CITY COUNCIL: Receive Report & Provide Direction on a Proposal to Make Scenic Road a Oneway Street from Santa Lucia Avenue to Carmel River State Beach

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Meeting Date: 6 December 2011
Prepared by: Sean Conroy, Plng & Bldg Services Manager

Name: Receive a report and provide policy direction on a proposal to make Scenic Road a oneway street from Santa Lucia Avenue to Carmel River State Beach.

Description: Monterey County is proposing to make Scenic Road a one-way street from Martin Way to Carmel River State Beach. The purpose of this item is to discuss whether the City is supportive of the County's efforts and to determine if the City should include Scenic Drive from Santa Lucia A venue to Martin Way in the proposal.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Provide policy direction.

Important Considerations: Scenic Road is a one-way street from Eighth Avenue to Santa Lucia Avenue. Scenic Road then becomes a two-way street as it runs south to Carmel River State Beach. The City owns and maintains Scenic Road from Santa Lucia Avenue to Martin Way. The remainder of the Scenic Road is owned and maintained by Monterey County.

Decision Record: N/A

Reviewed by:

Jason Stilwell, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SEAN CONROY, PLANNING & BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER
THROUGH: JASON STILWELL, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: 6 DECEMBER 2011
SUBJECT: RECEIVE A REPORT AND PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION ON A PROPOSAL TO MAKE SCENIC ROAD ONE WAY FROM SANTA LUCIA AVENUE TO CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH

BACKGROUND
Scenic Road is a one-way street from Eighth Avenue to Santa Lucia Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Scenic Road then becomes a two-way street as it runs south to Carmel River State Beach. The City owns and maintains Scenic Road from Santa Lucia Avenue to the Frank Lloyd Wright house, just past Martin Way. The remainder of Scenic Road is owned and maintained by Monterey County.

Monterey County is proposing to make Scenic Road a one-way street from Martin Way to Carmel River State Beach. The purpose of this item is for the Council to provide policy direction on whether it is supportive of the County’s efforts and also to consider whether the City should include its portion of Scenic Road in the proposal.

PROCESS
The County intends to hold a public workshop with residents of the area to discuss the proposal and to address comments and concerns. The City has been invited to be a sponsor of this workshop.

Once the County has developed a final proposal, an administrative permit would be approved by the County Zoning Administrator. This decision would be appealable to, and/or by, the Coastal Commission. If the City determined to make its section one-way, a similar permit could be issued administratively. Staff notes that the City does not need to act concurrently with the County. The City could act independently at any point in the future to make its portion of Scenic one-way.

EVALUATION
The County’s Public Works Department, which includes two traffic engineers,
recommends making Scenic Road a one-way street, including the City’s portion of
Scenic Road, for the following reasons:
• Parts of the existing Scenic Road are too narrow for two-way vehicle traffic.
• A one-way design would better accommodate walkers, joggers, bikers, etc.
46
Scenic One-Way
6 December 2011
Staff Report
Page 2
• Sharp, blind corners create a safety concern that could be removed with one-way
traffic by avoiding oncoming traffic.
• The proposal would create a consistent flow for vehicles traveling from Eighth
Avenue south to Carmel River State Beach.
• Leaving one block (Santa Lucia to Martin Way) for two-way travel would create
confusion for motorists.
• A one-way design would reduce the potential need for bluff armoring by having
less width that needs to be maintained.
Staff concurs with the County’s reasons for making Scenic one-way. In addition,
vehicles traveling south on Scenic Road often enter the one-way section at Santa Lucia
Avenue going the wrong direction despite the no entry signs that are posted. Making all
of Scenic Road one-way would alleviate this tendency.
Staff, however, also notes some of the potential drawbacks that should be considered,
including reduced options for access for residential properties on Scenic Road, although
only the Frank Lloyd Wright House is located within the City limits, and the potential
traffic increases on adjacent residential streets.
Staff recommends that the City join in sponsoring the County’s public workshop to
receive more public input on this issue prior to making a final determination.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide policy direction to staff.
47
48 MONTEREY COUNTY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Paul H. Greenway, P.E., Acting Director
November 3, 2011
MR. JASON STILLWELL, CITY MANAGER
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA CITY HALL
P.O.BOXCC
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA 93921
SUBJECT: SCENIC ROAD PROPOSED ONE-WAY TRAFFIC
Dear Mr. Stillwell:
168 West Alisal Street, 2nd Floor
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 755-4800
Fax: (831) 755-4958
www.co.monterey.ca. us
The County of Monterey has received a request to change vehicular travel to one-way on Scenic Road
from the Carmel-by-the-Sea City Limits just southwest of Martin Way to Carmelo Street (entrance to
Carmel River State Beach).
The Department has identified the following benefits of one-way travel:
• Improves the narrow roadway and difficult turning problem at the hairpin tum at Carmel Point
• Enhances safety for pedestrians, their pets, and joggers are using the roadway
• Reduces conflicts between north and southbound traffic for all roadway users to help calm
traffic and make Scenic Road travel more enjoyable
• Matches the one-way travel on Scenic Road which currently exists in Carmel-by-the-Sea for
most of its length
• Keeps traffic away from the roadway edge on the ocean side where cliff stability problems
may exist.
A community meeting for Carmel Point area residents is in the planning stages. It is noted that some
concerns have been expressed regarding increased traffic on alternative northbound routes. The County
would like to work with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to address any comments or concerns on the
proposal prior to holding a community meeting. The County also requests the City provide written
comments on the proposal and identify any concerns such as number of guide signs, limits of one-way
and two direction travel on Scenic Road.
Please contact me at (831) 755-4800 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

PAUL H.GREENWAY, P.E.
ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
PG/NT/vf

Enclosures: Aerial Map; Map of Scenic Rd. in Carmel-By-The-Sea & County
cc: Supervisor Dave Potter; Mayor Sue McCloud; Councilmembers Paula Hazdovac, Jason Burnett, Karen Sharp, and Ken Talmage