Struiksma Issues Ultimatum on Road Closure

If the result of a San Diego City Council committee hearing Monday is any indication, closing a dusty dirt road in North County might turn into a regional issue when the matter comes before the full council June 13.

After an hour of testimony for and against closing Black Mountain Road west of Rancho Penasquitos, Councilman Ed Struiksma lost his temper and threatened--in fact, promised--that, if the east-west link between Penasquitos and the coast is closed, he will push to shut the north-south Black Mountain link between Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa.

Struiksma, who represents Mira Mesa, argued that, if the east-west Black Mountain link to Interstate 5 on the coast is closed, 2,000 more motorists will become “transient traffic” on Mira Mesa arterials.

Shortcuts to Work and Home

He said that Mira Mesa’s streets already are congested with traffic from elsewhere using them as shortcuts to work and home. If Black Mountain Road to the coast is closed, Struiksma said, he will seek closure of Black Mountain Road to the south, inconveniencing about 10,000 Rancho Penasquitos commuters who now use the route to avoid traffic tie-ups on Interstate 15.

His ultimatum came during a council committee hearing on temporary closure of Black Mountain Road from Penasquitos west to Del Mar.

Struiksma pointed out that the city’s aim in closing the “back door” route from Rancho Penasquitos is to limit San Diego’s liability for accidents occurring on the 1 1/2-mile unpaved stretch that is labeled substandard under city guidelines.

The route, which meanders through the undeveloped “urban reserve”--land precluded from development until after 1996 in the city’s general plan--is used by more than 2,000 motorists daily to commute to the coast.

If the unpaved part of the road is closed, opponents argue, the traffic will be added to the already congested arterials in Mira Mesa.

Only Outlet

“So, if we close one part of (Black Mountain) roadway, I hope we are prepared to close two,” Struiksma said.

Closure of Black Mountain Road at both its western and southern ends would leave about 33,000 Rancho Penasquitos residents with I-15 as their only outlet.

Councilmen Ron Roberts and Wes Pratt favored closing the east-west section of Black Mountain, citing the dirt road’s safety hazards and the city’s liability.

Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer sided with Struiksma, arguing that the unpaved road should remain open until alternate routes, such as Carmel Valley Road and Route 56 are opened.

Deputy City Manager Jack McCrory said signs will be posted on the dirt part of Black Mountain Road warning motorists of the end of city-maintained roadway and that they proceed at their own risk. He acknowledged that this may not protect the city from lawsuits by motorists who incur property damage or injury on the unimproved section of the route.

Roberts said the council, in closed sessions scheduled for today, will hear of lawsuit after lawsuit filed by motorists who claim the city street where they had an accident was substandard.

Black Mountain Road, Roberts said, “is one incredible liability this city is carrying,” which should be closed until money can be found to bring it up to minimum city street standards.

Balloon Firms Fighting It

Among groups opposing the closure were balloon-ride companies, which said the road--the only east-west connector in a 40-square-mile area--is necessary for the industry because chase cars must negotiate the area to arrive at isolated sites where the balloons land, as well as members of Immanuel Baptist Church of Rancho Penasquitos, who protested that their proposed church site along Black Mountain Road would be inaccessible to half the parishioners if the road were blocked.

Speaking in favor of the closure were residents of the Woodcrest subdivision of Rancho Penasquitos, who said the safety of neighborhood children is threatened by speeding cars and heavy trucks traveling through narrow residential streets on their way to the road.

City staff members recommended the temporary closure of the road, listing as an alternative the creation of another entry to the route from Carmel Valley Road that would avoid the Woodcrest subdivision. Cost of the bypass was estimated at $1.8 million.