The San Diego City Council approved a resolution today opposing a toll road that is being planned near San Onofre State Beach and the hallowed Trestles surf spot.
Opposing the road proposed by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency — in the name of protecting the beachfront area wedged between the counties of Orange and San Diego — has become a cause celebre for the environmental and surfing communities. The road’s critics say the beach would be reduced by about 27 percent with the toll road’s construction, fragmenting it and causing environmental harm.
The council, which has no formal authority over the project, voted 6-2 to oppose the road. Councilmembers Scott Peters, Kevin Faulconer, Toni Atkins, Tony Young, Brian Maienschein and Donna Frye voted for the resolution, which adds San Diego to a list of several California cities that oppose the road. Councilmen Jim Madaffer and Ben Hueso voted against it.
The council considered the issue in September 2006, but failed to corral the five votes needed to pass a resolution.
The proposed road, known as State Route 241, will be reviewed at an upcoming hearing by the California Coastal Commission, of which Hueso is a member. Hueso said he voted against endorsing the council’s resolution so that he didn’t go into the Coastal Commission meeting having already made up his mind.