Shores Association OKs street pipeline replacements

By Ashley Mackin

Three presentations dominated the Feb. 13 La Jolla Shores Association meeting: upcoming pipeline replacements, parking near UCSD and an update from District 1 Councilmember Sherri Lightner’s office.

Pipeline replacements

Formerly two separate projects — the Avenida De La Playa Infrastructure Replacement and Sewer and Water Group Project 809 —

were bundled to be one project with one contractor, per an 8-0-1 Shores Association vote.

Several streets in the Shores neighborhood to the north and east of the Beach and Bay Tennis Club will have sewer, water and storm drain pipes replaced, said Project Manager Akram Bassyouni. He said the city has been meeting with merchants, advisory committees and planning groups to finalize the details.

Pending approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (the final approval required), construction will begin in September and last for 12 to 14 months, with a pause in the summer moratorium from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

It was recommended that work crews not park directly in front of businesses to allow more spots for residents and visitors. For the larger streets, one lane will remain open to traffic at all times. When Avenida De La Playa is under construction, it will be closed one block at a time and the last two blocks will be closed off and detours will be provided.

Board member Terry Winn-Kraszewski commented, “That was something we stressed ... that no businesses would be impacted and no street would be completely closed, there will always be traffic.”

For many of these pipes, the San Diego Public Works Department is implementing a trenchless system, which is typically less expensive and means less construction workers. But Bassyouni said “trenchless” does not mean no trenches whatsoever, as some pipes need to be completely replaced.

Public works information officer Bill Harris explained the trenchless system. He said for pipes that still have some integrity and minor thinning of the seams, “You can insert what amounts to a balloon and ... there is an adhesive and sealant that goes around it and you inflate in place,” he said. “It offers a way to keep the pipe integrity and builds a strong extra layer and it opens that pipe up and you get more life out of it without having to get into the ground along the entire length of the pipe.”

Harris said in using this method, the street opening would be much smaller than traditional construction and add 50 years to the life of the pipe.

Board member Mary Coakley-Munk said, “The city really has made a huge effort to work with the community and the merchants on this project ... we hope that it will go smoothly.”

Parking near UCSD

UC San Diego spokesperson Anu Delouri provided an update on the developing $35 million Venter Institute (at Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Village Drive) which should be completed in October.

Though the complex will have underground parking, the board was unhappy with its entry and exit being on Torrey Pines Road.

Calling this proposal “suicidal” and “unworkable,” board member Janie Emerson said, “There was a huge discussion here and (we) said that that was not acceptable and they needed to enter off of (Downwind Way) ... and they changed it after they made the agreement with us.”

To the traffic study conducted by the city that Delouri was ready to reference, Emerson said, “that doesn’t mean squat.”

Other parking matters

Board member John Kassar said the Community Planning Association (CPA) was going to discuss a proposal to make Glenwick Place and Glenwick Lane a two- hour parking zone.

The Traffic and Transportation Board approved the proposal in January, but a group of students opposing the project went to the CPA, which agreed to address the proposal in coming months.

Updates from District 1

Erin Demorest, representative for Councilmember Sherri Lightner’s office said a revised Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Hillel project is being circulated, with comments due March 11.

She also said Lightner is working with engineers to find a good place for new showers at the Shores. One of the hurdles is finding a place where a roof could be installed without disrupting the view. A roof is required to facilitate rain going into the storm drain and not the sewer system. The city requires this because it would waste too much energy to pump rainwater with sewer water.

Next agenda

The La Jolla Shores Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at Martin Johnson House at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography for the election of new officers. For more information, visit

ljsa.org