CITY COUNCIL: Resolution Amending Del Mar Master Plan to include Pedestrian Pathway

Meeting Date: 1 September 2009
Prepared by: Sean Conroy, Plng & Bldg Services Manager

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution amending the Del Mar Master Plan to include a pedestrian pathway along the west side of San Antonio Avenue from Ocean Avenue to the Pebble Beach Gate and a beach access staircase at the north end of the beach.
Description: The Del Mar Master Plan encompasses the Del Mar parking lot, located at the foot of Ocean Avenue, the Del Mar Dunes, located between the parking lot and 8th Avenue, and the North Dunes, which encompasses the area north of the parking lot to the City line.

The proposed amendments will create a pedestrian path from the Pebble Beach Gate to
Ocean Avenue along San Antonio Avenue. A staircase also is proposed near the north
end of the beach bluff to provide direct beach access.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A
Grant Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Adopt the Resolution.

Important Considerations: Goal 4-2 of the General Plan encourages the City to develop a master plan for the Del Mar and North Dunes area. The proposed amendments will improve pedestrian access to and along the Master Plan area and will improve pedestrian safety along San Antonio Avenue.

Decision Record: The Forest and Beach Commission recommended adoption of the plan on 4 September 2008 and the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the Plan on 20
May 2009. The City Council adopted the Plan on 2 June 2009.

Reviewed by:

__________________________ _____________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: SEAN CONROY, PLNG & BLDG SERVICES MNGR
DATE: 1 SEPTEMBER 2009
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING
THE DEL MAR MASTER PLAN TO INCLUDE A
PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY ALONG THE WEST SIDE
OF SAN ANTONIO AVENUE FROM OCEAN AVENUE
TO THE PEBBLE BEACH GATE AND A BEACH
ACCESS STAIRCASE AT THE NORTH END OF THE
BEACH
BACKGROUND & PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City Council approved the Del Mar Master Plan on 2 June 2009. The Plan
addresses improvements to the Del Mar parking area, dune restoration efforts, and
access improvements in the Del Mar and North Dunes.
The City has had discussions recently with the Pebble Beach Company about
installing a pedestrian path along the west side of San Antonio Avenue from the
Pebble Beach Gate to Ocean Avenue. The proposed amendments also include
reconstructing and improving an old staircase from the beach bluff to the beach at
the northern end of the beach along with additional polices and objectives from the
General Plan related to access, dune restoration and drainage. The plan does not
address any path improvements along the Del Mar Dunes.
EVALUATION
Access: A principal objective of both the California Coastal Act and the Del Mar
Master Plan is providing public access to and along the coast. Pedestrian access
along San Antonio Avenue from Ocean Avenue to the Pebble Beach Gate is
extremely limited and hazardous. The rights-of-way along the street are narrow,
leaving little room for pedestrians. The proposed pathway will significantly
improve pedestrian access along this corridor.
88
Besides improving access along San Antonio Avenue, the pathway will link the
newly constructed Fourth Avenue Pathway and the Jane Powers Walkway. These
paths now lead to San Antonio Avenue with no safe route to the beach. The
proposed pathway will significantly improve pedestrian safety coming from
Fourth Avenue and/or the Jane Powers Walkway.
The amended plan proposes to reconstruct and improve a staircase from the beach
bluff down to the beach near the northern end of the beach. There was a wood
staircase at in this location years ago, but it has not been maintained for some
time. The proposed staircase will allow pedestrians to enter the dunes through the
existing beach access trail on the north side of the Sand and Sea Development and
walk through the dunes and down to the beach at the proposed staircase. These
changes are shown in underline on page six of the plan and on figure three at the
end of the plan.
The proposed changes will significantly improve the pedestrian experience and
provide additional opportunities for public access and recreation.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the attached Resolution.
89
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2009-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
AMENDING THE DEL MAR MASTER PLAN TO INCLUDE A PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY
ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AVENUE BETWEEN
OCEAN AVENUE AND THE PEBBLE BEACH GATE AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A
BEACH ACCESS STAIRCASE AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE BEACH
WHEREAS, The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is a unique oceanside community that prides itself
in its beach and community character; and
WHEREAS, the City has adopted a General Plan that provides clear goals, policies and
objectives regarding maintaining and improving the City’s beach and beach front properties; and
WHEREAS, General Plan Goal G4-2 encourages the City to develop a Master Plan for the Del
Mar and North Dunes area; and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan seeks to improve parking, circulation, pedestrian access, dune
habitat and aesthetics in the Del Mar and North Dunes areas; and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan was adopted on 2 June 2009 by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments will improve pedestrian circulation, safety and beach
access.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA does hereby:
Adopt the attached amendments to the Del Mar Master Plan.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BYTHE-
SEA this 1st day of September 2009 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

ATTEST: SIGNED,
____________________ ________________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR