Village parking survey shows inconsistencies

April 10, 2009

8:30 AM

Report: Some spaces not functional
When Orrin Gabsch reviewed the findings from the in-depth parking inventory he and others did in the Village, he said he was “dumbfounded” by what they uncovered.

In a report to the Community Planning Association last week, he said surveyors found parking spaces no longer functional or spots where the function was duplicated.

“There are both white and yellow curbs for commercial loading,” he noted, adding that those zones are also designated for the entire day, when they are only used during mornings.

Gabsch, a CPA board member, said there’s the potential to free up 80 spaces.

“At a minimum of $25,000 a space for parking, this is a significant find for us,” he said.

Ed Ward, who participated in the “rainbow curb” inventory, agreed that existing curb designations are outdated and need to be revised.

“White curb passenger loading and unloading are vacant all day long,” he said. “There are three parking spaces right across from the post office that are used on Sunday mornings only.”

Ward contends that the parking inventory even uncovered illegal color-coded curb parking.

“People have been painting curbs green or red on their own,” he alleged. “You can tell because it’s not city paint.”

Gabsch added that there are other examples of color-coded curb zones in town that no longer serve any useful purpose.

“There are three bus stops on Girard that are not even on the bus schedule or map,” he noted.

Swearing in
In other CPA business, six new board members were sworn in and officers were elected, and the scale of a single-family home proposed to be rebuilt in La Jolla Shores was debated.

First District Councilwoman Sherri Lightner administered the oath of office to Tom Brady, Greg Salmon, Michele Addington, Dan Courtney, Nancy A. Manno and Phil Merten, who were elected March 6.

Joe LaCava was re-elected president of the advisory group, which makes recommendations to the city on land-use issues. Tony Crisafi is the new vice president, Nancy Manno was named secretary and Jim Fitzgerald is treasurer.

With the new members in their seats, they took on a proposal to demolish an existing residence at 8130 La Jolla Shores Drive and construct a 4,015-square-foot, two-story home on the 5,660-square-foot site.

The proposal touched off a debate over whether the proposal fits the community’s character.

“This is a two-story box house and the only two-story addition in this neighborhood,” CPA board member Tim Lucas said.

Ward cautioned the group about “overextending” its reach in debating “subjective” elements of housing design.

“Is the house compliant with building codes? Is it consistent with the community plan? Those are issues you should debate,” he said. “But its shape or its color, those are matters of personal taste that go beyond the group’s prerogative.”

CPA member Crisafi, an architect, countered that seemingly “subjective” aspects of home design, such as setbacks and landscaping that can impact views and shade on adjacent residences, are rightly matters of public concern.

Here is part of the survey presented by Orrin Gabsch on Wednesday, April 8.

La Jolla Village “Rainbow Curbs” Survey
Additional Parking Spaces Can Be Made Available With Changes
March 13, 2009
Assumptions:

Additional parking spaces can be made available through an engineering evaluation of existing “rainbow curbs” designs done by the City of San Diego Traffic engineers.
Many of the currently designed “rainbow curbs” appear either unwarranted or illegal.
Several of the added parking spaces can be created by either reducing the size of the “rainbow curb” or by the elimination of it.
A more effective use of parking spaces can be achieved by a change of time limits.
A more effective use of “special zones” can be achieved with better signage.
Additional parking spaces can be created by more use of diagonal parking spaces.
Existing “special zones” not justified by current need or usage should be eliminated.
The use of “15 minute zones” should be changed to “30 minute zones,” where needed.
Maximum effort should be focused upon increasing the number of “1 and 2 hour zones”.

AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF THE VILLAGE OFFERS THESE RECOMMENDATIONS:

7630 Fay (in front of Spa MD)

Eliminate passenger loading zone
This area has a drive-way to drop off. A special zone is not needed.

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7614 Fay (in front of Toshi-San)

Eliminate Commercial Loading Zone
Zone was originally approved to be On Site, Not on Street

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7590 Fay (in front of Gaines Bldg)

Eliminate Passenger Loading Zone
Zone is not needed or justified.

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7739 Fay (in front of Sie Matic)

Eliminate Commercial Zone
Rarely used for loading and unloading

Will create 1 new parking space.

7777 Fay (in front of Sunroad)

Abandoned Drive-thru used for parking
Re-Curb this space for added street parking

Will create 1 new parking space.

7800 Fay (in front of Roppongi)

Change Passenger Loading Zone Time
Change existing 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for daytime parking

Will create 3 new parking spaces.

