Museum Plan Strikes a Balance : Decision on sculpture garden benefits public, Museum of Contemporary Art

When a news story pleases neither side of a contentious issue, journalists take it as a sign that the story was balanced.

That same folk wisdom could be applied to the recent decision by the San Diego Planning Commission regarding the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla.

Neither side was happy with the decision to allow the museum to enclose its oceanfront sculpture garden or the condition that the garden remain open to the public, without paying admission, during museum hours. But the decision seems to serve both the museum’s and the public’s interests.

The museum wants to fence off the sculpture garden as part of a major expansion plan. The fence would prevent further vandalism of outdoor artwork and provide the security needed for larger, future exhibits.

Not surprisingly, the museum plan ran headlong into Californians’ fierce love of their coastline. That same passion gave birth to the Coastal Commission and mandated beach access paths, even in tony neighborhoods.

La Jollans protested the museum’s right to close off the property that is part of the estate of Ellen Browning Scripps, a member of one of San Diego’s founding families. Scripps bequeathed the land to Scripps Hospital; the land was then purchased from the hospital for a museum with contributions from the public.

Whether that makes the land public, as protesters argue, is highly questionable. Whether decades of public access give the public implied rights would have to be decided in court.

But the dispute should not have to get that far.

The Planning Commission compromise will provide the museum much of the security it seeks by allowing the garden to be locked at night. And the public will still be able to stroll through the tree-laden, grassy garden or spend a few quiet moments on a park bench contemplating the spectacular view and a bit of San Diego history.

It’s a win-win situation.