Emerald Bay Signals for its Own Green Light

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Emerald Bay is seeking the approval of state and county officials for installation of a traffic signal at the main entrance to Laguna Beach's largest gated community, which will allow residents and visitors to exit southbound while halting northbound traffic on Coast Highway.

Proponents say the $3.5 million project is needed to address an intersection that a traffic study says gets failing marks for cars idling at rush hour to exit and a higher than expected accident rate based on traffic volume.

Even so, thousands of other daily Coast Highway commuters will be hitting the breaks again on their way out of town should the new signal win approval, according to a minority of Emerald Bay residents, who oppose the plan. "This is a problem that can be handled within the community and shouldn't be thrust upon Laguna Beach," said resident Patty Collisson, who thinks imposing a left-turn ban at the main gate would be "a much saner and safer solution."

While the neighboring gated communities of Irvine Cove and Smithcliffs already prohibit vehicles from exiting across traffic, that solution is impractical in Emerald Bay even though there are five other exits, said John Mc- Dermott, president of the Emerald Bay Service District, an elected body responsible for infrastructure behind the green gates and a leader of the signal drive. "We don't have a reasonable, prudentman alternative," said the retired lawyer, because the majority of residents on the inland side would be forced through a one-lane tunnel to reach the beach-side exit that flows in southbound highway traffic.

"There is not going to be any impact any greater than at Pavilions," McDermott said, citing a signal installed at the Boat Canyon shopping center that is tripped by sensors. "That was one of the factors in our decision," he said.

"We've listened to all the options," added service district board member Bill Hart. "The only way with Caltrans involved is a plan that meets their standards."

The proposal calls for a signal controlling northbound highway traffic and vehicles exiting on Shamrock Road, widening the main entrance to four lanes, the addition of a raised curb bordering an acceleration lane and pushing back the guard shack to reduce stacking on Coast Highway. Emerald Bay would foot the estimated tab, $2.5 million by the district and $1 million by the separate homeowner's association, McDermott said.

Residents pay annual dues of about $6,000 to the association for maintenance of common areas, while the service district receives a 10 percent share of property tax revenue to maintain services such as sewer and fire.

Resident Scott McCarter objects to the project's urbanizing visual impact and resents that the community cannot vote over the matter due to an exemption in the civil code governing the district that disallows voting over safety issues. Between Jan. 1, 2005 and Jan. 30, 2008, there have been 11 accidents at the intersection, including one fatality.

"It would ruin the serenity and beauty," said McCarter, who last month began collecting signatures from opponents in the hopes of halting the project's momentum. "Most are against the signal but even more don't like that it's being done without a vote."

A 30-day comment period ends today, July 3, over the county's intention to consider the project without requiring an environmental impact report. A public hearing by the county planning department, but no date has yet been set, said spokeswoman Chris Uzo- Diribe.

At least one letter of objection was filed by resident Gary Mar, whose home is close to the gate. "I don't see why a private community should pay for a traffic signal on public property. And why should a private community be able to put up a traffic signal that affects everyone else?" Mar asked.

Caltrans apparently has accepted the findings of the Willdan Group traffic study and told district consultants the project should win permit approval, Mc- Dermott said. "What they've submitted will improve traffic flow," said Tracey Lavelle, a spokeswoman in Irvine for Caltrans, whose traffic operations department analyzed the proposal's expected impact on the highway. "It has passed," Lavelle said.

McDermott thinks opponents are hoping to see annual assessments drop. "That's the only logical response I can figurem" he said. "I've lived here 38 years. I'm flooded with residents' enthusiastic support."