Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Coastal Commission staff pushes Rail Trail back onto east side of tracks

From Preserve Cardiff Rail Corridor, a petition before the May 11 Coastal Commission vote:
URGENT UPDATE - Coastal Commission staff report recommends Commissioners vote to place the Coastal Rail Trail BACK IN THE CARDIFF RAIL CORRIDOR.

52 comments:

  1. Good.

    Sanity prevails.

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  2. Wow I took a lot of heat in previous posts for suggesting this may happen. I was called male anatomy parts and anonymous money was even put on the table. We'll see how the council handles this now in a non-election year.

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  3. They would have had to overrule their own staff's recommendations to keep the rail trail on the west side.

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    Replies
    1. The CC meeting hasn't happened yet. This is about the staff recommendation only.

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    2. The board can't relocate it without CEQA analysis. And relocating the alignment runs counter to previous RTP EIR analysis.

      It's in the bag.

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    3. 9:24 is right.

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    4. But, SANDAG can discontinue the Regional Bicycle Plan Early Action Plan for Encinitas. That will save $6 million.

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  4. Ultimately, the city itself has the prerogative to not approve the decision to move it back onto San Elijo if the CCC comes to a decision to do so and that is what will happen if the CCC reverses the will of this community.

    There are the choices. Plain and simple. On the 101 or not at all. The will of the majority of council and residents has the final say, not a few vocal opinions. The Railtrail group has not gone away and will rally against the destruction of the bluffs just as they did before so effectively. They have many more allies than they had then, if they are needed.

    On the 101 or not at all for Encinitas.

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    Replies
    1. Its out of our hands. Its like saying the freeway or rail can't expand...

      Local land use authority is given to the city under certain conditions, and if there is a expressed interest the state can supersede.

      Personally, I think both facilities is a good idea. Both should be built by the regional government.

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    2. The will of the "community?" There is a new council, friend/neighbor.

      Also, I don't recall a scientific survey being done to show what this community really wants and where. Dangerous to throw out that type of information. Also dangerous to label "community," since the affected and benefitting community goes well beyond those just on the corridor.

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    3. Yup. If it comes down to San Elijo or nothing, then we should put it on the 2018 ballot for a city-wide vote.

      Only then will we know how "the community" feels.

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  5. LA firefighters hauling down over $330,000 in overtime each year. What's wrong with Encinitas fire fighters that they can't finagle the same action??

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  6. Remember Shaffer pushing hard for the east side location and even after the rest of the council said west side, she continued her machinations.

    Blakespear idolized Shaffer (the absurd "intellectual powerhouse" comment showed just how much) and who knows what clammy hand Shaffer continues to try to use behind the scenes. No doubt the love fest continues.

    I'm not convinced the east side isn't just what Blakespear really supports out of the public eye. It is certain she only pretended to see the light in the face of election-year pressure.

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  7. Shaffer, Blakespear and other local politicos are 100% irrelevant to this issue. So is the "will of the community". Determining the rail trail site is solely within the jurisdiction of the Coastal Commission which is bound by CEQA and other laws. Folks are going to be surprised and disappointed at how this plays out.

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    Replies
    1. The council representatives are relevant to this placement issue.

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    2. SANDAG is the applicant, not CoE. They are not bound by our preferences. If CCC says move it, SANDAG will move it, and Council can't do squat about it.

      If we let every little burg and ville regulate rail land that runs through their boundaries, we'd have such a mess of patchwork regulation that commerce would grind to a halt. That's why we don't have full control.

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    3. 8:09 AM
      You must be worried that the Coastal Commission will put the bike path on 101.

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  8. The portion of the LOSSAN plan through Encinitas is part of The Coastal Rail Trail is one of the projects funded under SANDAG' s Regional Bike Plan Early Action
    Program. It means that the only segment along the rails that will be built (probably within the next 20-30 years) will be in Encinitas. The Council representative agreed to the Early Action Plan. The first question is how does the city get out of the Early Action Plan.

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  9. Logistically, destroying environmental sensitive plants for a 1.3 mile segment of a disjointed path doesn't make sense unless one is a politician.

    Some history from the Coastal Commission staff report -
    SANDAG, the lead agency, initiated the project in the
    summer of 2013 and has coordinated with NCTD staff:
    As project is located on NCTD property, NCTD will ultimately issue the license agreement for construction; and
    SANDAG requested NCTD establish minimum requirements for safety setback and fencing.
    Seeking Board approval of NCTD staff recommendations
    for the minimum safety setback and fencing requirements
    for the Coastal Rail Trail in Encinitas
    This action is required based on the rescinded Resolution 03- 06, establishing the safety setback of 100 feet from the centerline of track Resolution 03-06 also gave the Executive Director, through the Board, the authority to allow the coastal rail trail to be constructed within 100 feet.

