesting removal of the gate.

Another overgrown pathway that does not connect to another neighborhood, but was originally planned as a link to Central Drive, is located on Zapatini Court. Kerrie Goranson, whose property the path should cross, is aware that the path is designated on the map and should be on her property boundary. Although she uses the pathway system, she sees no reason for a path that doesn’t go anywhere.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said. “What’s the point? So people can look in my back yard?”

Former pathways committee chairman and current ad hoc pathways committee member Les Earnest named a path off Dawson Drive and the paths on former Mayor Emily Cheng’s property as other cases where the city has done nothing about unblocking them. Earnest alleges that planted trees and landscaping were used to eradicate public paths on Cheng’s property. The paths have since been removed from the 2004-05 Master Pathway Map.

“These paths are supposed to be open and they’re not,” he said. “It’s a political hot potato.”

The city will investigate a blocked path upon a resident’s request or through the direction of Planning Director Carl Cahill, said Steve Garcia, public safety officer for the city, who looked into neighbor allegations about the Fiorina property.

Once the city identifies a blocked path, it requests removal of the obstruction.

If a resident fails to comply, the city starts the abatement process, Garcia said. The resident is given 30 days notice that the city will remove the obstruction and charge the resident for the removal. The resident has the right to appeal the abatement, Garcia added.

The city’s 60-mile pathway system is part of the city’s general plan.

“Now that we have been able to get (the 2004-05) map revision off of the table we are going to be able to refocus on our primary responsibility, which is maintaining the pathway system,” said Ginger Summit, pathways committee vice chairwoman. “It’s up to town residents and the pathway committee to let us know the issues.”

The Town Crier requested a copy of the letter sent to Fiorina and a copy of the draft 2004 Master Pathway Map from the city.

As of its press deadline, neither had been received.

Pathways committee chairman Chris Vargas did not respond to e-mail or a phone call from the Town Crier by deadline.