Plans advance for Leucadia highway improvements

By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer
Workshops set for next week | Thursday, February 7, 2008 10:02 PM PST ∞

ENCINITAS ---- Plans to beautify a 2-mile stretch of North Coast Highway 101 advanced Thursday, as design consultants addressed the Encinitas Planning Commission and a staffer announced dates for public workshops later this month.

Michael Peltz of MW Peltz + Associates told the commission he has nearly 30 years of experience as a landscape architect. He said his firm is based in Solana Beach and he has lived in Encinitas since 1984.

He said he anticipated spending four months to gather public comments and develop a plan to beautify the heavily-traveled highway between A Street and La Costa Avenue.

For years, community members have demanded improvements to Leucadia's commercial strip, where motels, antique stores, car dealerships, restaurants and other businesses sit shoulder-to-shoulder in a hodgepodge of eclectic architecture.

This month's meeting schedule includes:

- A presentation before the Encinitas City Council at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave.;

- Part one of a two-part community workshop at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Oak Crest Middle School auditorium, 675 Balour Drive;

- Part two of the workshop at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at City Hall. The session includes a walking tour of the project area and brainstorming sessions.

During the walking tour, participants can observe places where motorists and pedestrians may be in conflict and get a "big picture" look at the project area, Peltz said.

When the group returns to City Hall, participants can plot their ideas and other details on aerial photographs of the highway.

Planning commissioners took no action on Thursday but offered comments of their own.

On the topic of motorists and pedestrians, Commissioner Virginia Felker said that when parking on the coast highway, opening the car door can be tricky.

"You have to time that with cars whooshing by and bicyclists," she said.

Commissioner Gene Chapo, who represents Leucadia on the panel, said the plan was a long time coming and he was excited to get it started.

He said the first round of detailed planning ---- from A Street to North Court ---- should extend one block farther north, to Athena Street. That way, the historic building that houses Pannikin Coffee & Tea could be included, he said.

Chapo said he hoped that plans would include methods for controlling traffic.

The city's right-of-way is 100 feet wide, and Chapo said the designers could take advantage of that width to create crosswalks, bus stops and parking on the east side of the highway.

As successful as streetscape improvements have been in downtown Encinitas, Leucadia needs a different design, Commissioner Mark Steyaert said.

"I'd really be in favor of some varied treatment to really make it stand out as different," he said.

Alluding to flooding problems, Commissioner Tom McCabe said the city has adopted policies he opposes, which include requirements that some buildings on the commercial strip elevate their ground floors as much as three feet above the level of the sidewalk.

He asked Peltz to provide "strong, professional recommendations" addressing the consequences of that policy.

McCabe hinted that less could be more when beautifying a strip of highway rich with history.

"Sometimes a lack of design is better," McCabe said. "I hope you look at (the highway's history) seriously."

The City Council has budgeted $4.2 million for the Leucadia streetscape project through 2013; the Peltz firm's contract totals $276,000.

After the meeting, Peltz said his company designed Solana Beach's Fletcher Cove Park, which opened last summer and received awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects and from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Also, he said, the firm produced a master plan for the coast highway through Solana Beach.

In Encinitas, the company designed the landscaping inside the roundabout on Santa Fe Drive.

Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.

Next

More Stories

Tags:

Bookmark and Share

Ads by Yahoo!

Advertisement

Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

leucadiadel wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:06 AM:I'm just simply just so sad to wake up and read this. This strip of Encinitas / Leucadia is classic, well-loved, and rootsy. Keep Leucadia funky, leave some of the history. Local residents have been so deeply hurt and frustrated with local change, including the recent loss of 100 year old cyprus and eucalyptus trees. Even my ten year old can't believe the rapid change (for the worse) in our little Leucadia.

JP wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:17 AM:This is awesome.

Jackie wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:38 AM:the Plan better eliminate all the freeway cut through traffic and re-establish the tree canopy along the local roadway. If these two things are not addressed, its a waste of time.

PC hold on wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:46 AM:To the PC. Leucadians have been working out the plans and issues for many years. Don't jump ahead until you get all their comments.

John wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:57 AM:I agree. Respect the long history of the roadway. Return it to a one lane roadway as it was for centeries not just a mere 60 years. Let the businesses, pedestrians, bikes and plants have some room in the right-of-way. Its a local roadway and its not about regional commutor needs. The commutors should use I5 as intended.

Leucadian wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:59 AM:Its our Mainstreet. You better make it nice to walk along and shop. Make it a destination, not just a roadway. I am sick of being in my car and sick of all the traffic period.

