According to local planners, summer is a time for surf, sun, sand and the resulting tourists with disposable income – not road rage from torn-up asphalt, annoying roadblocks and detours on the community’s best-known street. As a result, the Ocean Beach Planning Group denied a city request to work all summer long to replace or repair nearly two miles of sewer lines in a $4 million project that involves Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Hoping to make up 47 days of delay so far because of bad weather and inaccurate maps, the city made the request March 2 at the planning board’s monthly meeting. Though the board has only advisory powers, the city had agreed to abide by the planners’ decision, said Sarah Chavez, the city’s construction engineer for the project. By a 7-4 vote, the board said construction on Sunset Cliffs during the summer would be too disruptive, especially to businesses that rely heavily on tourism. The board agreed to let the city finish working on pipes along Cable Street from West Point Loma Boulevard to Del Mar Avenue, but stop after the project turns one block east to Sunset Cliffs. Barring further delays, construction will continue through early August — several weeks past the annual construction moratorium that begins Memorial Day weekend. The final part of the project — replacing pipes along four blocks of Sunset Cliffs between Del Mar and Point Loma avenues — won’t begin until after Labor Day and should be complete by Christmas, according to city officials. The board was persuaded by the arguments of merchants. Among them was Gary McKany, who manages Point Loma Gas and Market, who said he’s trying to rebound from a bad economy and a disappointing summer of 2010. “We had a terrible summer last year,” McKany said. “I can’t afford another bad summer.” Gavin Fleming, who manages the Inn at Sunset Cliffs, agreed. “It simply comes down to timing,” Fleming said. “Summer is my busiest season. People will turn around as soon as they see construction and not come here. Do it off season.” If the city were to be allowed to work all summer, construction would likely be complete by Sept. 12, Chavez said. It also would save the trouble of moving six heavy-equipment vehicles in and out of the area, and pipes currently stored at Robb Field could be removed earlier, she said. In the end, however, board members wanted to leave the community’s highest-profile street unmolested. “Sunset Cliffs is the elephant in the room,” said board member Bill Bushe. “It can’t be shut down in the summer.” Chavez said money available in a contingency fund would cover the delays. She said besides bouts with inclement weather, delays have been caused by bad maps that did not show water mains or showed them at wrong elevations. In other planning board news: • Stan Smith, a former member of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, said a former officer’s quarters at the old Naval Training Center (now Liberty Station) might make a dandy home for the Ocean Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars — and satisfy concerns of citizens worried about a proposed move to Point Loma Avenue. Smith said four 1920s-era buildings on Rosecrans Street are available. “I’m all in favor of them staying in OB, but (it’s a) viable alternative,” he said. • Michael Patton introduced himself as the new Ocean Beach/Point Loma representative for District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer. Patton had left after an internship with Faulconer’s office and was recruited to return. He replaces Thyme Curtis, and can be reached at [email protected] or (619) 236-6662.