City revisits sidewalk talks

A long-standing plan to install sidewalks on Broadway in Costa Mesa is moving forward, though at least one resident is considering a lawsuit to prevent the controversial measure.

The construction, which would span from Raymond to Irvine avenues, may result in the removal of several mature trees from neighborhood lawns. As such, the city has restarted its outreach efforts with neighborhood residents, hoping to develop plans that are mutually agreeable to all affected.

“Council essentially told us to go ahead and prepare the sidewalks, while trying to minimize the impact on the public right-of-way,” City Engineer Ernesto Munoz said. “If there are trees that need to be removed, we contact them to see if they want to grant an easement so we can meander the sidewalk around the tree, or have it removed altogether.”

City staff will use the results of these meetings to draft design plans they hope to advertise sometime later this year, Munoz said.

But, he added, if property owners fail to meet with the city and grant appropriate easements, the project will continue without residents’ input.

Such plans have left Rosalyn Reich — who lives on Raymond and Broadway — with a sour taste for the proposal.

“There’s a light pole on the property, so they need to go around that,” she said. “Since they need to create handicapped access at the corners, there’s going to be a large sea of concrete all on the side of my house, too.”

Reich said her corner property will be particularly harmed by the proposed construction — destroying a fence, tree and rose garden to which she has attended for years.

“It’s pretty awful,” she said. “I just feel like it’s crazy.”

Feeling alienated from the city political process — and noting that petitioning the City Council has failed to stop the construction — Reich said she had no choice but to consider contacting a lawyer to determine her rights.

“I think I have to do that,” she said, adding she wouldn’t “shy away” from a lawsuit, if necessary. “I have a really nice corner property, and when they get through with it, it’s going to look like a little patch.”

Her neighbor Greg Montgomery said he thought Reich had a number of legitimate complaints, but supported the development of the sidewalk.

“When we walk my granddaughter to school in the morning, we have to cross over to Magnolia Street for their sidewalk,” he said. “With all the cars whizzing by at 40, 50 mph, you really feel pretty exposed out there.”

He added that he does not allow his granddaughter to ride her bike near the street, for fear of her safety.

The proposed sidewalk would not be the first measure the city has taken to enhance public safety along Broadway, a road that residents frequently complain has a chronic speeding problem.

Extra speed limit signs, speed humps, bike lanes, stop signs and special “Slow Down, you are entering a residential neighborhood!” signs have all been installed on the problematic thoroughfare.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.