A popular, but well-worn, Cardiff sunset viewing spot may receive an upgrade this year.
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The Encinitas City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday to ask city staff to fine-tune its recent cost estimate for the project. And, if the price continues to be the roughly $63,000 that’s now estimated, the proposed renovation work could occur later this year when the nearby section of Cornish Drive is being repaved, a majority of the council said.
“This isn’t a big project, it’s really a repair,” said Councilmember Joy Lyndes, who represents the Cardiff region.
Councilmember Jim O’Hara, who voted against her proposal, said he believed it would cost far more than $63,000 to do the repair work and also would be costly to regularly maintain the repairs in the years to come.
“I feel like we’re creating an issue,” he said.
Initially, Lyndes informally suggested the renovation project during a city budget planning session in early April. At that time, she didn’t get a majority of the council to back it, but that changed Wednesday after she gave a presentation that included photographs of the current conditions.
“It’s at the point where the neighbors are bringing it to my attention,” she said as she described the deep ruts and gullies in the dirt just west of the paved roadway.
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It’s hazardous for both pedestrians, who might twist an ankle, and for vehicles, which have trouble navigating the steep edge between the paved roadway and the dirt, Lyndes said. And, some vehicles have even ended up going westward into the bushes on adjoining Self-Realization Fellowship-owned land, so wheel stops could be helpful, she said.
The western edge of Cornish Drive near its intersection with Santa Fe Drive has long been a prime coastal viewing destination for both locals and tourists. On a good sunset evening, at least a dozen vehicles may congregate along the roadway edge. People even set out chairs and meet friends there.
While the area isn’t an official overlook with parking spot markers, the city does own the dirt strip between Cornish Drive and the row of palm trees to the west, and thus could be liable if someone were injured, city employees said.
Councilmember Luke Shaffer said he wasn’t sure wheel stops were necessary, but the idea of improving the dirt area by adding gravel or decomposed granite was a good one. Mayor Bruce Ehlers recommended looking into the gravel that was used to improve conditions near the Olivenhain Town Council’s meeting hall building.
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