An ever-evolving plan to create new parking in La Jolla Shores has evolved again, with the latest iteration proposing adding spaces along Camino del Oro next to the Kellogg Park parking lot.
The idea was presented to the La Jolla Shores Association during its April 10 meeting.
The need for a parking plan came about as part of an ongoing effort to comply with new California Coastal Commission regulations requiring establishments closest to the beach to replace any public parking spaces they take for dining areas on the street. The new spaces must match the number lost and must be within 1,200 feet (about a quarter-mile) of the lost spaces.
The San Diego City Council consented to the regulations last year.
Replacing 24 parking spaces in La Jolla Shores is considered necessary to retain the outdoor dining on Avenida de la Playa between El Paseo Grande and Calle de la Plata. The program was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and involves several restaurants.
Volunteer and Shores business owner Darren Moore said the current parking proposal involves removing a berm of vegetation next to the Kellogg Park lot, building a sidewalk on Camino del Oro and creating parking places on the street. The parking lot would be unchanged, but the new parking would “live within” the existing parking, Moore said.
The berm contains sand, dirt, palm trees and rocks and is considered wide enough to accommodate cars if they are parked parallel and long enough to fit in enough spaces to meet the requirements.
An initial proposal presented in November by the La Jolla Shores Business Association would pave and stripe permitted parking spaces in two areas where people often already park: a frontage road south of Paseo Dorado and the public right of way west of the frontage road that runs south from Avenida de la Playa to Paseo Dorado.
After that plan brought strenuous objections from nearby residents concerned about safety, traffic and quality of life, an LJSA committee set out to gather additional information and .
In January, alternative options were presented to convert 19 parallel parking spaces along Camino del Oro to 24 diagonal spots, or to install 24 spaces at the south end of Kellogg Park near Vallecitos and Camino del Oro on what is now a green strip of land.
LJSA President Janie Emerson said the committee forwarded all the previously discussed ideas to the city for consideration.
“The city sent [the current] suggestion back to us,” she said. “They felt this was the best way to add parking and not impact residences … and the integrity of the park and the parking lot.”
However, reaction to the proposal was mixed at the April 10 meeting.
Resident Tricia Rhia said she “can’t get my arms around this,” given the loss of vegetation.
On the other hand, LJSA board member Karen Marshall called it “a great plan” and said “I am happy and grateful.”
Board member Mary Coakley Munk requested a rendering to provide a better perspective of the proposal. But Moore said that without official approval from the city, it would be difficult to have accurate renderings.
Others agreed with Coakley Munk and said the board should not take action until the city produces a drawing.
“I’m not opposed to it at all,” Coakley Munk said. “I think it makes sense, but I think neighbors should be notified as to what is being proposed.”
Emerson agreed to ask the city for more details, and LJSA will revisit the proposal at a future meeting.
Other LJSA news
Swearing-in and new president: Following the most recent board election in March, Marshall, Coakley Munk, John Shannon, John Pierce and Terry Kraszewski were sworn in at this week’s meeting. The board also chose a slate of officers for the next year.
Pierce will serve as president, Cindy Goodman will be first vice president, Kathleen Neil second vice president, Claudia Baranowski secretary and Kraszewski treasurer.
Emerson is termed out of the board, and several people at the meeting praised her for her efforts as president. Among them was Steve Hadley, former La Jolla field representative for City Councilman Joe LaCava.
Comparing Emerson to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Hadley said: “You have not been called to defend La Jolla Shores from invading armies and flights overhead, but your work, your courage, your persistence, tenacity, respect and decency … have commanded the attention and cooperation of city staff for The Shores like no other leader in La Jolla could have done.”
Next meeting: The La Jolla Shores Association next meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, online. Learn more at lajollashoresassociation.org. ◆
