DEL MAR, Calif. — The Del Mar City Council is asking the California Coastal Commission to intervene in plans to build a seawall along the Del Mar Bluffs to prevent erosion that threatens the rail line between San Diego and Orange County.
The San Diego Union Tribune reports the city council will send a representative to today’s coastal commission meeting, at which the San Diego Association of Governments — the regional planning agency that is parent of the North County Transit District, which owns the rail line — will present its plan for more than 2,500 feet of seawall, stabilizing pilings, and other improvements on a 1.6-mile segment of the bluffs. The city wants the improvements made more slowly to reduce their environmental impact.
“We have grave concerns about the effects of extensive seawalls on the Del Mar beach below the bluff,” council member Terry Gaasterland told the newspaper.
This would be the fifth phase of the bluffs stabilization project, expected to cost about $68 million, and is designed to protect the rail line for 30 or more years, and Long-term goals are to move the rail line inland.
Concerns over the NCTD’s ability to carry out its stabilization project, along its longstanding desire to build a safety fence to deter trespassers on the track, led the transit agency to seek a Surface Transportation Board insuring it had control over the projects in 2020. After several delays while the transit district, coastal commission, and Del Mar attempted to negotiate an agreement, the transit district asked the STB to act earlier this year [see “Transit agency to move ahead …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 10, 2022]. The matter is still pending.
From the looks in the photo I would love someone to build a retaining wall that would also be helpful to hold up my house for free. I’d bet that home owner would like it to but is being out voted.
Mother nature does not wait. These delays may be very detrimental to everyone. If a big storm comes along before this mitigation is complete what then? The tracks and homes could all be washed away.
The Del Mar bluffs is a classic example of NIMBYs using the planning process as the means to delay and hopefully exhaust and bankrupt the developers and those they perceive as ruining their Paradise. And along the California Coast (since 1972) they get two chances, as the Coastal Commission essentially duplicates the local planning, environmental review and approval process.
Since the sea wall is necessary to maintain and protect inter-state commerce, I suspect federal law and/or the STB will, after litigation, supersede the Coastal Commission. But then they’ll complain how much it cost!
This is why nothing gets expediently done in this country. Look at Brightline West article. That project has been in the works for 15 years. Now Brightline will be ready to start construction by year-end. It only took them 3 years. If anything is going to get done, then the red tape has to be removed or decreased. Those who seek to stall projects have to assume the liability for their stalling actions as Mr. Richards proposes above.
Nathaniel’s idea has great merit and should be made in fact by the STB.
Am I to assume that Del Mar is willing to take liability for any service outage or incidents resulting from washouts or sinkholes along this line? It seems only fair then for them to establish an insurance policy and predetermine hourly cost if tracks have to be removed from service. Only after the safety issues have been addressed should their “concerns” about environmental issues be addressed.
^^^
TROLL
1a. Noun One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.
1b. Noun A person who, on a message forum of some type, attacks and flames other members of the forum for any of a number of reasons such as rank, previous disagreements, sex, status, etc.
Trivia question: What’s the longest-lasting US Flag? Answer: 50-stars, 62 years and counting.
What’s the shortest-lasting? 49 stars, a few months in 1960.
Time for the 49-star flag to be resurrected. California should leave USA and merge with Red China or North Korea. Wouldn’t be missed by the rest of us. California is a disgrace, and I’m being kind.
Okay, I get you point tongue in cheek. But, hey , yesterday the voters here in one part of CA actually voted contrary to their recent collective beliefs. So, hopefully, things were actually perceived as “so bad” that most Californians, myself included, will want to remain part of this Union of 50 states,
Oh, all of the talk of CA seceding from the Union ended two years ago.