Storm Drain Plan Approved Despite Merchants’ Heat

Despite objections from local merchants, the Costa Mesa City Council has voted, 4 to 1, to award a contract for a storm drain project that would close some traffic lanes for a mile along heavily traveled Harbor Boulevard.

After a public hearing that lasted into the night Monday, the council selected Aman Brothers Inc.’s bid of about $4.1 million. Mayor Peter F. Buffa, who said the money should be spent on transportation improvements, dissented.

To minimize the impact of the project on traffic and businesses, the council directed that two of three lanes in each direction must remain open during the estimated 8-month project, which will add $320,000 to the cost.

Under the project’s original plan, the contractor would have restricted northbound traffic to just one lane when the pipes were actually being laid.

The council also told the city staff to discuss with the contractor ways to speed the work. “Anything we could do to minimize impact would certainly be worth it,” Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis said.

Attorney John M. Pitkin, representing about 50 merchants who recently formed the Costa Mesa Merchants Assn. to protest the project, testified that the lane closures would congest traffic and create financial hardships for businesses on Harbor Boulevard from West 19th Street to Wilson Street, where the pipes will be laid.

More than 170 businesses that “derive their income from drive-by traffic” will lose money, he said.

Pitkin also suggested that the city “set money aside for claims that will be inevitable if that pipe comes roaring down Harbor.”

He asked the council to postpone action to allow an engineering firm hired by the association more time to study alternate routes. A representative from that firm on Monday proposed laying the pipe through private property, including stores and homes.

Rick Pickering, acting director of public services, said before the meeting that alternate routing had been considered but rejected as unfeasible. He said more pipes would have been required, the distance and cost would have been greater and people would have had to move out of their homes.

The area needs storm drains to prevent runoff water from damaging homes nearby, he said. In 1983 several homes were damaged by floods; lawsuits filed by homeowners are pending against the city.

Opposing the merchants--about 50 of whom attended the hearing--were homeowners from neighborhoods near Harbor Boulevard.

“Please don’t let this project be a victim of the stalling process any longer,” said Arlene Dowski, whose home was damaged by floods in 1983. “We urge you to complete this system for the safety of Costa Mesa residents.”

Of the 10 bids submitted to the city, the highest was $5.8 million and the lowest about $4.1 million. Construction is scheduled to start in 2 weeks, with street repairs done at the same time.