John E wrote on Feb 8, 2008 7:48 AM:Figure out a way to enforce a reduced speed limit, preferably 25 or 30 mph.

davo wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:47 AM:they need to lower the speed limit on pch and add more stop signs to stop Carlsbad residents from using it as a cut through.

Oh Please! wrote on Feb 8, 2008 9:01 AM:Turn it into a 1 lane roadway!!! Yeah, that makes a lot of sense! That way it can be a constant line of cars from Oceanside to Del Mar each day!! And then reduce the speed to 25 or 30, and we'll have back up from Oceanside to La Jolla!!! That will really get people wanting to come to the area and "frequent" all these spruced up businesses!!
Sorry Leucadia, you can fight change, but you can't stop it!!
There is a difference between "funky" and "dumpy". I'm all for Old School, but the above suggestions are ridiculous!

JP wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:27 AM:We fought Redevelopment and the eminent domain that went along with it, saying the whole time a Mainstreet program with a streetscape was the way to go. We won and it's a happening. This is the best way to keep Leucadia rural and functional in the 21st century.

Bo wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:24 AM:Drainage, drainage, drainage!

Voting resident wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:28 AM:Oh Please! and all commutors use I5 were you belong. We want a walkable mainstreet to serve our community.

To Voting Resident.... wrote on Feb 8, 2008 12:40 PM:Good Luck!! And while you are at it DREAM ON! Maybe you should move BFE if you want a walkable mainstreet or move to a town with less than 5,000 residents...maybe then you can get your "walkable" mainstreet. Sorry not gonna happen in So Cal. Especially when places like Yuppieville AKA The Forum keep going up!
I'm also a tax paying and local resident and I use both the 5 and HWY 101 depending on my agenda...

Jack wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:24 PM:Don't need to dream. Its already done. Our Community will implement what we want for our Mainstreet. I dont care what they do in Carlsbad. This is our town.

American Mike wrote on Feb 8, 2008 2:41 PM:Don't change a damn thing unless it's to refurbish foot, bicycle travel or enhance landscape. Teach your children right, and it will remain so for generations to come. Forgot about one of the previous post from the guy with the agenda. Go watch your wristwatch somewhere else.

David wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:51 PM:I love the eclectic look of Leucadia and enjoy many of the shops and restaurants. However safe parking, sidewalks, drainage, better lighting is needed to allow the area to prosper and grow some and yet keep its roots in simplicity. I drive the coast to/from work and avoid I-5 as much as possible. I enjoy the view, stop for food and coffee and contribute to your community tax base even though I live in Carlsbad. Don’t knock your neighbors, we support your businesses!

Victoria wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:08 PM:BIKE LANE?????? Hello!!!!!

Victoria wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:18 PM:Traffic??Just ad some more of those lame "turnabouts" that outta make the commuters think twice about cutting thru on Hwy 101. And how about a nice bike lane for us bike commuters that are doing our part to cut down on pollution and traffic, so you idiots don't open your car doors on us!

Jane wrote on Feb 8, 2008 6:47 PM:David. We need to slow things down and make room for parking, bikelanes, and landscaping. sorry some excess pavement has to go. Don't worry, you'll be able to get to all your favorite Encinitas business and you will have free parking to boot. We can can't have all the I5 traffic using our local roads.

Fredrick wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:12 PM:The cut through traffic supports our gridlock. I say put in some all way stops and make some much needed parking and bike lanes. I would love to bike to work along that stretch, but right now you will get mowed over by the speeding communtor.

Keep the roadway one lane like it has been for centuries! wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:52 PM:That's the funniest thing written so far. While you're at it, have Caltrans remove the I-5, like it was for centuries before that whole automobile fad kicked in.

Peter wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:07 AM:I recall lots spent on planting pine trees in the median about 15 years ago- that failed. Paying designers 1/4 million dollars to determine additional trees to plant strikes me as crazy- especially when you look at the Santa Fe roundabout. When will that two year old tree ever bloom? Perhaps it doesn't like the florescent yellow paint that surrounds it. So much for natural beauty. Maybe it needs more signs upon it?

augie moondoggie wrote on Feb 22, 2008 12:52 PM:Has anybody given any thought as to why so many people come down from Orange County to "get away from all of the traffic insanity" to come to the old scool charm of Leucadia. I think that the traffic nightmares affect all of us, especially those who live near Hwy 101. Yes we need more stop signs so that residents can actually get from west of 101 to east of 101. The classic Eucaliptus trees have been razed by a yuppie CalTrans chick who apparently does not have any taste for the classic canopy that drws visitors to our area. Ugh, Leucadia is quickly becoming Laguna.

Registered Comments[-]Go to Top

Advertisement

Videos

Advertisement