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  10. The city of Carlsbad was assigned by SANDAG as the lead agency on the 44 miles Coastal Rail Trail (2000). The residents of Encinitas were left out of the loop since hearings were heard in Carlsbad on the trail from Oceanside to San Diego.

    At a Nov. 14, 2000 Encinitas Council meeting the Council approved the a resolution with Carlsbad in charge.

    WHEREAS, SANDAG has designated the City of Carlsbad as the lead agency in
    coordinating the planning and design effort for the CRT; and
    WHEREAS, the City of Encinitas, per City Council Resolution No. 2000-58, has
    authorized the City of Carlsbad to act as lead agency for purposes of California
    Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for the CRT; and

    WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad, acting as lead agency, has completed the Coastal Rail Trail Project Study Report and prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration in
    accordance with the requirements ofCEQA; and ...

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    1. 10:05 PM
      Correction - The council meeting was Dec. 13, 2000.

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    2. wrong...

      Carlsbad was acting as lead for CEQA purposes. One single agency has to be.

      Plenty of meetings in Encinitas, if you were around youd know.

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    3. 11:12 PM
      "Plenty of meetings in Encinitas" is an unsubstantiated comment with no facts to back it up.

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  11. 11:12 PM
    You must be worried that the residents weren't fully informed.

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    Replies
    1. Like I said, if you were around you'd know.

      I don't have the time to pull up old facts. Even if I did, they are irrelevant now. We are in a new day and things change. Just like when the Council moved it to the west. Just like where we have a new Council now.

      What matters most above all is what does the CCC think. People hear think that their opinions determine outcome. And it just doesn't happen that way. Input may help influence decisions, but it doesn't end all.

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  12. The Coastal Commission staff are not informed on what is happening on the 101.
    Their agenda report for the Commissioners states that- ..."and the project would reduce the number of vehicle lanes on Coast Highway 101 which is inconsistent with the City’s certified LCP (i.e., circulation element) and could adversely impact traffic on Coast Highway 101". The Coastal Commission staff has done nothing about the lane reduction of north 101 through Leucadia when the city Council told engineering to remove one of the vehicle lanes. If removing a vehicle travel lane on 101 is inconsistent with the LCP, how can the Commission staff justify their approval the northbound lane removal in Leucadia.

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    1. CCC has not approved the lane reduction in L

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    2. Keep it CRAPPY!! We love CRAP.

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    3. The CCC staff said they'll wait to see the whole Leucadia Streetscape plan before addressing the one northbound lane between Leucadia Blvd and La Costa Ave.

      If they're concerned that one lane on 101 for a short distance in Cardiff could adversely impact traffic, wait till they see Streetscape's plan for one lane in each direction (with short exceptions) for 2.5 miles on 101 in Leucadia.

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    4. 11:18 PM
      For the last year the Council has thumbed its nose to the Coastal Commission and the LCP by the elimination of one northbound vehicle lane on the 101. The CCC staff will wait? What a pile manure the Council fed to the Coastal Commission.

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    5. The recirculated draft EIR for the Leucadia 101 streetscape, with the first unwanted roundabout to be south of Leucadia, incorrectly states the speed limit will be reduced from 40 to 30 MPH. The speed limit is already reduced to an average of 35 MPH, hence the new speed limit signs, which signs have now been posted for years. Don't know how the consultant and staff got that wrong in the RDEIR.

      Taxpayers are expected to pay $24 Million for the project, plus much more for 15 new cut-throughs, to be carved into our median, destroying more of our canopy, all to allegedly solve the problem created by a foolhardy plan. This make-work public works project, to benefit special interests, at the general public's expense, including at bicyclists expense, would degrade our circulation element to much slower than 30 MPH. Vehicles must slow to 15 MPH through roundabouts, but inevitably would be slowed to a STOP, during peak periods, going through roundabout after roundabout after roundabout after roundabout, after roundabout.

      Bicyclists going northbound and southbound, would have to funnel through one lane with all northbound/southbound motor vehicle traffic. That's another reason why the streetscape should be redesigned, without narrow, three-way intersection roundabouts, with no through-way cross-streets, but with a SEPARATED bike/ped lane in the NCTD right of way, on the west side of the tracks, beginning at El Portal, where the next RR bike/ped crossing is being funded through a grant awarded in the amount of $4.6 million.

