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Residents urge protections for small businesses and question Caltrans median work and a proposed Harbor District parking lot
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Summary
At the March 11 meeting residents urged support for a struggling harbor restaurant, raised concerns about new Caltrans medians at Capistrano/Highway 1 (reduced turning radiuses) and discussed a Harbor District plan for a parking lot north of Sam's; the council said it would post the Harbor District meeting notice and follow up with staff.
Several public commenters used the March 11 Midcoast Community Council meeting to raise neighborhood safety and small‑business concerns.
Sid Young urged community support for Ketch HMB, a harbor restaurant whose owner, David Westendorf, has stage‑4 cancer. Young said the Harbor District had offered a temporary rent reduction that it may rescind and asked residents to patronize the business while the owner is ill.
"They're struggling because the owner has stage 4 cancer," Sid Young said, urging local patronage and humane treatment as the Harbor District considers changes to the rent holiday.
The council and members of the public also raised questions about recent Caltrans median work at the Capistrano/Highway 1 intersection. Dan Reardon questioned whether lengthening medians and installing pedestrian refuges had reduced turning radiuses and lowered traffic level of service for turning vehicles, asking whether signal timing or other designs could achieve pedestrian safety with fewer impacts to drivers.
A county representative described the Caltrans changes as safety‑focused, including a new crosswalk and bicycle lanes; another attendee who inspected the site described interim works in place while electrical and concrete finishes are completed.
Nut graf: The conversation reflected the common local tension between pedestrian and bike safety upgrades on state highways and the resulting effects on vehicle turning radii and traffic flow. Council members said they would ask the project presenter at a future meeting questions about compliance with state and federal intersection standards.
Separately, Dan Reardon and others noted an upcoming Harbor District meeting about a proposed parking lot north of Sam's, scheduled for March 14; the council agreed to post the meeting notice to the MCC website so residents can attend and comment. Reardon and other speakers suggested alternatives for preserving green space and avoiding a permanent paved lot, including retaining overflow parking on grass for special events.
Ending: The council said it would clarify jurisdictional boundaries for the site, post the Harbor District meeting notice on its website and invite the Harbor District or related presenters to a future meeting if necessary.
