Politics & Government

Adding Sidewalks Will Be Difficult, Costly

The San Clemente City Council Tuesday adopted a plan to install sidewalks throughout the older parts of town.

No easy or cheap solution exists for adding and improving sidewalks in San Clemente's older part of town, city officials said Tuesday.

The San Clemente City Council voted to adopt a general policy on installing sidewalk projects and requiring residents to do so in front of their homes, as well as a priority list of a number of different specific projects slated for installation around town. Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut presented the draft plan to council.

Unlike more recently built communities like Talega, sidewalks in San Clemente proper are -- where they exist at all -- only haphazardly in compliance with regulations and are pocked with randomly designed driveway egresses. In some places, the curb is an inch higher than the sidewalk bed, presenting a trip hazard.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A high priority on the council's list is installing a sidewalk in Palizada eastbound from Miramar to Ola Vista, at a projected cost of $230,000.

"That community has been patient, and the sidewalks are a disaster," said Councilwoman Lori Donchak in her bid to make the Palizada project a high priority.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Others proposed for this fiscal year include Calle Seville northbound from Palizada to Cabrillo with an $85,000 price tag and La Paloma northbound from West Mariposa to Calle Puente at $90,000.

In total, council voted to at least start the ball rolling on seven projects totalling a projected $1 million.

The council's general policy toward sidewalk installation includes provisions requiring property owners to install a sidewalk in front of their buildings if they do $50,000 or more in improvements to it, provided they have adequate right-of-way and the installation doesn't require a retaining wall of more than 2 feet high.

The plan also outlined the city policy for getting the sidewalks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; removing obstacles, widening where necessary and getting curb cuts at crossings into shape.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here