Final approval of the ongoing Midway Plan update has been delayed due to traffic, congestion and infrastructure concerns in the largely industrial/commercial area.
The Midway/Pacific Highway Corridor between Old Town and Point Loma has an urbanized commercial core containing numerous shopping centers. The corridor contains some of the city’s oldest industrial areas, defined by large-scale buildings and unscreened commercial parking lots. There is significant warehouse space, as well as some residential, mostly in the corridor’s fringes.
A handful of neighbors in nearby Point Loma turned out June 20 at Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning Group’s monthly meeting, to protest a proposal in the group’s plan update, which calls for the addition of 9,650 new residential dwelling units to the existing 1,935 units in the area, totaling 11,585 dwelling units at full build-out in 30 years.
Council aide Bruce Williams told the group District 2 Councilmember Lorie Zapf is “concerned about what the future traffic situation would be with the build-out of the proposed plan due to traffic in Midway, and access to I-5 and I-8.”
“Those aren’t going to be built overnight,” said plan group chair Cathy Kenton, adding she was concerned that “we’re seeking short-term solutions today for long-term needs. We’re trying to find a solution to make [traffic] better.”
“Why not do the infrastructure first, then add the people?” asked an audience member, adding, “You can’t shove this down people’s throats.”
“Nobody is saying we’re adding the people today,” replied Kenton. “There isn’t enough funding for (new) infrastructure.”
City planner Vickie White noted the plan update “has been a community-driven process” in collaboration with the city to present a plan that provides mitigation for traffic increases with rising residential population.
From the audience, cycling advocate Nicole Burgess said: “When you’re looking at the future of traffic congestion, you have to think outside the box, come up with more creative alternatives, other than building more highways, to deal with congestion. You need to transform the community with more walking- and biking-friendly alternatives, so you won’t get as much pass-through traffic.” In other action:
• Bruce Williams has returned as community liaison between Midway and the District 2 City Council office. Burgess, District 2’s rep in the City of San Diego’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, advocated removal of 20 parking spaces on Sports Arena Boulevard to make the busy thoroughfare safer for bicyclists. “Bicyclists have to share the lane with cars going 40 mph,” said Burgess. Board member Judy Holiday, a resident of The Orchard on Hancock Street, opposed Burgess’s suggestion. She noted the surrounding area is “severely lacking in parking, we don’t have enough.” Holiday pointed out each and every available paring space is valuable. Following a back-and-forth debate, the group voted 5-4 in favor of writing a letter advocating the removal of the parking spaces on Sports Arena Boulevard to accommodate an existing Class 2 painted bike lane there.
