The professional plans drawn up by Steve Kikuchi & Associates were approved by Caltrans and it granted the city of Half Moon Bay an "Encroachment Permit." The city has asked the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau to be the project manager. We applied to Coastside County Water Department for a water hookup. CCWD asked the city to request a priority water hookup since this project is visitor-serving. The city approved the request last week and we have written CCWD a check for $6,700.
The next step will be to take the water from in front of the Holiday Inn, under the highway to the Kelly Avenue (north) median. We will then go under Kelly Avenue at the intersection to take it to the Kelly Avenue (south) median. After that, we will need to hook up an irrigation system. Then will come the planting.
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Why can't we just plant them without all this fuss?
Caltrans has strict rules and regulations mainly to protect drivers from being injured. This is a state highway with a speed limit of 55 mph. If it weren't for the stop lights, we would not have gotten permission at all. No other state highway medians are being planted in California.
Who will maintain them?
The city of Half Moon Bay has budgeted annually for this and that is why it holds the encroachment permit.
Why do we need water?
We are planting native plants and those that we know do well in our climate. But, they will need water for at least the first few years until they are established. Please remember they have to withstand oil and gas runoff.
Why is it taking so long?
Caltrans will not grant permission without a set of landscaping and engineering plans. After approving those, it granted the encroachment permit. We could not get water until the city legally had the right to ask (hence the encroachment permit). We can't prepare the soil until we have water to the medians, and lastly, we cannot plant until we have irrigation. This is simplifying it some, but, yes, bureaucracy is alive and well. Also, we need more money to complete this first phase.
What are the phases?
Phase 1 is the medians on either side of Kelly Avenue. Phase 2 is the medians at Highway 92 and we are hoping most of those will be done during the Highway 92 Improvement Project. Phase 3 would be in front of the firehouse, and those would be written into a development plan if North Wavecrest is ever developed, otherwise we will need to raise money for that phase as well. Phase 4 will be the medians in front of MacDonald's.
Why can't we at least weed them in the meantime?
We are afraid to do anything until we are ready to plant because that is what our permit is for. If anyone gets injured or anything goes wrong, our encroachment permit could be jeopardized. Fortunately, Caltrans did mow recently and, hopefully, will also mow the southern portion soon.
Caltrans has approved this project and is working with us to make it happen, but it is very complicated and mostly because no one wants to see anyone getting hurt while in the middle of a state highway. I am committed to seeing this project through, and if I get hit by a bus tomorrow I made my husband promise me that it would be completed! But all of you can help, too. Please send a donation to Half Moon Bay Coastside Community Foundation, 520 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. For other questions or information call 650-726-8380 or e-mail charise@hmbchamber.com.
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Charise McHugh is president and CEO of the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau.
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