Foley brings back trail

A controversial bike path shelved by the Costa Mesa City Council earlier this month is back on track for council consideration, thanks to Councilwoman Katrina Foley.

The path, which would connect Fairview Road between Adams Avenue and Baker Street with trails in Newport Beach, would be financed by a South Coast Air Quality Management District grant.

The proposal would include renovation of the Paularino and Santa Ana/Delhi flood channels that wind throughout Costa Mesa with landscaping and other measures.

Public opposition from Mesa Del Mar neighbors during a Dec. 4 City Council meeting prompted the council, by a 3-2 vote, to defeat a proposed feasibility study for the bike path.

Foley, who supported the study along with Councilwoman Linda Dixon, said many in Foley’s Mesa Del Mar neighborhood were upset with the decision.

“I’ve received lots of e-mails and calls from the community, particularly the Mesa Del Mar community, with people surprised that the council would’ve shut down the process so soon,” she said.

“I think many people were caught off guard, because every single time it had come before the council previously, they had voted 5-0 in favor of it going forward.”

Trail opponent Len Bose said he respected the political process, but would continue to publicly oppose a bike trail in the Paularino flood channel.

“Why this channel?” the avid biker said, noting that developing only the Santa Ana/Delhi portion of the bike trail — far from his Mesa Del Mar home — would provide sufficient paths for local bikers.

“I’m really starting to wonder why we’re all focusing on this one spot.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].