Communities: CdM Entryway Project Discussed

More than two dozen Corona del Mar residents learned a little bit more about how their neighborhood may soon become a bit more beautiful.

Nearly 30 locals, including City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner, attended an informational meeting Thursday in the community room at the civic center. The topic of discussion was the CdM entry improvements, landscape plan and beautification project.

“It was a great turnout,” said Assistant City Engineer Michael Sinacori. “I really appreciate everybody spending their evening here with the city staff to go over a project that would be in their backyard.”

There was a lot of audience participation and suggestions as Sinacori gave a presentation.

“We’re going to take a hard look at the comments tonight and make some adjustments,” Sinacori said after the meeting concluded.

The plan has gone through a few revisions throughout the years.

A Neighborhood Revitalization Committee was formed and ideas for plans were discussed.

A traffic study was conducted in summer and fall of 2012. Cones were placed on East Coast Highway near Carnation Avenue, blocking the third lane that merges into two on PCH. It simulated removing that lane for an expanded sidewalk and added landscaping. There was a strong resident backlash and council reviewed and rejected a plan in January 2013.

“We went back to the drawing boards and came up with an alternative,” design, Sinacori said.

The current alternative plan has one-way southbound traffic on Carnation for just one block, between PCH and 4th Avenue. Drivers would still be able to turn from PCH onto Carnation. Drivers would not be able to turn onto Carnation from 4th Avenue.

“Making this block one-way is a change,” Gardner said. “My biggest concern is, ‘How does the neighborhood feel about it?’”

There are several reasons for the one-way traffic suggestion for that block of Carnation, Sinacori said.

There is a low volume of northbound traffic, he said.

Gardner said she doesn’t exit onto PCH from Carnation, she said, but she doesn’t live right there.

“The impact on the residents right there is of utmost concern,” she continued.

Safety and congestion at that intersection were both big concerns among residents at the meeting.

Traffic at that intersection is “atrocious” and “dangerous,” several residents commented.

The one-way traffic will also allow increased landscaping and intersection treatment at the Carnation/PCH intersection, and reduces the distance for pedestrians to cross Carnation.

It also creates five additional parallel parking spaces on Carnation, he said.

The parallel parking provided more additional spots compared to diagonal, Sinacori added.

Some concern was expressed about truck deliveries for local businesses.

There will be certain times and zones designated for truck loading and unloading, Sinacori explained.

Another resident noted that the expanded landscaping would add hiding spots for the growing homeless population in the area. It’s a concern, she said.

The project price tag will likely be approximately $400,000.

“This is a good solid estimate,” Sinacori said.

By a show of hands, a majority of the audience members were supportive of the plan.

It seemed that the residents that attended the meeting were supportive of the idea, Sinacori said.

“We didn’t sense a lot of opposition,” from the crowd, Sinacori said.

He hopes to get an indication from council during the fall and then return to them for formal approval sometime in spring, he explained. If approved, it will likely go into next year’s budget, he added.

“We may have a project here,” he said. “We just have to see what council wants to do.”

For more information on this project , contact the Public Works Department at (949) 644-3330 or email msinacori@newportbechca.gov.