      Cardiff already has a bike/ped lane separated from the highway, on the west side of 101, which is well-traveled, and much appreciated. It also already has a so-called "lane diet," lane elimination, on Highway 101, which was installed without following proper protocol, without a required LCP amendment.

      Our City's Bicycle Masterplan does address a railtrail corridor lane all the way to Oceanside. The next segment should be through Leucadia, not in Cardiff, because it would be redundant, there.

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    6. Destroy the canopy?? There is no canopy!!

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  13. Regarding a need for more bars in downtown Encinitas. "It's no surprise drinking alcohol leads to sexual behavior, and even makes us sexually fluid, and less inhibited. Alcohol's influence on specific brain circuits has led us to feel euphoric and less anxious. It makes us more empathetic and leads us to see other people as more attractive. Alcohol may allow us to freely express our sexual side, without judgment or reservations. We need more young adults making babies so let's promote their hook-ups, some of which will lead to marriage and child-rearing and it is exactly those kids we need to pay for our socialist-style retirement benefits for our lifeguards, fire fighters and city employees. More bars, more kids, more tax revenue!

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    Replies
    1. So close.

      When quoting, it's customary to close the quote with a second set of quotation marks so the reader can separate your personal voice from that of the person being quoted.

      Also, if you are going to quote, it's expected that a citation be attached to the quote identifying the source. In this case, it's impossible to tell if you are quoting Donald Duck, Ron Burgundy, or that other voice in your head.

      In any event, other than a glass of wine and sex, anything else you'd like to ban? Sunsets, perhaps?

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    2. Someone doesn't like the facts about the Coastal Trail and wants to change the subject.

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    3. No, we don't need more young adults making babies.

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  14. 1893 was the year the World Fair was in Chicago. To out do Mr. Eiffel's contribution to the previous Worlds Fair (you know, that tower), Mr. Ferris took it upon himself (and several investors) to build the largest Ferris Wheel ever seen. It was so large that the cars he used for the people to ride in were actual train cars!! Recognizing that most sane people would not ride this huge wheel, let alone pay to ride in one, he included a bar in each car, and a free shot of whiskey to all riders. Yup! Liquid courage. The Ferris Wheel raked in $726,805.50 during the Expo - adjusted for inflation, that amounts to $18,288,894.91. Not a bad use of liquid courage!!!

    (and no...there were no babies conceived on any of these rides....)

    - The Sculpin

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  15. 5:23-

    your such an idiot.

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  16. When you have nothing. Attack spelling and grammar.

    Thanks grandma.

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    Replies
    1. When you want the wreck the credibility of what you post, use bad grammar, spelling and punctuation.

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    2. 11:38,

      Is calling someone an idiot a substantive response to an argument?

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    3. Ageism is always an endearing quality too, don't you think?

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  17. Valid points by the "anti-limousine liberal" above. Increasing 'hot food' handouts and 'free fruit' will only bring more vagrants to some of the most expensive land land in the world. Much more affordable to be homeless in Detroit or Green Bay, coastal San Diego, no so much. It's so sad that so many homeless do have dangerous metnal illnesses. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 40 to 55% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6% of Americans are severely mentally ill. Big bummer.

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    1. Blakespear is vulnerable to these types of analyses by 9:44 AM, as she is in the public sector. Her qualifications for office are reflected in such observations, even though some may object to the seemingly judgmental style of presentation.

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  18. Censorship filled with hate is worthy of being taken down every damn time, when it comes from this despicable character down in SD.

    No wa wa ing.

    It is a call for simple human decency to prevail here in Encinitas on our local blog where Thomas Roger Ogden repeatedly posts his anti semitic, homophobic, anti immigrant, anti American hate speech rants.

    We are better off without Thomas Roger Ogdens crap showing up here in Encinitas, more than the time it takes for WC to delete him. He has nothing to do with our community or our values.

    WC take this trash out please.

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    Replies
    1. Pandering to the censorship crowd - so much for free speech.

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    2. There's free speech and there's hate speech, but I suspect you find them one and the same, 2:21.

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  19. 2:21pm You obviously support Thomas Roger Ogdens sick view of the world where hate and intolerance reign supreme. This community does not.

    Too bad for you. His postings here on our local blog are an assault of this community's senses and should be sent to the trash heap every time he posts his hate filled diatribes on our local blog.

    This is not about free speech. It is about a sick mindset that has nothing to do with our community's values.

    If you defend such espoused hate, you are part of the problem. His hate does not belong here or on this blog, without us calling bs on him every time. It is all of ours duty to label him when he invades our local blog.

    We should continue to tell him where to go every time he posts his sickness here on our blog.

    WC you are appreciated. Thanks for your attentiveness.

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