The need for a safe walking path along San Ysidro Road has been in discussion since the mid-1990’s. In early 2007, COAST was
Walking home from MUS
asked to join the effort by Montecito Union School and since then has been part of a collaborative process working to improve walking along San Ysidro Road. COAST worked with First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, County Public Works, Montecito
Union School, and Montecito residents to identify potential solutions. Through these efforts, the County was awarded $392,000 from a competitive grant process. The 1/4 mile decomposed granite path will connect Montecito Union School to North Jameson lane, along the west side of San Ysidro Road.
Forced into bike lane along SY Road due to lack of space
This path will not only provide a safer place for students on their way to school but as MUS parent and project initiator Stephen Murdoch noted, “the path will link pedestrians of every age to Miramar Beach, Upper and Lower Manning Parks, Laguna Blanca Lower School and the shopping area of the Upper Village”.
The County has been working with landscape architects and have come up with a beautiful design that will serve the purpose of a safer walking route as well as maintain the semi-rural nature of Montecito. Someday soon parents with strollers, kids, runners and walkers of all ages will be able to travel San Ysidro Road on foot safely and out of the bike lane like we so often see.
But there are opponents who are working hard to stop this much-needed pathway and have cleared some of the existing shoulder in attempt to sideline the project. But even after all their efforts people still use the bike lane to walk, which is a clear indication that the path is still needed when people aren’t using what’s there. San Ysidro Road has over 10,000 cars a day and with distractions such as cell phones, the bike lane is NOT a suitable place for walkers.
The recent community meeting hosted by the First District Supervisor’s office on
An example of a decomposed granite path
Tuesday, June 1 at 6:00 pm at Montecito Union School was a great success!
After First District Supevisor Carbajal’s greeting, County PW gave a presentation about the history of the project and how the design has evolved to address the concerns of the community and Montecito Association. Following the presentation, there were 4 different locations all with identical sets of plans for people to peruse and add comments. The layout was complete with containers of decomposed granite.
The meeting was well-attended by both supporters and people who oppose the project because they fear that it will change the character of the community. The meeting was informative, though the tension was palpable at the beginning, but served to dispel some of the fears that had been generated from misinformation. See the KEYT clip about the meeting here.
Comments gathered at this meeting will be addressed and incorporated as appropriate. The County will presented the final design to the Montecito Land Use Committee on July 6 and to the full board on July 13 (both meetings: 4 pm, 1469 East Valley Road). It’s so important to have supporters at this meeting.
Supporters have been working hard and are excited by the beautiful design and are ready to see the project start. Once completed the project will be a lovely addition to San Ysidro Road complete with low-water landscaping and meandering decomposed granite path serving people of all ages.
