Beacon’s Access is Top Priority of 40 Projects
By J.P.
Other top-ranked projects included construction of the first phase of the Hall
property park in Cardiff and accompanying road improvements, the design of a new
interchange at Encinitas Boulevard, safe routes to school and pedestrian …

ENCINITAS–City staffers on Tuesday identified Beacon’s Beach improvements as the highest-priority capital project for Encinitas to complete.

The job, which calls for a new trail, sea wall and parking lot to be built at the beach just west of Leucadia Boulevard, earned the most points in a ranking exercise by city department heads.

Other top-ranked projects included construction of the first phase of the Hall property park in Cardiff and accompanying road improvements, the design of a new interchange at Encinitas Boulevard, safe routes to school and pedestrian crossings along the railroad.

City Manager Phil Cotton presented the assessment of more than 40 projects to the City Council at its first of two goal-setting sessions for 2007.

Beacon’s as priority #1? I guess I’m a little surprised. That’s cool though. It’s a controversial project (of course). There is a lot of opposition to the proposed seawall. Some folks are even against stabilizing the bluff at all (not me). As is, the city has a $5 million dollar plan. The state grant is for $2.8 million. Does the city even have the extra funds for this? Can the city planners come up with a solid non-seawall plan that won’t get us sued by the Surfrider Foundation and other groups?

I wonder where a walkable downtown Leucadia mainstreet with sidewalks and lighting ranks on the list?

Also in the NCT.com article you will find concerns about traffic and smoking on our beaches.

If everyone who smoked stayed home instead of driving around, half our problems would be solved!