Construction of Poplar Vertical Access Project to Begin May 4

Half Moon Bay, CA – A much-needed construction project to repair and improve “vertical” access to Poplar Beach will begin next Monday, May 4, and will continue through Tuesday, June 30. As a result, access to Poplar Beach will be closed to the public for the duration of that work. Alternate Poplar Beach access is available approximately ½ a mile to the north.

At its Tuesday, April 21, 2020 meeting, the Half Moon Bay City Council authorized the City Manager to proceed with the construction of the planned Poplar Beach Vertical Access Project. Vertical access refers to the pedestrian pathway access from the bluff top down to the beach. The vertical access has continued to erode with continued use and minimal maintenance, leaving the slope and pathway bare, steep, and difficult to navigate. This project will address these issues by creating stepped access and adding handrails for safety. Drainage along the staircase will also be addressed to ensure proper flow away from the bluff.

Repairing and improving this access at Poplar Beach has been identified as a priority project for both community members and the City Council and supports both the Infrastructure and Environment and Public Safety elements of the City Council’s Strategic Plan. This project not only addresses a critical public safety need, but also fulfills permit obligations for the California Coastal Commission. The project cost is $157,000 and is funded by the City’s General Fund.

Scheduling the project at this time offers the least amount of impact to the community, since the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order has resulted in closure of the parking lot and a reduction in the overall number of people visiting Poplar Beach. This project is one of many projects identified in the draft Poplar Gateways Master Plan. More information about the vertical access project is available in the April 21, 2020 City Council staff report, and information on the Poplar Gateways Master Plan is online at www.hmbcity.com/poplargateways.

POPLAR BEACH VERTICAL ACCESS (CIP PROJECT NO. 597) Staff Recommendation: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to proceed with the construction of the planned Poplar Beach Vertical Access Project (CIP No. 597), award a contract to Cazadoro Construction, Inc., of San Francisco, California, in the amount of $157,000 for the project, and authorize a transfer of $30,000 from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Implementation Program (CIP No. 615).

The COVID-19 crisis provides a unique opportunity to address this safety project with little impact to community members or visitors. Staff acknowledges the current economic volatility during these times. The vertical access in question has continued to erode with continued use and minimal maintenance. The slope of the access is bare and is steeper, causing most individuals to have a hard time navigating it. This project will address these issues by adding wooden steps and handrails for safety. Drainage along the staircase will also be addressed to ensure proper flow away from the bluff and at energy dissipators.

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Poplar Beach Gateways Plan Public Review Plan

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Located 28 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Half Moon Bay is a community of about 12,500 people, situated on the peninsula between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. Its historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses, and its celebrated beaches and parks are wonders of nature, accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. With its many activities and events, beautiful natural scenery, old-town charm, and abundance of retail and commercial services, Half Moon Bay is a regional destination. The City’s website is www.hmbcity.com.