Council directs staff to focus sidewalk work near parks after feasibility showing right‑of‑way shortfalls

Lemon Grove — After a detailed feasibility presentation, the Lemon Grove City Council on April 21 directed staff to prioritize sidewalk projects that serve parks and other public facilities and to pursue resident outreach to secure voluntary right‑of‑way dedications.

Public Works Director Izzy Murguia summarized a feasibility assessment for sidewalks on Buena Vista, New Jersey, Mount Vernon and Washington streets, noting the city has roughly "65 miles of sidewalk gaps" and that Measure T has allocated $750,000 for new sidewalk construction. Murguia said the study found existing right‑of‑way widths of 44–53 feet on corridors that require 56–60 feet under city standards, producing deficiencies of 3–16 feet in places. "We don't have sufficient right of way in either of our locations," Murguia said, and staff outlined options including voluntary property dedications, property acquisition (appraisals and legal filings), eliminating or reducing parkway width, or pursuing a general plan amendment.

Several councilmembers argued for focusing limited funds on streets that lead to parks and schools. Councilmember Mendoza and others supported building one‑sided sidewalks where the city already owns frontage (for example, around Berry Street Park and Washington Street Park) to avoid eminent domain and reduce costs. Councilmember Smith suggested design changes that could gain needed width without immediate property acquisitions, including reducing travel‑lane widths where safe and removing parking on one side where appropriate.

Public comment urged the city to consider environmental and maintenance tradeoffs. Chelsea Gastelum suggested alternatives to a city‑maintained parkway—offering residents tree kits or partnering with local conservation groups to maintain planting strips—so the city can provide sidewalks without taking on long‑term parkway maintenance obligations.

Outcome and next steps: staff said it will focus outreach and feasibility efforts first on New Jersey Avenue and a Mount Vernon segment, replicate neighborhood informational meetings used on Lincoln Street and North Avenue, and return with targeted outreach results. Council directed staff to pursue voluntary dedications and to avoid eminent domain where possible; a general plan amendment remains a longer‑term option but would be costly and would trigger CEQA review.