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Survey says city must rule on Strand gardens
by Jerry Roberts
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This colorful Strand garden was inspired by the painter Monet. Photo by Kevin Cody |
"Move your board. It’s ruining my grass," a Manhattan Strand resident told a surfer who had laid his surf board on top of the berm in front of the resident’s house. Like many of his neighbors, the Strand resident had landscaped the berm, which is west of The Strand and runs the length of the beach. One resident ran a gas line under The Strand to power a barbecue on the berm. Others have run pipes to water gardens they’ve planted on the berm.
Last week El Porto surfer Barry Host, who witnessed the incident between the Strand homeowner and the surfer, wrote a letter to Easy Reader pointing out that the berm is public property. Host and, four fellow El Porto surfers signed the letter The People’s Ice Plant Restoration Alliance. Ice plant was the predominant groundcover ering on the berm in the 1920s and ‘30s.
In recent weeks, a number complaints similar to those of the People’s Ice Plant Restoration Alliance have been forwarded by the City to the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors. The county was thought to own the property.
County officials told one resident to "cease and desist" with the installation of a flagstone patio. Another was told to stop with the installation of playground equipment.
Unofficially, some city officials have been pressuring the county to allow the berm gardens to remain. Now, thanks to a county survey, which found that the gardens are predominately on city property, it appears city officials will be responsible for resolving the issue.
The survey found that the City of Manhattan Beach owns more than 75 percent of the berm. On Monday county and city officials met to decide a plan of action. The city will recommend that the issue be assigned to the Parking and Public Improvement Commission so that guidelines for private encroachment on the Strand can be developed, probably after public meetings convened for that purpose, according to City Manager Geoff Dolan.
"It’s an issue for public policy," said Tom Martin, deputy county supervisor in 4th District County Supervisor Don Knabe’s office. "The citizens of Manhattan Beach will be allowed to air their views, then the city will develop its encroachment policy for The Strand. Then we’ll look at that and either follow the criteria the city is adopting, or develop our own encroachment guidelines."
The plants and other transplanted items on the strip are only decorative to some. The People’s Ice Plant Restoration Alliance, which includes Host, Steve Fisher, Tim Ferguson and Daryll Dickie, wrote in their letter to Easy Reader:
"Unfortunately, what began as a couple of plants here and there has evolved into a situation in which many Strand residents have clearly declared ownership to public property. Some have even hired professional contractors to install lighting, irrigation, retaining walls, and pavers, and to plant vegetation as well as lay sod on public property. Lawn furniture, children’s toys, statues, pink flamingos, barbecues and other objects litter the area. Incredibly, a sign admonishes those walking on the Strand to keep their voices down so as not to disturb residents. Give us a break!"
Manhattan Beach has a history of public lands being used as individual territories by residents. In fact, the walk streets leading down to the Strand, on which residents have built patios and gardens, are city lands. Mayor Walt Dougher said that he can only remember one incident in which an encroachment issue boiled over on the walk streets. Earlier this year several walk street residents demanded the removal of a portable basketball hoop that had been placed in front of their homes.
"It looked like a problem, but it went away," Dougher said. "It’s become a spite issue on Tstrand. We’ll more than likely resolve it with public meetings with all interested parties. These things tend to work out in the long run if everyone cooperates." ER