City sidesteps qualms about sidewalk plans

Costa Mesa City Council members want to move forward with the long-delayed project to add sidewalks to Broadway, despite the concerns of city staffers and some homeowners.

Council members voted in June 2006 to include money for the project in the annual budget, but some residents have objected to giving away some of their property for the sidewalks.

“There was a long discussion [at a council meeting Tuesday] about requirements under the ADA, which requires the installation of access ramps on sidewalk corners,” Councilwoman Katrina Foley said.

“In order to do this, however, you’d have to encroach onto the property owner’s property. Understandably, this isn’t something they necessarily want to do,” she said.

The staff report presented at the meeting referred to two homeowners unwilling to give up property for the sidewalks. Two homeowners in particular at Broadway and Raymond Avenue refused to permit easements.

That prompted city staffers to propose putting the project on inactive status and keeping the money available for later or even using it for another project.

The residents who supported the sidewalk project were all at Tuesday’s council study session and very much opposed to that, Foley said.

“So, the City Council unanimously supported moving forward and told staff to find a solution,” he said.

Rosalyn Reich, though, said she was “shaking” with anger after learning that the council intended to move ahead with the sidewalks.

“My house is going to be the most affected out of all the homes, as far as property value goes,” she said, noting a light post and tree on her property that would be removed under current plans. “I will absolutely not allow them to have their access — I’m going to fight it every way that I can. I will get an attorney if I have to. This is just wrong.”

Steven Dewan, who has two children, was pleased with the council’s decision.

“I thought it was just great that the council was behind this, and that they were working together on it,” he said. “These aren’t easy issues to deal with — you do have people, for whatever reason, not wanting to give our children the protection and safety that they need.”

Reich said she also favors improving traffic safety in the neighborhood, but she thinks there are better ways to do that than sidewalks.

“The argument has been all wrong,” she said. “We need speed bumps, law enforcement, and street signs — not more concrete.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at [email protected].