Funding allocated for Aviation Road sidewalks, Don Dussault Park

The projects selected for 2018-2019 Community Development Block Grant funding include sidewalks for Aviation Road and improvements for Don Dussault Park.

The San Diego County’s 2018-2019 annual funding plan for Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Shelter Grant and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS programs allocates $347,945 for the Aviation Road sidewalks and $302,945 for Don Dussault Park.

The annual funding plan was approved on a 4-0 Board of Supervisors vote April 17 with Ron Roberts in Asia. The total 2018-2019 CDBG funding for the county’s unincorporated area is $1,188,037, including the Aviation Road sidewalks and Don Dussault Park.

Community Development Block Grant projects are intended to revitalize lower-income communities. The proposals were selected based on criteria which include benefit to lower-income residents, health and safety considerations, the ability to leverage block grant funds into additional revenue and availability of alternate funding sources. The allocations are based on 2018-2019 entitlement figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides funding for the programs.

The Aviation Road sidewalk project would fund the design and construction of sidewalks along the north side of Aviation Road between South Wisconsin Street and South Mission Road. The project would also provide curbs, pedestrian ramps and gutters. Although the projects will likely be exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review, the Federal funding makes them subject to National Environmental Protection Act review which could include a finding of no significant impact and the allocated CDBG funding includes $2,945 for environmental review. The sidewalk project is expected to be complete by June 2019.

The improvements to Don Dussault Park will include an adult outdoor exercise area, picnic areas with tables, additional paths meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards, additional security lighting, landscaping and irrigation. The allocation covers the $2,945 budgeted for environmental review. The improvements have a June 2019 estimated completion date.

A proposal to complete sidewalks along the south side of Ammunition Road between Alturas Road and South Mission Road was placed on the alternative list. One missing segment would provide sidewalks on the south side across from the Albertson’s parking lot and the other missing sidewalk segment is across from the Carl’s Jr. east of the Rosewood Apartments complex where a slope augments the problem of the lack of a sidewalk. The project which would also construct curbs, pedestrian ramps and gutters has a $550,000 cost estimate.

A proposal for a sidewalk improvement project in Bonsall along Camino Del Rey between Camino Del Cielo and West Lilac Road is ineligible, due to CDBG guidelines which require projects to be in a census tract with low-income or moderate-income resident concentration or to provide services to low-income or moderate-income residents.