909 Prospect (from the front of “Hard Rock” to the Alley)

Change 2 of the 3 spaces from 30 minute limit to 2 hours.
Eliminate Commercial Loading Zone and 3 minute Passenger Loading

Use Alley Access for Loading.

Will create 5 new parking spaces.

Prospect--Back of Images of Nature

Eliminate Yellow Commercial Zone or Move the Yellow Zone to Alley
Not needed with Alley Access for Loading

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

1025 Prospect

Remove 3 min Passenger Loading.
Will create 2 new parking spaces.

1037 Prospect (in front of Jose’s)

Eliminated “Illegal” Red Curb
Will create 1 new parking space.

1200 Prospect & 7979 Ivanhoe

Combine 2 Commercial Zones to 1.
Will create 1 new parking space.

1145 Prospect

Reduce Red Curb.
Will create 1 new parking space.

1250 Prospect

Signage to State times for Commercial Loading Zone and for Valet Zone
Eliminate 2 Yellow Commercial Zone

Use the Remaining 12 Spaces as “Dual Use” = Valet & Commercial Loading.

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

1172 Prospect (in front of Haagen Daz)

Un-used space=Re-install Curb
Will create 1 new parking space.

1295 Prospect (in front of Prospect Rug Gallery)

Reduce the Red Curb
Will create 1 new parking space.

1299 Prospect-Cave

Eliminate one 15 min. Zone-Not needed
Eliminate Passenger Loading Zone

Will create 3 new parking spaces.

1200 Cave (in front of Congregational Church)

Eliminate White Curb
Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7946 Ivanhoe (in front of El Patio Shops)

Reduce 3-30 minute Green Zones to 1
Not needed for local shops plus garage parking

Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7934 Ivanhoe

Eliminate Red Paint on curb and Paint on street
Will create 1/3 new parking space.

7730 Herschel

Reduce length of Red Curb-One way entry
Will create 1 new parking space.

7823 Herschel

One Way Parking Lot Entry=Reduce Red Curb
Will create 1 new parking space.

7836 Hershel

Eliminate 2-15 min. Zones=keep 1-30 min. Zone
Will create 1 new parking space.

7851 Hershel (in front of Smith property)

Replace Curb Cut not used
Will create 1 new parking space.

7851 Hershel

Reduce length of red curb-One Way Entry
Will create 1 new parking space.

7853 Hershel

Remove 15 Min Zone
Will create 1 new parking space

7865 Hershel

Eliminate Commercial Loading Zone--Use Alley.
Will create 1 new parking space.

7877 Hershel

YMCA Change to Diagonal Handicap Space and Remove 3-Min
Will create 2 new parking spaces.

7799 Girard

Replace Curb-Abandoned Drive Thru-US Bank
Move Motorcycle Space to South Side

Will create 4 new parking space.

Lower Girard-Corner Prospect

Reduce Length of “Red Zone”
Will create 1 new parking space.

1040 S. Coast

Eliminate “Illegal” Green Zone and Sign
Will create 1 new parking space.

1039 S. Coast

Reduce length of Red Zone
Will create 1 new parking space.

933 S. Coast

Reduce length of Red Zone
Will create 1 new parking space.

8006 Jenner

Reduce Length of Excessive Red Curb at Corner
Will create 1 new parking space.

8006 Jenner-Colonial Hotel

Eliminate Yellow Zone--no Signage.
Will create 1 new parking space.

8045 Jenner

Eliminate Unexplained Yellow Curb--no signage
Will create 1 new parking space.

10002 Prospect

Eliminate 1 Yellow Zone
Will create 1 new parking space.

1020 Prospect & 8008 Girard

Eliminate 1 Yellow Zone--excessive
Will create 1 new parking space.

909 Coast

Eliminate Commercial Loading Zone--not needed
Will create 2 new parking spaces.

930 Prospect

Add Curbs in Unused Curb Cut
Will create 1 new parking space.

7825 Fay

Restore Curb in Unused Space
Will create 1 new parking space.

850 Prospect

Eliminate Yellow Loading Zone
Will create 1 new parking space.

7447 Girard

Add Diagonal Parking Strips to New Curb Area
Will create 2 new parking spaces.

TOTAL: +64 Spaces
A Review of the number of spaces, size and location of “Bus Stops.”
A) It is evident the Village of La Jolla has more bus stops on the main streets than are needed.

B) It is also evident these bus stops are so close together that TWO of the FOUR could be eliminated at no hazard or disadvantage to the bus riders.

C) It is also evident these Bus Stops are much larger (longer) than needed for one bus.

D) Thus, it is evident that the valuable parking spaces are being lost with TWO excess bus stops and longer bus stops than are needed.