DEL MAR, Calif. — The City of Del Mar’s opposition to safety fencing along the rail line traversing the Del Mar Bluffs is likely to result in a larger fence than might otherwise have been the case.
The San Diego Reader reports that on Monday, Feb. 28 — the deadline for the city to reach an agreement with the North County Transit District, the owner of the rail line through the community — the city council turned down the deal offered by the district to build a 4-foot post-and-cable fence if the city assumed liability for public access.
In voting 3-2 against the deal, some council members said they would be willing to assume liability, but were against any fence. The city and residents have argued that a fence will restrict access to the bluffs and Pacific Coast, and will spoil views from the expensive homes on the bluffs. The transit district has sought to address trespassing in the area that has led to some fatalities.
The NCTD has previously indicated that, absent an agreement, it will proceed with construction of a standard 6-foot wire fence.
The disagreement over the fence, as well as efforts to stabilize the slide-prone bluffs, led the NCTD to ask the Surface Transportation Board for a ruling affirming its right to install the fence and maintain its right-of-way. The transit district made that request in August 2020, but has asked the STB to delay action several times while the NCTD, Del Mar, and California Coastal Commission attempted to negotiate a settlement.
But in November, the district voted to renew its petition with the STB, and in January said it would move ahead with plans for a fence, citing its inability to reach an agreement [see “San Diego transit district votes to proceed …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 24, 2022]. The Coastal Commission responded by asking the STB to order mediation in the dispute [see “California Coastal Commission seeks STB mediation …,” News Wire, Feb. 3, 2022].
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