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Attorney warns Caltrans Highway 1 changes in Gualala would remove parking and hurt local businesses
Summary
Steven Johnson, representing Bauer Limited Partnership, told MCOG that a Caltrans Highway 1 enhancement draft would remove roughly 90 on-street parking spaces in Gualala, potentially harming the surf market and tourism; he urged county engagement and mitigation because some on-street parking is privately controlled, he said.
Steven Johnson, a local attorney representing Bauer Limited Partnership, warned the Mendocino Council of Governments that a Caltrans Highway 1 enhancement project for Gualala could remove about 90 on-street parking spaces and substantially affect businesses reliant on local parking and tourism.
"Effectively under this plan, there will be 90 parking spots lost," Johnson said during the public-comment period, adding that Caltrans is not proposing mitigation to replace those spaces. He said the surf market on the property his client owns serves a broad coastal area and could be threatened if convenient on-street parking is removed.
Johnson told the board that the on-street parking being targeted by the project is privately controlled by property owners and that the state holds only a prescriptive easement across Highway 1; he said the county needs to be engaged to protect local interests. He also flagged concerns about the short length of proposed bike lanes, insertion of multiple crosswalks and left-turn lanes that could affect traffic flow and pedestrian safety.
Board members agreed to invite Caltrans to return with a targeted update on the Highway 1 project at a future meeting so local officials can review mitigation options and safety changes.
Why it matters: Highway 1 improvements intended to add bike lanes and turning pockets intersect with constrained parking in small coastal towns. Local officials must weigh pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements against potential economic impacts on businesses that rely on curbside parking.
Next steps: MCOG staff said they will ask Caltrans to present a project update at the next meeting and continue coordination on mitigation and safety.
