A nearly $10 million sidewalk project in the Northern California town of Fort Bragg has ignited a local rebellion due to a towering new wooden fence that residents say has transformed a scenic stretch of Highway 1 into an ocean-view blockade. The project, intended to improve pedestrian access and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, spans from the Route 20 intersection to Elm Street. However, it is the fence, not the sidewalk, that has drawn public ire.
The previous fence along Highway 1 was low, weathered, and unobtrusive, preserving views of Noyo Headlands Park and the Pacific Ocean. The replacement fence is significantly taller, obstructing these vistas and leading to accusations that it has needlessly altered the town's coastal character.
"CalTrans has done a bad thing and it needs to be undone," Fort Bragg resident Bonnie Brayton told SFGATE. Mary Rose Kaczorowski, a city council candidate, echoed this sentiment in a letter to the editor, questioning if officials considered the impact of the taller fence on residents and the town's entrance view.
Local businesses have also reported negative impacts. Aiden McFadden, an employee at the Seabird Lodge, stated that guests have complained about the obstructed views, noting it clashes with the town's marketing as a seaside destination.
The property where the fence was installed is owned by Mendocino Railway, which operates the historic Skunk Train nearby. The company's president and CEO, Robert Jason Pinoli, indicated that the railway was unaware of the fence's height before its installation.
The significant public backlash prompted swift action from local officials and Caltrans. According to Fort Bragg City Manager Isaac Whippy, a review of the project permit revealed that the replacement fence was originally intended to match the height of the previous one. This finding has led to a reassessment of the controversial barrier. Whippy confirmed that the city has met with Mendocino Railway and Caltrans to plan modifications, with construction crews expected to return within the next few weeks to implement the changes. "We have a timeline for the construction crew to come back to town in the next couple of weeks for fence modifications," Whippy told SFGATE.
