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Council denies homeowner’s request for blue (accessible) curb at 1111 Hamilton amid parking and cost concerns
Summary
After hearing from applicant Melissa Zuniga and staff, Seaside’s Traffic Advisory Commission recommendation to deny a blue‑curb (accessible) space at 1111 Hamilton was upheld; council cited available on‑site parking, neighborhood impacts, and estimated ADA modification costs borne by the property owner.
Aaron Hahn, a junior engineer in public works, summarized the Traffic Advisory Commission’s recommendation to deny a request to install 20 feet of blue curb (accessible parking) in front of 1111 Hamilton Avenue. Hahn said the TAC visit observed several parked cars, a driveway providing off‑street parking, and a lack of an applicant representative at the TAC meeting. TAC determined parking alternatives and cost considerations weighed against the request.
Applicant Melissa Zuniga (with interpreter) spoke to the council and said she lives at 1111 Hamilton, has arthritis and sciatica, and finds it difficult to access her home because rear parking is unpaved and vehicles must be moved to allow access. She said a prior blue curb had existed and asked the council to restore accessible parking.
Council and public commenters discussed the potential cost (staff explained modifications to meet current ADA standards could require curb reconstruction and related work estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars and would be the property owner’s responsibility), the precedent created by painting curbs, and the availability of on‑site parking that the TAC observed. Several residents urged compassion and accessibility accommodations while others warned of removing public parking on a narrow residential street.
After discussion, the council voted to support the TAC recommendation to deny the blue‑curb request. City staff and councilmembers asked that the applicant be informed of options for private property modifications and clarified that the denial reflected the TAC finding that available on‑site parking and driveway access made a public accessible curb unnecessary under current criteria.
The council thanked the applicant for participating and asked staff to ensure applicants understand the full scope and cost of ADA‑compliant curb modifications.
