During the second community meeting in the last two weeks, more than 30 Solana Beach community members attended to learn details and provide feedback about H.G. Fenton Company’s proposed revitalization of Solana Highlands. Architectural renderings of the revitalized buildings, the Nest energy management thermostat and other lifestyle features, a low-water use landscaping plan and a scale 3D model of the entire project were on display for all attendees to interact with.

Many of attendees at the March 13 community meeting were most interested in learning about the increased on-site parking proposed as well as the various traffic calming mechanisms being evaluated to mange traffic flow along South Nardo Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood. Shown to the right, traffic engineer Dawn Wilson explains how reducing four entrances in the current community to only two for the revitalized project will more effectively manage the residents’ traffic patterns away from the residents on South Nardo. Dawn also provided input on the thinking behind the four traffic calming alternatives so that residents could determine which they feel the neighborhood needs most.

In addition to safer roads, residents were excited that the revitalized Solana Highlands would ease the neighborhoods traffic concerns; boosting parking from less than one spot per bedroom to over 1.3 per bedroom.

Solana Beach architect Steve Dalton, of SDArchitects who designed the Fletcher Cove Community Center, was on hand to answer questions about the Beach-Craftsman style architectural renderings that were on display. Attendees unanimously agreed that the architecture and aesthetics of the three varying building neighborhoods within the project were a welcomed improvement and fit nicely with the community’s character.

Community members were happy to hear landscape architect Marc Moody confirm that in addition to trees and groundcover that is more aligned with neighboring residents, the Solana Highlands conceptual landscaping plan would be more water efficient water and incorporate artificial turf where possible.