Coronado City Council Approves Bike Master Plan, Votes to Develop New Guidelines for Historical Designation

The took action on Tuesday to make life in Coronado a little easier for cyclists, pedestrians, and buyers of old homes.

The was approved.

Mayor Casey Tanaka did caution that, while the council had adopted the plan, it had not accepted everything in it. “I am happy with what we have done. Some of the proposals excite me, but others scare me.” 

He demurred when Councilwoman Barbara Denny teasingly asked him to be specific.

The vote was unanimous. However, Councilman Al Ovrom objected to the idea of putting bike paths on major thoroughfares. He feared that doing so would force vehicle traffic onto side streets and into neighborhoods.

“Cars are not going to go away,” he said. “We just are going to push them somewhere else.”

Councilman Mike Woiwode countered and said, “The routes were chosen for good reason.” 

“People already ride their bikes on Ocean. The signage will let drivers know to expect cyclists,” he added. 

While the Master Plan was adopted, the council decided not to establish a body to advise the council on its implementation at this time. It wanted more direction from staff as to the type of organization that would be the most useful.

On another traffic issue, the council voted to construct bulb outs at the intersections of Third Street and F Avenue, Third Street and H Avenue, and Fourth Street and B Avenue. Also know as curb extensions, bulb outs extend sidewalks and allow pedestrians and other vehicles crossing to see oncoming traffic more easily.

The $2.1 million cost will be shared by the city, Caltrans and SANDAG, with each contributing $700,000. While Coronado has agreements with Caltrans and SANDAG to pay their share, it is unclear what form those payments will take. The agencies may pay in-kind or take several years to pay. The city will use toll money to pay its share.

The vote was 4 to 1 in favor of the bulb outs. Denny objected, arguing that the project was “not the best use of toll money.”

On historical housing designation, the council found common ground. It voted unanimously to develop new design guidelines specific to Coronado’s existing criteria, using the National Register bulletins as a guide.

Many cities, including San Diego, already use it for selecting historically important homes. The council also expressed a strong belief that the Historic Resources Commission and the Coronado Historical Association be involved in the process of crafting a new policy.  

The policy changes came at the request of Councilwoman Carrie Downey, who wanted more clarity in the city's policy. 

In a letter to the council supporting Downey's efforts, Cara Clancy spoke of her own frustrations in having a home she and her husband purchased to renovate. The home was "involuntarily designated historic" because of "ambiguities in the process,” she said.

"The process is flawed to the point that even when one party wins, neither feels good about what transpired," Clancy added.

Finally, retired business executive Harold DeNardi was appointed to the Planning Commission.